A foreign citizen can enter China without a visa under any one of the following circumstances:
1) Direct Transit
In accordance with international practices, China has adopted a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals of multiple countries at all international ports of entry. Any passenger holding interline tickets with confirmed seats to transit to a third country or region via China by international flights, sea vessels, or trains does not have to apply for a visa if his/her stay period in China is less than 24 hours and he/she does not leave the port of entry. In the case where the passenger concerned needs to leave the port, a temporary entry permit from the entry/exit border inspection authority at the port shall be required.
2) Transit in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Chengdu etc. within 72/144 Hours
Foreign nationals from 54 countries are currently eligible for the 72/144-hour transit visa-free policies which are effective at 31 ports in 23 cities of 18 provinces in China. These countries include Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Passengers from these countries holding valid international travel documents and interline tickets with confirmed dates and seats, who are going to transit to third countries (or regions) via China within specific time frames, can apply for visa-free transit at the entry/exit border inspection authorities in the designated visa-free transit city ports. The authorities will handle all temporary entry procedures, with the duration of stay of each passenger to be calculated from 00:00 on the day following entry
( For the list of 54 countries, please refer to
http://en.nia.gov.cn/n162/n227/c116266/content.html）
3) Foreigners to visiting Hainan Island
Ordinary passport holders from 59 countries are eligible to enter China through any open port in Hainan in tourist groups organized by travel agencies, at the invitation of inviting entities in China, or independently, and must stay within the administrative area of Hainan Province to a maximum of 30 days. Countries eligible for visa-free entry in this case include Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
5) Holders of Valid APEC Business Travel Card
The tourist groups from the 10 member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) of ASEAN, which are organized and received by qualified travel agencies in China, can enter and exit China without visas via Guilin Liangjiang International Airport in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Tourists in this case are restricted to the city of Guilin, and their stay periods must not exceed the maximum allotted time of 144 hours.
6) Foreigner's Permanent Residence Card Holders of the People's Republic of China.
7) Holder of valid Residence Permit for Foreigners issued by Public Security Bureau.
Foreign citizens entering China for the purpose of study or employment or as resident foreign journalists must apply for a residence permit at local public security authorities within 30 days of entry into China. Permit holders may stay in China and enter or exit China multiple times without the need of a visa during the validity period of the permit.
8) Bilateral Agreement
Based on bilateral agreements signed or reached between China and foreign countries, foreign citizens of some countries who meet certain requirements may visit China without a visa. Please see the list of agreements on visa exemption signed between China and foreign countries for more information.
From the date of Sep. 1, 2013, citizens of the countries which have signed bilateral visa exemption agreements with China, who intend to study in China, post as resident journalists or visit China for family reunion for a period of more than 180 days, to work or reside in China permanently, are required to apply for relevant X1, J1, Q1, S1, Z or D visa accordingly before they enter China,
2023-12-27
