China: 144-hour visa-free transit policy implemented at 37 exit-entry ports

Travel Biz News —-

More than 14.6 million foreign tourists visited China through ports across China in the first half of 2024, according to the National Immigration Administration.

The National Immigration Administration (NIA)’s press spokesperson reported during a press conference recently that a total of 14,635,000 foreign nationals entered China through ports across the country in the first half of 2024, reflecting a 152.7-percent year-on-year increase.

Among these foreign nationals, 8,542,000 entered China in a visa-free way, constituting 58 percent of the total figure and marking a year-on-year growth by 190.1 percent.

NIA forecasts a further rise in the number of the foreign nationals entering China throughout the second half of the year.

NIA has implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy at 37 exit-entry ports in Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality, Shijiazhuang and Qinhuangdao (Hebei Province), Shenyang and Dalian (Liaoning Province), Shanghai Municipality, Nanjing and Lianyungang (Jiangsu Province), Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou and Zhoushan (Zhejiang Province), Zhengzhou (Henan Province), Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Jieyang (Guangdong Province), Qingdao (Shandong Province), Chongqing Municipality, Chengdu (Sichuan Province), Xi’an (Shaanxi Province), Xiamen (Fujian Province), Wuhan (Hubei Province), Kunming, Lijiang and Xishuangbanna (Yunnan Province).

Citizens of 54 countries ,including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, who hold valid international travel documents and confirmed connecting tickets for flights, trains and ships departing for third countries within 144 hours after having arrived in China, are eligible to transit through any of the 37 aforementioned ports without visas.

Within their stay periods, they can travel, engage in business activities, visit their friends and relatives, and engage in other short-term activities.

According to an official of NIA, the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policies effective in January 2013 are of great importance in China’s high-level opening-up, facilitated personnel exchanges between China and other countries and regions, and promoted broader cooperation.

NIA also aims to welcome more foreign nationals to China with a more inclusive gesture and contribute to the greater opening-up and high-quality development of China.

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