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72-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China

 The 72-hour visa-free transit has been resumed from January 8th, 2023 on, after being suspended for 3 years because of the covid-19.
Visa Free Transit Service
Transit Service Counter
in Beijing Capital Airport

The 72-hour visa-free transit policy in China allows air passengers from 54 countries to transit and stay for up to 72 hours (3 days) in 18 China cities without a visa. In order to facilitate international visitors' short stay in China, the policy is promising to be carried out in more and more cities in the future.
 

Qualified Countries

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

15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco

6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile

2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand

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

Cities Enjoying the Policy

Harbin, Guilin, Changsha

Beijing, Tianjin, ShanghaiXi'anChongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xiamen, Qingdao, Kunming, the whole Guangdong Province - Extended to 144-hour Visa-free Transit
 

Areas Allowed to Stay

 Cities only with the 72-hour free entry policy:

Passengers transiting in Changsha are allowed to travel in the whole province.

Passengers transiting in  Harbin and Guilin cannot leave the transit city.


 Cities where the 72 hours scheme has been extended to 144-hour transit without visa (TWOV):

Passengers transiting in Shanghai, Zhejiang, or Jiangsu can move around the three places. With the implementation of the 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy, they can actually stay for as long as 144 hours.

Passengers transiting in Xi'an Xianyang Airport are permitted to travel in Xi'an and Xianyang.

Passengers transiting in Guangdong can travel around the whole province.

Passengers transiting in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei can also move around the three places freely for 144 hours.

Passengers stopping over in Dalian or Shenyang can travel in the whole of Liaoning Province.

Passengers transiting in Chengdu, Kunming, Wuhan, Chongqing or Xiamen cannot leave the transit city.

Passengers transiting in Qingdao are allowed to move freely within the whole Shandong Province for 144 hours. 
 

Recommended Tours for Transit Passengers in Different Cities

 

Conditions for Application

1. The confirmed seat onward ticket and valid visa to a third country or region (if required) are needed for entry. Based on the latest information, the 72 hours starts from 00:00 the day following the entry date in almost all the airports, except Beijing Airport. For example, if an air passenger arrives in Guangzhou at 08:00 on June 2nd, then the latest time for him to leave is 23:59 on June 5. In this case, the actual stopover time is more than 72 hours. However, in Beijing, the 72 hours count from the scheduled arrival time of the flight. To play on the safe side, passengers are recommended to be more conservative and not to exceed the "strict 72 hours" which counts from the flights' scheduled arrival time to the departure time.

2. The flights can only stop in one Chinese city, meaning passengers have to enter and exit from the same city, except in cities where the 144-hour visa-free transit has been implemented. For instance, if a flight lands in Xi'an via Beijing, passengers are not able to enjoy the policy. In addition, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are regarded as a third region in terms of transit issues. If a flight passes USA – Beijing – Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan, passengers are able to enjoy.

3. Only use flights to transfer in China. Passengers using other vehicles (including using flight for single trip) are not eligible to enjoy the policy.

4. Passengers are required to leave from the same airport that they arrive, except in some of the cities with 144-hour visa-free transit scheme where they may enter or leave from land or sea ports.
 

Documents for Application

 Passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry. Actually there are cases that some passengers are denied at the immigration counter because the remaining validity of their passport is not more than 6 months, so it's better to keep your passport valid for at least 6 months to play safe.
 Visa for a third country or region (if applicable)
 A full completed Arrival/Departure Card (including name, nationality, passport no., visa no. & issuance place, flight no., purpose of visit, date of birth, gender)
 An onward ticket with confirmed seat are needed
 

Procedure

Inform the airlines when boarding – Fill an Arrival/Departure Card on the flight - Apply the 72-hour permit – Claim the luggage – Go through the custom - Leave airport

 Tips:
Visa Free Direction Board
Direction Boards for 72-hour Special Counter

1. It is necessary to inform the airline at check-in, so that they can declare your request to the airport custom before landing. Passengers transiting via Beijing Capital International Airport can apply for this free transit permit after arrival.

2. There is a special counter/lane for the 72-hour free transit at the immigration, so passengers can go there directly by following the signs. For example, the immigration channels 2 to 4 are for 72-hour TWOV passengers in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

3. After the request to enjoy the 72-hour China TWOV is approved, the officer will stamp a stay permit on your passport. The duration of stay is written on the passport. Remember to tell the officer that one wants to use the 72-hour free transit if he/she already has a valid visa for China.

4. After leaving the airport, remember to register at local police station within 24 hours of arrival if one wants to stay over 24 hours. Those who live with family or friends need to go to register in person at the police station with relatives or friends. Those who live in hotels do not need to go, because the hotels will do it for the guests.

5. If visitors are unable to depart on time due to unavoidable reasons, such as flight cancellation or treatment of sudden disease, they need to apply for a visa from Municipal Public Security Bureau (PSB). Otherwise, tourists cannot apply for an extension of stay.
 

Difference between 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit and 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Direct Transit within 24 hours is available for any nationality passenger and it is applicable to any vehicle, while the 72-hour Free Transit is only possible for passengers from designated countries and requires to transit in the airport.

Two pictures are helpful to make you clear.

24-Hour Direct Transit 72-Hour Free Transit
 

Other Services for Free Transit

There are service centers for transit passengers in the terminals, offering rest places with drinking water and reading materials if they do not want to leave the airport. For visa-free transit passengers, the airports also provide services for currency exchange, mobile phone rental, car rental, left luggage, as well as local souvenir shops. Tour buses are available from the terminals for the convenience of tourists.

 Read FAQ about 72-hour Visa-free Transit

 Note:
In case that 1) you can't provide any of the required documents listed above, 2) or your flight route does not qualify, 3) or you have the record of overstaying in a country or getting visa refusal before, your application for the 72-hour visa-free transit permit may be refused. For fear of troubles caused by such cases, please make sure that you are eligible or apply for a regular transit visa in advance. 

 

 Further Reading:
China Visa-free Policy

How to Travel to China without a Visa

- Last updated on Mar. 04, 2024 by Brenda Lian -
Questions & Answers on 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit
Asked by cindy from USA | Mar. 18, 2024 15:43Reply
confirmed seat
I have a flight from Orlando Florida to Japan, one way, then a flight from Japan to China riving May 2 5 PM leaving May 4 at 7 PM one way and then from China to the Philippines one way and then Manila to Florida back on 512 One way none of my tickets have confirmed seat numbers but I have confirmed tickets and I paid for them. I don’t get my Confirm seat numbers till I get on the plane. They are not standby tickets. Will that be sufficient these one-way tickets?
Asked by sivasubramaniam Subbian from UNITED KINGDOM | Mar. 18, 2024 05:37Reply
Chennai to Guangzhou via singapore on 19th March 2024 and (CAN) Guangzhou to Bali denpasar
Hi
I am planning to travel from MAA ( chennai ) to CAN Guangzhou on 19th March 2024 by singapore airlines on seperate ticket and from CAN to Bali on 22 march 2024 on seperate ticket. Inorder to qualify for this 72 hour or 144 hour visa free stamp is it has to be in one booking or it can be two seperate booking
Do i need a hotel booking in Quangzou for those nights i am.spending between 19th to 22nd march.
I am planning to meet classmate who is in CAN for China furniture fair at canton fair
Please let me know
Thanks
Asked by Adam from JAPAN | Mar. 18, 2024 01:23Reply
Passport near expiry
Hi I'm japanese citizen traveling from New Zealand to tokyo with a 5 hour transit in Shanghai pudong. NY passport has 4 months until it expires from the date I arrive in Shanghai. Am I eligible for a 24 hour visa. I read online it's either 3 or 6months. I'm worried I will get sent back to new zealand.

Thank you
Asked by Irin from NEW ZEALAND | Mar. 17, 2024 16:58Reply
Vietnam- Guangzhou - Beijing- Russia
On April 17th, 2024, I will be travelling to China. My arrival destination will be Guangzhou, from Vietnam. I have already made a hotel reservation in Guangzhou, and I plan to stay there for five nights. After my stay in Guangzhou, I will be travelling to Beijing, where I will only be staying in the airport zone. From there, I will be flying to Russia. My total stay in China will be 127 hours. I wanted to know if I am eligible for a 144-hour visa-free stay, and if it is possible to enter China through the port of Guangzhou and exit through Dixin (Beijing). I am holder NZ and Russian passports
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Mar. 18, 2024 15:53
00Reply


No, unfortunately your itinerary is not eligible for 144 hour visa free transit scheme. One of the rules of 144 hour visa free transit scheme clearly says that you are not allowed to have two mainland China destinations in a row regardless of their nature. I'm sorry.
Asked by George from UNITED KINGDOM | Mar. 17, 2024 08:48Reply
from Hong Kong-Guangzhou-Hong Kong- Bali
I am travelling from Hong Kong to Guangzhou via plane and then travelling to bali a day later with a layover in Hong Kong. I am wondering if I qualify for the 72 hr transit free visa or not since I will technically be landing in the country I am starting off in. I have a student visa to stay in Hong Kong.
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Mar. 18, 2024 15:51
00Reply


No, your itinerary is not valid for any type of visa free transit because this is considered a return trip and not a transit. The main detail in visa free transit set of rules is that the immediate points before and after your destination in China have to be in two different countries or eligible territories. Your immediate points are both located in the same territory - Hong Kong. I'm sorry.
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