Transit in China Without Visa - Updated China Visa Free Transit Policies

Do I Need A Visa to Transit Through China?

Normally, foreigner travelers require a Chinese Transit Visa (G Visa) for a layover. However, if you qualify for one of the following TWOV programs in China, the Transit Visa will be exempted at the transit port, no cost will be accrued, and you are able to be granted a short-term visa-free stay in certain cities of mainland China. Let’s check the detailed requirements and application guide below.

As the one eligible for most transit passengers, the 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit executed in many cities in China. Under the policy, visitors who come from any foreign countries, hold connecting tickets (air, ship, train) to a third country or region within 24 hours can get Transit Visa Exemption, and make multiple stopovers while transit through mainland China. No visa is required if you stay inside the airport during the layover, but a Temporary Entry Permit shall be applied at immigration authority if you plan to leave the airport to rest in a hotel outside, or go to downtown for a quick sightseeing trip.

China started the 72-Hour Transit Visa Waiver service in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and else cities to international transit visitors from early 2013. Now 22 cities are eligible, including Xian, Guilin, Harbin, Changsha and so on. At first, it was valid for citizens from 45 appointed countries, and later added to 51 countries and now set for visitors from 53 countries, the same qualification as the 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy. Ports of entry and exit have been increased subsequently.

Foreign Couple Firstly Enjoyed 72-Hour TWOV in Guangzhou

Transit Passengers Used 72 TWOV in Guilin

Chinese Cities Applicable to 72-Hour TWOV (23):

Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Wuhan, Changsha, Xiamen, Qingdao, Harbin, Dalian, Shenyang, Jieyang (Chaoshan), Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Ningbo.

Application Requirements Includes:

● Hold passport or international travel document with a validity of 3 months and above.

● Own citizenship of certain 53 foreign countries, such as, US, Canada, Australia, etc.

● Take connecting (flight or ship) ticket to a third country or region with confirmed date (departing within 72 hour after arrival) and seat.

● Enter and exit through specific ports.

On arrival, applicants should fill in Temporary Arrival Card to enter and stay in the transit city, accept inquiry from the immigration officer of the Exit & Entry Administration. Want to have a layover in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Guangzhou or other cities? Click our Ultimate Guide for 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China to know more details of requirements, application process and popular tours!

Special Restrictions

During the visa-free stay, foreigners shall obey Chinese laws and regulations.

① If you will overstay than the allowed 72 hours, you shall apply for a Chinese Visa at the local Public Security Bureau.

② After checking in the hotel, you need to make accommodation registration personally or by the host to the Public Security Bureau in the city where you stay in.

③ You will face penalty if you stay longer than 72 hours, travel beyond the permitted area, or enter via non-appointed port, or fail to register accommodation status.

From January 6th 2016, China extended the previous 72-Hour Transit Visa Free in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Beijing, Xian, Tianjin, Chengdu, Guangzhou, altogether 20 cities in China to a longer 144 hours, to provide huge convenience and tour opportunity for transit travelers. It is the newest and also the longest TWOV program at present. Once meeting related regulations during the layover, you may obtain a 6-day visa-free entry to visit top tourist destinations in China. Note that the requirements and limitations are similar between 72-Hour TWOV and 144-TWOV.

Transit Passenger Got 144-Hour Visa-Free Entry to Xiamen

First Transit Group Took 144-Hour TWOV in Guangzhou

Chinese Cities Applicable to 144-Hour TWOV (20):

Beijing, Xian, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shenyang, Dalian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Wushan, Xiamen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jieyang (揭阳).

Application Requirements Includes:

● Hold passport or international travel document with a validity of 3 months and above.

● Has citizenship of certain 53 foreign countries, such as, US, Canada, Australia, etc.

● Take connecting (flight or ship) ticket to a third country or region with confirmed date (departing within 144 hour after arrival) and seat.

● Enter and exit through specific ports.

For more valid city, quilification, application guide, please read the latest 144-Hour Visa-Free Policy in China.

The 24-Hour Direct Transit Visa Free applies to any foreign countries while the 72-Hour and 144-Hour TWOV are only valid for nationals from designated 53 countries in 4 continents (download the full country list here ).

>> European Countries (39)

European Countries under Schengen Visa Agreement (25):

Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Monaco.

Other European Countries (14):

Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, and Belarus.

>> American Countries (6):

The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the Republic of Chile.

>> Oceania Countries (2):

Australia and New Zealand.

>> Asian Countries (6):

South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Complete Arrival Card

Queue up and Submit Transit Visa Exemption Application

Step 1: Notify the carrier (air company) that takes you to transit through China, submit your application of the TWOV program when boarding. They will report your need to the immigration office at the intermediate port.

Step 2: Follow signs at customs area, and get to the special counter immigration department set for Visa-free Transit visitors, and fill in an Arrival Card, submit to the officer.

Step 3: If get approved, your passport will be stamped a Temporary Entry Permit, which shows the issuing date, the permitted duration of stay at entry port.

Step 4: If you don’t want to use the Chinese Visa you already obtained this time, you should tell the immigration officer you will enter and transit by applying the Visa-free Transit.

Step 5: After leaving airport, you must register yourself within 24 hours upon arrival at the local police station or Public Security Bureau (PSB). If you will stay in hotel, the hotel staff will do the registration for you.