144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China
China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy is carried out in Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Chengdu, Xi'an, Chongqing, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna and other 5 areas in Yunnan as well as Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, to facilitate international travelers. It allows passengers from 54 countries or regions to transit in Guangdong Province, Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang region, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Liaoning Province, Sichuan Province or Chinese cities of Xi'an, Chongqing, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Kunming and other main cities or autonomous prefectures in Yunnan for no more than 144 hours (6 days) without holding a visa.
Who can enjoy China 144-hour visa exemption? - List of 54 Qualified Countries
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| China 144-hour visa sample |
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
* The same as countries enjoying 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit.
What is an eligible transit route?
A → B: one of the allowed areas in Mainland China → C
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A and C should be different countries or regions out of Mainland China.
* Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can be the Destination A or C, so the route "UK-Shanghai-Hong Kong" is acceptable as the typical route "US-Hangzhou-Japan". B refers to only one of the following areas in China, and you cannot have a cross-area visa-free tour among them:
1. Guangdong
2. Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang
3. Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei
4. Liaoning
5. Chengdu
6. Xiamen
7. Qingdao
8. Wuhan
9. Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Yuxi, Puer, Chuxiong, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, Wenshan
10. Xi'an
11. Chongqing Key point: The international flights flying in and out of China – from A to B and from B to C – should be non-stop, without a stopover anywhere in Mainland China. Eg:
× UK – Guangzhou – Shanghai - Hong Kong
× US – Beijing – Shanghai - France
Note: Both of Beijing and Shanghai are eligible for this policy, but you can only have one between the original country and the third country.
√ US – Dalian - South Korea
√ Singapore – Shanghai – Hangzhou - Malaysia
Note: Shanghai and Hangzhou (provincial capital of Zhejiang) are within one visa-free area.
In which Chinese cities can I get a visa exemption for 144 hours?
1. Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang
Shanghai: All international air, sea and railway ports, including Pudong Airport, Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, Wusong Passenger Transport Center and all railway stations. Hangzhou of Zhejiang: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport Ningbo of Zhejiang: Ningbo Lishe Airport Nanjing of Jiangsu: Nanjing Lukou Airport Cruise ports in Lianyungang, Wenzhou and Zhoushan
Entry and Exit Ports
Passengers can enter and leave from any of the above ports. Eg: One can take a cruise to Shanghai and leave by air from Hangzhou or Nanjing.
Areas Allowed to Stay
Passengers can move around Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. If one have to go to other cities or can't leave within 144 hours, he/she should go to a nearby Public Security Bureau to apply for a visa.
See more about 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang
2. Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei
Beijing: Capital International Airport, Daxing International Airport Tianjin: Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port Shijiazhuang of Hebei: Zhengding International Airport Qinghuangdao of Hebei: Qinhuangdao Beidaihe International Airport
Passengers are allowed to enter and exit from any of these ports and move around the three places.
See more about 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei
3. Liaoning Province
Dalian: Zhoushuizi International Airport, International Cruise Port Shenyang: Taoxian International Airport
Passengers are allowed to enter and exit from either of the two ports and move around the whole province.
See more about 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Liaoning
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Chengdu
5. Xiamen: Gaoqi International Airport and Cruise ports
6. Wuhan: Tianhe International Airport
7. Yunnan: Changshui International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, Mohan Railway Port
8. Qingdao: Liuting International Airport and sea ports
Passengers are permitted to stay in the whole Shandong Province.
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Qingdao
9. Guangdong
Passengers are allowed to enter via Guangzhou Airport, Shenzhen Airport, Jieyang Airport, Guangzhou international cruise port, Shenzhen international cruise port and travel within Guangdong Province.
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Guangdong
10. Xi'an: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Xi'an
11. Chongqing: Jiangbei Airport, Wanzhou Wuqiao Airport
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Chongqing
12. Henan: Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
How do I request the 144-hour TWOV China: transit without visa?
6 Steps to Apply for 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit:
1. Inform the carrier when boarding
2. Fill an Arrival/Departure Card
3. Apply for the 144-hour visa-free stay permit upon arrival
4. Claim the luggage
5. Go through the customs
6. Leave the airport
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Note for Step 3:
Upon arrival, find the 144-hour visa-free counter at the immigration inspection to apply for the entry permit, which will be stamped on your passport indicating the allowed stay time. Remember to tell the officer if you have a visa for China but don't want to use it this time.
Documents Needed for Application
Passport valid for at least 3 months from date of entry
Ticket to a third country with confirmed seat and date
Fully completed Arrival/ Departure Card
* Prepare a valid visa if the third country or region in your plan requires.
* Hotel reservations may be required if you want to leave the airport.
How to count the layover time of 144 hours?
It counts from 00:00 of the day following passengers' arrival. That is to say, the allowed time to stay is actually longer than 144 hours.
Eg: If one arrives at 6:00 am on July 1, the layover time counts from 00:00 of July 2 and the passenger should hold a ticket with the scheduled departure time before 23:59 of July 7. In this case, the allowed stay period is 162 hours in maximum.
What can I do during the 144 hours?
Weeklong Tour in China
Convenient transportation among Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei endows tourists with a smooth trip, whether they enter by air, cruise ship, or international train. It's a must to visit the Great Wall and Forbidden City to explore China's long history and traditional culture. The Ancient Cultural Street in Tianjin and Shanhaiguan Great Wall in Hebei should not be missed either.
If using the visa-free transit in Shanghai, after visiting the Bund, Huangpu River, and skyscrapers, one can travel to Suzhou to see the classical Chinese gardens and elegant water towns. A stroll by the West Lake in Hangzhou and a taste of the delicious local snacks must be a perfect ending of the trip.
3 Days Private Beijing City Tour from $429
Beijing Mini Group Tours from $89
A trip to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Zhuhai along China's south coast is a good choice to feel the energetic economic development.
Business Conferences and Trade Fairs
6 days are enough to attend various trade fairs or forums in Beijing, Shanghai, or the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, conduct market research, review suppliers' factories, or sign contracts with partners.
Further Contact Information
| Shanghai | General Station of Immigration Inspection | 0086-21-51105100 |
| Nanjing | Lukou Airport | 0086-25-968890 |
| Hangzhou | Xiaoshan Airport | 0086-571-96299 |
| Beijing | Capital International Airport Immigration Inspection | 0086-10-56095400 |
| West Railway Station | 0086-10-56092165 | |
| Tianjin | Binhai International Airport | 0086-22-24905908 |
| International Cruise Home Port | 0086-22-25605128 | |
| Shijiazhuang | Zhengding International Airport | 0086-311-88027961 |
| Qinhuangdao | Qinhuangdao Beidaihe International Airport | 0335-7520000 |
| Dalian | Zhoushuizi International Airport | 0086-411-96600 |
| Shenyang | Taoxian International Airport | 0086-24-96833 |
| Guangzhou | Baiyun Airport | 0086-20-36066622 |
| Shenzhen | Bao'an Airport | 0086-755-82327700 |
| Jieyang | Chaoshan Airport | 0086-663-3828770 |
| Chengdu | Shuangliu Airport | 0086-28-85205555 |
| Xiamen | Gaoqi Airport | 0086-592-96363 |
| Qingdao | Liuting Airport | 0086-532-96567 |
| Wuhan | Tianhe Airport | 0086-27-96577 |
| Kunming | Changshui Airport | 0086-871-96566 |
| Xi'an | Xianyang Airport | 0086-29-96788 |
| Chongqing | Jiangbei Airport | 0086-23-966666 |
Note:
Note that if 1) you are not able to show any of the required documents listed above, 2) or your route does not qualify, 3) or you have overstayed in a country or been refused in visa application before, you may face the possibility of being refused at the 144 visa-free counter. For fear of inconvenience caused by such case, please make sure that you are eligible or apply for a regular visa in advance.
Further Reading:
China Visa-free Policy
How to Travel to China without a Visa
Shanghai 15-day Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Tour Groups
Reply
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0Reply00ReplyIn other words, you can fly, for example:
Europe - Shanghai - Hong Kong
or
Europe - Shanghai - Seoul
However, you cannot have two mainland Chinese destinations in a row. In order to visit both Shanghai and Chongqing visa free you could use some creativity although that usually implies higher expenses, for example:
Europe - Shanghai - Taipei - Chongqing - Europe (there are direct, nonstop flights from Chongqing to Budapest, Paris, London). Like this you would be eligible for for 144 hour visa free transit twice, once in Shanghai and the second time in Chongqing. Whatever you decide I wish you a pleasant journey.
ReplyCould you please confirm if these routes are eligible for the 144 hour TWOV.
ROUTE 1:
Toronto --> Hong Kong (layover) --> Guangzhou --> Hong Kong --> Toronto
ROUTE 2:
Toronto --> Taipei (layover) --> Guangzhou --> Hong Kong --> Toronto
Thank you!
00ReplyYour second route is definitely and undeniably eligible for 144 hour visa free transit valid for the entire Guangdong province. You should just have in mind that you will have to obtain a ticket from Guangdong province, being it Shenzhen or Guangzhou to Hong Kong. You can fly, you can take a ferry or a high speed train. The latter is the most convenient by far. So, you will buy your train ticket in advance, even before your departure from Toronto and print it out. You will have that printout at hand, ready to be presented to relevant authorities when they require one to make an insight. Also, you should be aware that you will really have to take exactly that train you have bought your ticket for. Have a nice journey.
ReplyAre we eligible for a 72/144 visa if we fly from Uk to Beijing stay 2 days then catch the high speed train to Hong Kong ?
Thank you
00ReplyReply00Reply00ReplyThanks for this. Would it be possible please to double check you can not exit Beijing on the train on a 144/72 visa please because I was told something completely different by the Chinese embassy in the uk and I’ve not seen this restriction anywhere printed. Appreciate you are probably right but could you double check please ?
00ReplySeveral years ago, when you were boarding the train in Beijing, you were crossing the exit immigration right at Beijing West Railway Station as if you were leaving mainland China. So, your later travel was, de jure, outside mainland China regardless of the fact that you were traveling through its territory for many hours after that. Today the Hong Kong bound trains are purely domestic and they become "international" only at Hong Kong West Kowloon station in Hong Kong where both mainland Chinese and Hong Kong immigration facilities are located "under one roof". Trust me, you cannot do that and I hope you will trust me. By the way, diplomatic missions are not the address for this subject because they do not have jurisdiction over the details that are treated by the Chinese immigration authorities. Totally different ministries. Please, buy your plane ticket out of Beijing toward Hong Kong and enjoy your time. Do not allow to be rejected. Have a nice journey.
ReplyI will be flying with my partner to Shenzhen (with the intention to go to HK straight after - cheaper flights).
I noticed you can’t land at any city in China, but our route is London - Changsha-Haikou-Shenzhen then a train/ferry to hk.
Will we need a visa or are we eligible for the 144 visa if we are not coming out of immigration for any of the layovers (all 2 hours)?
00ReplyGabbie, there are two important details to take into consideration:
1. Immigration procedures in China are accomplished at the very first landing in the same way as it is in Schengen area or in US. In other words, after your first landing, you will travel domestically and that is not allowed under 144 hour visa free transit scheme. So, you have to rule out 144 hour visa free transit option, but you can rely on 24 hour visa free transit scheme. This scheme allows you to have multiple stops within China, but it is important to understand that your entire transit time counting from your first scheduled landing, in your case in Changsha until your final departure from China, in your case from Shenzhen, cannot exceed 24 hours not even for a single minute.
2. In order to exit mainland China toward Hong Kong, you will need to buy a train ticket from Shenzhen to Hong Kong West Kowloon station in advance. You will print out that ticket and have that printout at hand ready to be presented to the relevant authorities as a proof of your real transit intention. Also, you will really have to take exactly that train.