Traveling in China Without a Visa?! YES! Now You Can!
Thinking about bringing your family and parents to China and exploring the country together? Thinking about how they can get their visas to enter China? No worries! With the “visa-free policy,” they can visit China without a visa.
Three Types of Visa-Free Entry Permits
01 24-Hours Visa-Free Transit
24-hour visa-free transit in China, regulates that visa is not required for air, train, and ship passengers transiting in mainland China for a stay of no more than 24 hours before heading for a third country or region.
Who are eligible for the 24-hour TWOV of China?
Nationals of most countries are eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit, while there are exceptions in certain airports for some nationalities, and they are:
- Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Yemen passport holders transiting in Xiamen require a visa.
- Syrian citizens transiting in Guangzhou are not eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit.
Materials needed:
- Valid passport or other international travel documents
- A joint ticket to a third country or region with a reserved seat (you can submit it at the airport)
02 144-Hours Visa-Free Transit
China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy is carried out in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Chengdu, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, and Kunming as well as Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, to facilitate international travelers.
Who can enjoy China 144-hour visa exemption?
- a) 24 Schengen Agreement Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
- b) 15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco
- c) 6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
- d) 2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand
- e) 6 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar
Materials needed:
- Valid international travel documents held by citizens of 53 countries
- A joint ticket to a third country or region with a reserved seat
- Fill in the temporary entry alien entry card in advance (you can apply for it at the arrival point)
TIPS:
- If you arrive in Shanghai, you can travel in Shanghai province, Zhejiang province and Jiangsu province.
- If you arrive in Beijing, you can travel in Beijing province, Tianjin province and Hebei province.
(Any means of transportation will be acceptable)
03 Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Access
Hainan 30-day visa-free access scheme stipulates foreign citizens holding the passport of 59 qualifying countries can have 30 days visa-free entry to Hainan if received by travel agencies. During the stay, they can travel in the whole of Hainan Province without a Chinese visa. This visa-free access will count its 30 days duration from 00:00 the day following the entry date.
Who can enjoy China 144-hour visa exemption?
- a) 6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
- b) 2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand
- c) 25 Schengen Agreement Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
- d) 15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco
- e) 11 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar
