144-hour Visa-free Transit in Beijing, Tianjin & 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.
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 visit Beijing for 6 days, 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 54 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
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.
 |
What Are the Eligible Transit Ports?
| Ports | Contact Information | |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Capital International Airport | 0086-10-56095400 |
| Daxing International Airport | 0086-10-96158 | |
| 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 Beidaihe International Airport | 0086-335-7520000 | |
| Qinhuangdao Port | 0086-335-3093256 |
As only the West Railway Station in Beijing allows the 144h visa-free transit, passengers taking international trains to / from Moscow, Ulaanbaatar, and North Korea cannot enjoy it, while those takings trains to / from Hanoi and Hong Kong are eligible. From May 15, 2024, foreign cruise tour groups organized by China travel agencies can enter through 13 coastal cities visa free like Tianjin, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Sanya and stay in coastal provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities including Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Shanghai and Tianjin and also the capital Beijing for 15 days. 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.
Recommended Tours
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.
Read More:
An Ultimate Guide for Layover in Beijing
How to Plan an 8-hour Layover in Beijing: Advices for 4 to 12 Hours’ Stay
Perfect Plan for an Overnight Layover in Beijing: 12 to 24 Hours
What to do in Beijing in one day – 6 Special Things to Do
Long Layover in Beijing – How to Spend 1 to 6 Days in Beijing?
How Many Days to Spend in Beijing?
Beijing Itinerary 4 Days: What to Do & How to Plan
Beijing Itinerary 5 Days: What to See & How to Plan
How to plan a Beijing itinerary 6 days?
Beijing Itinerary 7 Days: How to spend one week in Beijing
Further Reading on China 144-Hour Visa-Free Policy:144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Liaoning
144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Guangdong
Xiamen, Wuhan, Qingdao, Chengdu, Kunming, Xi'an, Chongqing
ReplyOrigin: South Korea
Layover: Hong Kong (4 hour layover)
Destination: Beijing
4 days later...
Depart: Beijing
Layover: South Korea (3 hour layover)
Destination: USA
Is this eligible routing for 144 hour visa free transit? My understanding is that only immediate flights to/from Mainland China matter. So in my case, Country A = Hong Kong, Destination B = Beijing, Country C = South Korea.
And that's true even if I don't clear immigration during my layovers? I plan on staying in the terminal if possible.
0
0ReplyReply00ReplyQuestion #2, Seat requirements are just a redundant and outdated requirement that does not apply at all. In reality, seat allocations is now explained as a possession on a confirmed ticket. So, even here, you can have absolute peace of mind because you are definitely fine with your confirmed flight tickets.
If you encounter a person being it Greece or Egypt who obviously do not properly understand the concept of 144 hour visa free transit scheme, just kindly remind her/him to take a look at Timatic. Timati is an online tool used by airlines to determine someone`s eligibility. To conclude, you are good to go. Enjoy your journey.
Reply00ReplyYour immediate points before and after Beijing have to be in two different countries or eligible territories (eligible territories: Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau), so please, take care of this detail. Also, you are not allowed to have two landings in a row within mainland China.
As far as your documents are concerned, it is enough to have your passport and to present your onward flight tickets. It is also highly recommended to have a hotel booking confirmation for at least the first overnight in Beijing.
Reply00ReplyReply00ReplySince you are a citizen of eligible country it really does not matter what will be your A and C countries, counting China as B country. In other words, you can use any two countries or eligible territories (eligible territories: Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau) to create an eligible itinerary. Also there is no limit on how many times you can enjoy this visa free transit option.
You should just have in mind that you are not allowed to have two landings in mainland China in a row. In other words, you can travel as you have written, but you cannot have an itinerary of this kind:
Japan - Beijing - Shanghai - Thailand
Japan to Beijing has to be a nonstop flight as well as from Beijing to Thailand. I know you know these details, but it is always good to repeat them to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.