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.
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| Areas Allowed to Stay (Click to Enlarge) |
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.
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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 | 0335-7520000 |
Note: 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.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
ReplyI have a flight from USA to Honk Kong (transfer 2 hours) to Beijing (stay 5 days) to Thailand. Am I eligible for visa free transit since the first time I arrive in mainland China is in Beijing and I am leaving directly from there 5 days later?
Thanks for your guidance
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0Reply00ReplyReplyUnder the 144 hour visa free, can I visit for 2 days Beijing (Great Wall and City tour ) and travel by bullet train to Xi'an for 2 days (Terracota Army and City tour) and return to Beijing airport for departure?
00ReplyAlso, you are mentioning Beijing to Delhi flight, but as we both know, there are no direct, let alone nonstop, flights between Beijing and Delhi. You obviously plan to flight from Beijing to some other airport immediately after Beijing and not in India. This is fine as long as you do not have any additional landing within mainland China or back to Japan.
ReplyI’ll be arriving in Beijing from Australia via a quick three hour transit stopover in Singapore without leaving the airport.
My trip to Beijing is just to briefly see some of the sights.
I plan on staying in Beijing and surrounds for four days and then flying to Seoul.
Am I eligible for the 144 visa?
I don’t want to take the risk of just turning up without a visa.
00ReplyIf you have precisely mentioned your whole itinerary and if Beijing is the only stop you will have within mainland China, your 4 days there will be definitely and undeniably covered by 144 hour visa free transit. Please, just use correct terminology because this is not 144 hour visa, but 144 hour visa free transit, so there is no visa of any kind.
You do not have to be afraid of traveling without a visa on such an itinerary because this visa free scheme is in use for years and is successfully used by hundreds or even thousands on a daily basis. You should just print out your flight tickets and your, at least the first, overnight in Beijing and you will be perfectly fine. Upon your landing in Beijing the first thing will be to approach transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit to be allowed to cross the immigration. Here you will present your flight tickets and your accommodation booking confirmation. This application is free of charge and after a short check, you will be allowed to enter the country and to enjoy your time on your own.
Reply00Reply00ReplyReplyPlanning on staying in Beijing until 4/10 flight out of Beijing back to USA.
Do we contact our cruise line (Royal Caribbean) to see if they will have either available?
We are running short on time to apply for a 10 year visa to have our passports returned to us for the trip and would like to inquire the process for applying for visa via arrival from cruise line.
This would save significant costs and time applying for the 10 year visa.
Thanks in advance for replies, much appreciated!
00ReplySouth Korea - Tianjin - Beijing - US
You will be definitely eligible for 144 hour visa free transit valid for Tianjin, Beijing and entire Hebei province. You should just take care that your flight from Beijing to US does not have any additional landing within mainland China or South Korea of any kind.
You can announce to your cruise that you intend to use 144 hour in wider Beijing area and you will also present your flight ticket (please, print it out) to the South Korean and then to Chinese authorities. Also, it is advisable to have a hotel booking confirmation for Beijing as a printout. Upon your docking in Tianjin you will present those printouts and you will be allowed to enter the country and to enjoy your time on your own until your departure by plane to US.
Have a pleasant journey.