National Immigration Administration on December 17 issued a notice, that it will comprehensively relax and optimize the transit visa-free policy from Dec.17th, extending the stay time of transit visa-free foreigners in China from the original 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days) , while adding 21 new ports for the transit visa-free people to enter and exit, and further expand the areas for stay activities.

Eligible nationals from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, who are in transit from China to a third country (region) may come to China without a visa from any of the 60 ports open to the outside world in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), and stay in the stipulated areas for no more than 240 hours.

Conditions for foreigners applying for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy are as below:

1. Citizens belonging to 54 countries applying the transit visa-free policy:

European countries (40):

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway;

Countries in the Americas (6):

USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile;

Countries in Oceania (2):

Australia, New Zealand;

Asian countries (6):

South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar.

2. It is necessary to hold a valid international travel document, valid for not less than 3 months, and meet the entry conditions for traveling to a third country (region).

3. It is necessary to hold a connecting ticket or relevant certificate for a third country (region) with a confirmed date and seat within 240 hours., fill in the temporary entry foreigner entry card, and accept the inspection and inquiry of exit and entry border inspection authorities.

Foreigners meeting the above conditions can apply to the border control authorities at 60 ports of entry in Beijing, Shanghai and other places in China, and the border control authorities will handle the temporary entry procedures for them, and the visa-free stay will be counted from 00:00 of the next day of entry. Those who are in line with the mutual visa exemption agreement signed with China or our unilateral visa exemption policy may be subject to its provisions.