144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei
The 144-hour visa-free transit has been implemented in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei since December 28th, 2017. It enables air, train, and ship passengers heading for a third country or region to stay within the three places for up to six days without needing a visa application.
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| Areas Allowed to Stay |
Tourists qualifying for the 144-hour free transit can move freely in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei within the 6 days. For example, if an UK passport holder entering from Beijing Capital International Airport intends to take a 6 Days Private Olympic Tour to Beijing & Zhangjiakou offered by TravelChinaGuide, and then catch a leaving flight in Tianjin airport, there is no problem that the 144-hour visa-free transit can cover the trip and no visa will be required for the British.
Who can enjoy the 144-hour visa exemption? - List of 53 Qualified Countries
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 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
What Is An Eligible Route?
A: departure country ⇒ B: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei ⇒ C: the third country or region
Passengers cannot have any stop in Mainland China between A and B, and B and C. For example, if the passenger stops in Guangzhou before entering Beijing, Tianjin, or Hebei, he or she cannot enjoy the 144-hour visa-free transit.
How to Apply for 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit?
For the application, documents including your passport valid for at least three months, visa (if applicable) and onward ticket to the third country or region should be prepared. Then you can follow the steps in the chart.
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What Are the Eligible Transit Ports?
| Ports | Contact Information | |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Capital International Airport | 0086-10-56095400 |
| West Railway Station | 0086-10-56092165 | |
| Tianjin | Tianjin Binhai International Airport | 0086-22-24905908 |
| Tianjin International Cruise Home Port | 0086-22-25605128 | |
| Hebei | Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport | 0086-311-88027961 |
| Qinhuangdao Port | 0086-335-3099676 |
What Can I Do During the 144 Hours?
Sightseeing in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei
Thanks to the developed intercity high speed trains, it is quite easy for visitors to transfer from Beijing to Tianjin or cities in Hebei. The One-Card system for public buses and subways will run in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, making it even more convenient to travel in the region. Why not take advantage of this visa-free transit and easy transportation to make a trip in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region?
Foreigners transiting under eligible countries’ passports are able to enjoy 144-hour visa-free transit to travel within the qualified transit zone. Beijing is not only the political and economic center of China, but also a well-known tourist resort covering a large number of attractions, such as the Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven. Paying a visit to the grand Great Wall will highlight your private trip in Beijing. You could also go to Qinhuangdao City to appreciate the fascinating natural landscape of Beidaihe. In addition, viewing the Chengde Mountain Resort is recommended for it will provide you with a retreat in hot summer.
See Beijing 144 Hour Layover Tours
3 Days Great Wall Tour from $179 to Badaling, Mutianyu, Juyongguan
Beijing Mini Group Day Tour from $89 to Forbidden City & Great Wall: 1 - 6 people, No Shopping
5 Days Beijing Tour with Hutongs from $519
Cost-efficient Shopping With Tax Refund Policy in Beijing and Tianjin
Trans-city tax refund in Beijing and Tianjin will help you to reduce the budget. Travelers can buy things at designated tax free stores in Beijing and Tianjin and choose to apply for a tax refund in either city. For example, if you buy things in Tianjin and your leaving flight is in Beijing, you can get the refund at the Beijing airport.
Watching Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on Site
If you are a sport enthusiast, enjoying this 144-hour visa-free transit will provide you with a great convenience to watch the 2022 Beijing-Zhangjiakou Olympic Winter Games during the 6-day transit time. Besides, Ski Resorts in Zhangjiakou are ideal places for skiing and entertaining yourself close to Beijing.
Further Reading on China 144-Hour Visa-Free Policy:144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Liaoning
144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Guangdong (to be adopted)
Xiamen, Wuhan, Qingdao, Chengdu, Kunming - to be implemented since Jan. 1, 2019
ReplyIs a 144 hour transit visa possible where the airline I use to arrive into china is different to the airline I will use to depart Beijing? The flight tickets are being purchased through a flight finding website so the airlines used to arrive into and depart from China will be different although the overall itinerary showing arrival and departure will be clear.
Thanks for your help
Robert
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0ReplyReplyThank you for the help on the forum! Few questions for you
1. Can I transit from anywhere in the world to the cities mentioned above to a 3rd country? So Osaka to PEK to Singapore is ok? Same with Kuala Lumpur to PEK to Singapore?
2. Where do I physically apply? Is it once we land in China? There is not process beforehand?
3. Can I visit Xi'an on my 144-hour visa (with port of entry being Beijing?) My port of exit is also Beijing. Or will I have to get a proper visa?
Context: I do not want to even slightly disrespect China OR be the fool who tries to deceive the Chinese authorities. I would like to make sure what I am doing is absolutely allowed within the laws and customs of the country (especially #3) before proceeding with my plans.
00Reply2. You inform your airline at check-in/boarding and show your confirmed onward ticket. It's not a visa (it's transit without visa) so there's not really anything to apply for. You also show your onward ticket when you arrive in China at immigration inspection.
3. Definitely not allowed without a visa. You must stay in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei unless you have a visa.
00ReplyReplyI am eligible for the 144h free entry but I wondered how to get it. Is it enough to notify the staff of my airline before my entry to China? Or do I have to prepare something before I get to the airport?
Thanks in Advance:)
Reply1) Will my train ticket from West railway station to Shanghai or Jinan be acceptable for 144hr visa when I get into BJ?
2) What if I decide not to use the train ticket but instead fly back to London from BJ?
Thanks
00Reply2. You won't get as far as BJ, as explained above. But if you did, you would be caught, detained, fined, banned from China and experience a great deal of unpleasantness. Don't even think about it. Just get a Chinese visa.
00ReplyAlso, if in BJ and needing return to UK immediately, people are jailed for that?
00Reply00Reply2) You cannot travel between BJ and Shanghai on the visa free transit.
3) BJ West station is eligible exit point from China BUT that is for the train to Hong Kong (overnight train).
4) You can enter from BJ and leave from Tianjin on Olympic tour BUT you must be traveling to a third country
5) The whole region wording is diplomatic phrasing. Hong Kong and Macau are not part of Mainland China so are treated as third countries
6) If you want to play games and not fly to the third country you will be taken off the plane (if you get that far) and go through deportation process. If you get deported you will not only be banned from China for some time but will have trouble traveling internationally as records are shared between countries. Once brexit is complete you will likely have problems leaving the UK too