72-hour Visa-Free Transit Stay in China

Foreign tourists, holding valid international travel documents and having confirmed connecting ticket to a third country with specified date and seat indicated, may apply for visa-free transit in China for a of 72 hours.

The 53 Qualified Countries:

1. 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.

2. 15 Other European Countries: Russia, UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Monaco.

3. 6 American countries: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile

4. 2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand

5. 6 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar

Major Cities:

Harbin, Guilin, Changsha, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Xi 'an, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xiamen, Qingdao, Kunming, Guangdong Province

City (Visa Free) Airport

Beijing Beijing Capital Airport

Shanghai Shanghai Hongqiao airport

Shanghai Pudong Airport

Guangzhou Guangzhou Baiyun Airport

Chengdu Chengdu Shuangliu Airport

Chongqing Chongqing Jiangbei Airport

Dalian Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport

Shenyang Shenyang Taoxian Airport

Xian Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

Guilin Guilin Liang Jiang International Airport

Kunming Kunming Changshui International Airport

Hangzhou Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport

Xiamen Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport

Wuhan Wuhan Tianhe International Airport

Tianjin Tianjin Binhai International Airport

Harbin Harbin Taiping International Airport

Requirements

1. Holders of passports issued by 1 of the 53 countries mentioned above. The passport is valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry.

2. Entry requirements of the third destination country.

3. A visa to a third country or region.

4. Completed arrival/departure card (including name, nationality, passport number, visa number, place of issue, flight number, purpose of arrival, date of birth, gender)

5. An onward ticket with confirmed seat.

Restrictions

1. This policy does not apply to passengers on return flights, meaning that the destination and departure place cannot be in the same country.

2. The 72-hour visa-free stay is only applicable to transit through air. Passengers travelling by train or other means of transport still need to apply for a visa in advance.

3. Those who cannot leave the country on time due to unavoidable reasons such as flight cancellations or sudden illness treatment shall apply to the Municipal Public Security Bureau for a visa.

How to apply?

The foreign traveler who meets the requirements may submit his/her request with his/her airline and the airline or passenger whose own border control authority should make the application should grant temporary entry to the passenger a transit visa exemption upon verification to meet the requirements.

According to the new policy, China has also offered 144-hour visa-free for travelers. Please kindly check if you are qualified as well if necessary.