China Travel Tourist Visa Exemptions & Visa Free Transit

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Free Transit Visa & Exemptions are only applicable to those who hold booked ticket, confirmed seating, a full completed Arrival/Departure Card (including name, nationality, passport no., visa no. & insurance place, flight no., purpose of visit, date of birth, gender), valid visa for a third country or region and passport destined for connecting flights while in a transit via confirmed eligible airports. These countries and regions passengers are allowed to go from one place to another within Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. 

A Chinese visa is a permit issued by the Chinese visa authorities (Chinese embassies, consulates, and other offices authorized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to a foreigner, which authorizes entry into, exit from, or transit through the People's Republic of China. Visa authorities may issue a Diplomatic, Courtesy, Official or Regular Visa to an alien, depending on his/her status and purpose of visit to China, and/or passport type.

In 2014 China announced a new policy to sign mutual visa-free travel agreements with as many countries as possible (as cited in China Embassy, 2015).

1.)   Eligible nationalities for visa free entry

Citizens holding passports issued by the following nations are not required to obtain a visa to travel to China on a trip as long as it lasts no more than the visa waiver limit as listed below.

Ordinary passports

• Bahamas: 30 days (since February 12, 2014)
• Brunei: 15 days (since July 1, 2003)
• Grenada: 30 days (not yet in force)
• Japan: 15 days (since September 1, 2003)
• Mauritius: 30 days (since October 31, 2013)
• San Marino: 90 days (since July 15, 1985)
• Seychelles: 30 days (since June 26, 2013)
• Singapore: 15 days (since July 1, 2003)

2.)   Ordinary passports (endorsed "for public affairs")

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cuba, Georgia, Guyana, Laos, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, North Korea, Pakistan, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam

3.)   Diplomatic and service/official passports

Holders of passports issued by the following countries are allowed to enter and remain in China for up to 30 days.

Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sri-Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

4.) Entry using Home Return Permit or Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit

The following Chinese Nationals can enter China using their Home Return Permit or Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit. The Home Return Permit is valid for 10 years multiple entry and can have unlimited stay in China. Whereas the Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit is valid for multiple entry for 1,2 or 3 years or it can be single entry for 3 months. Their passports are not valid for entry into China as China does not consider these Chinese nationals travelling to China as "international" travels.

Hong Kong: Entrance with Home Return Permit, Macau: Entrance with Home Return Permit, Taiwan: Entrance with Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit or National ID card with entry permit on arrival.

5.) Visa free transit through international airports

24-hour stay

 

Visas are not required of any foreign passport holders who:

• hold air tickets to a final destination outside China and who have booked seats on international airlines flying directly through China;
• stay in the transit airport for less than 24 hours;
• do not leave the transit airport.

72-hour stay



Holders of passports issued by the following 51 countries do not need a visa for a 72 hour visit if they are transiting through the following airports provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries (if required), final destination tickets and have booked onward flight seats, and they visit only that city, municipality or province (Guangdong Province and zhejiang Province). Countries were included on the list based on the number of visitors to China, and excluded where the governments are of "low quality" or "badly behaved". In December 2014 it was proposed to extend the allowed stay to 96 hours and to allow all foreign visitors.

Eligible countries

Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Eligible airports

• Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing
• Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu
• Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing
• Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport in Dalian
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou
• Guilin Liangjiang International Airport in Guilin
• Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou
• Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai
• Shenyang Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang
• Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan-from March 2015
• Xi'an Xianyang International Airport in Xi'an/Xianyang
• Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport in Xiamen-from first half of 2015

6.) Region-specific visa exemptions

The Chinese government has implemented visa waiver schemes for foreign nationals travelling to particular areas of Mainland China.

a.     Pearl River Delta

All visitors to Hongkong and/or Macao are able to visit the surrounding Pearl River Delta visa-free as long as the following conditions are fulfilled:

• The visitor is a national of a country which has diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China
• The visitor is visiting the Pearl River Delta as part of a tour group organised by a Hongkong or Macao based travel agency
• The stay is six days or less (21 days for citizens of Germany, Republic of Korea and Russia)
• The visitor stays only within the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou and Shantou

b.    Special Economic Zone Visa

Visitors from most countries may obtain a five-day entry visa when travelling to Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Xiamen. Visits are limited to visa's issue city. The visa can be obtained only upon arrival at Lo Wu border crossing, Huanggang Port Control Point or Shekou Port for Shenzhen, Gongbei Port of Entry or Jiuzhou Port for Zhuhai and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport for Xiamen.

c.     Hainan Province

Nationals from the following countries can visit Hainan Island visa-free as long as their visit lasts 15 days or less and they are visiting as part of a tour group organised by a National Tourism Administration of China-approved travel agency based in Hainan.

 

Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France,  Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

 

In addition, visas on arrival are available for citizens from the following countries, which China considers countries with established diplomatic or official trade relations for the purposes of investment, trade, economic and technological interactions, visiting friends and family, or vacation. Visas are available at all entry points and are valid for 15 days.

 

Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

d.    Heihe

Citizens of Russia that are residents of Amur Oblast may visit Heihe without a visa for a day.

e.     Suifenhe

Citizens of Russia may visit Suifenhe without a visa for up to 15 days if travelling with at least one companion.  

f.     Xinjiang

Citizens of Kazakhstan can visit Jeminay Country (East Kazakhstan Region residents) and Tacheng in Xinjiang without a visa for three days.

Procedure

1. Inform the airlines when boarding – Fill an Arrival/Departure Card on the flight - Apply the 72-hour permit – Claim the luggage – Go through the custom - Leave airport

It is necessary to inform the airline at check-in, so that they can declare your request to the airport custom before landing. Passengers transiting via Beijing Capital International Airport can apply for this free transit permit after arrival.

2. There is a special counter/lane for the 72-hour free transit at the immigration, so passengers can go walk there directly by following the signs. For example, the immigration channels 2 to 4 are for 72-hour free transit passengers in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

3. After the request to enjoy the 72-hour free transit is approved, the officer will stamp a stay permit on your passport. The duration of stay is written on the passport. Remember to tell the officer that one wants to use the 72-hour free transit if he/she already has a valid visa for China.

4. After leaving the airport, remember to register at local police station within 24 hours of arrival if one wants to stay over 24 hours. Those who live with family or friends need to go to register in person at the police station with relatives or friends. Those who live in hotels do not need to go, because the hotels will do it for the guests.

5. Passengers are not allowed to leave the transit city during the 72 hours, except Guangzhou and Hangzhou. They can leave for other places in Guangdong province when transiting in Guangzhou and in Zhejiang province when transiting in Hangzhou.

6. If visitors are unable to depart on time due to unavoidable reasons, such as flight cancellation or treatment of sudden disease, they need to apply for a visa from Municipal Public Security Bureau (PSB). Otherwise, tourists cannot apply for an extension of stay.

*Happy Travels!

 

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