On December 17, 2024, the National Immigration Administration announced changes to the transit visa exemption policy which would allow foreigners to stay for a longer period in China during their transit and enter and exit through more ports. Eligible foreigners can now transit in China for 240 hours, up from the previous limit of 72 hours and 144 hours. 21 new ports of entry and exit for transit visa exemption were also added.
Here’s a list of the newly added ports:
- Anhui Hefei Xinqiao International Airport
- Beihai Fucheng International Airport
- Guangxi Nanning Wuxu International Airport
- Guizhou Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport
- Hainan Haikou Meilan International Airport
- Huangshan Tunxi International Airport
- Hunan Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport
- Fujian Fuzhou Changle International Airport
- Jiangsu Sunan Shuofang International Airport
- Jiangxi Nanchang Changbei International Airport
- Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport
- Sanya Phoenix International Airport
- Shandong Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport
- Shanxi Taiyuan Wusu International Airport
- Sichuan Chengdu Tianfu International Airport
- Weihai Dashuibo International Airport
- Wuyishan International Airport
- Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport
- Yantai Penglai International Airport
- Yiwu International Airport
- Zhejiang Wenzhou Longwan International Airport
The policy previously only applied to 19 provinces, which are Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Shanxi. The five newly added provinces are Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guizhou. Foreigners transiting in Anhui, Hainan, and Guizhou can travel throughout the entire province. In Shanxi, transit visitors are only allowed to travel within Taiyuan and Datong, and in Jiangxi, they can travel within Nanchang and Jingdezhen.
The permitted areas to travel and stay have also been expanded to the entire province of Fujian, Hubei, and Shanxi provinces. As for the permitted travel areas in Guangxi Zhuang, travelers can now stay in the administrative areas of 12 cities, namely Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, and Laibin.
Nationals from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, who transit through China to travel to another country can now enter China without a visa at any of the 60 open ports in 24 provinces and stay for a maximum of 240 hours in permitted areas mentioned above.
The National Immigration Administration relaxed the transit visa exemption policy in a bid to facilitate exchanges between Chinese and foreign personnel. It is expected that the policy changes will increase the number of personnel traveling into China, promoting foreign exchanges and cooperation. With greater movement of foreign personnel through the country, it is hoped that there will be several benefits to the economy and society.
Moving forward, the National Immigration Administration will continue to optimize and improve immigration entry and exit facilitation policies and make it more convenient for foreigners to study, work, and live in China.