- China expanded its visa-free transit policy to allow citizens from 54 countries, including the U.S., to visit for up to 10 days without a visa.
- Travelers must be traveling from China to a third country (region) to be eligible.
- Those staying longer than 10 days or visiting China as their sole destination will still need a visa.
It just got easier to visit China.
China’s National Immigration Administration on Tuesday announced the extension of its visa-free transit policy.
Effective immediately, citizens of 54 countries, including the U.S., may visit China for up 10 days without a visa. Previously, visa-free transit was limited to 72 or 144 hours depending on the destination.
China also added 21 more ports of visa-free entry and exit and five more destinations for visa-free-travel.
“This initiative is beneficial for accelerating cross-border flows of people, promoting international communication and cooperation, and injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the economy and society,” according to the official Chinese Visa Application Service Center website. “NIA invites more foreign friends to come to China and experience the beauty of the country in this new era firsthand.”
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But there are some restrictions. Here’s what travelers hoping to visit China should know.
Do US citizens need a visa to enter China?
Yes and no.
Under the newly expanded visa-free transit policy, U.S. citizens may enter many parts of China for up to 10 days without a visa, but they must continue on to another country afterward. They can’t just go from the U.S. to China roundtrip visa-free.
“Individuals from 54 eligible countries… traveling from China to a third country (region), can enter visa-free through any of the 60 open ports in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), and stay within the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers for no more than 240 hours,” according to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center.
U.S. citizens who are only visiting China or staying longer than 10 days will still need a visa. Different types of visas are required for tourists and people doing business in China.
Which countries are visa-free to visit China?
The following 54 countries are eligible for visa-free transit for up to 10 days.
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.
Can I transit in China without a visa?
Yes.
According to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center, “Foreign nationals entering China through the visa-free transit policy can make cross-province travels within the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers in these 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities).”
- Anhui Province
- Beijing Municipality
- Chongqing Municipality
- Fujian Province
- Jiangsu Province
- Guangdong Province
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
- Guizhou Province
- Hainan Province
- Hebei Province
- Heilongjiang Province
- Henan Province
- Hubei Province
- Hunan Province
- Jiangxi Province (only Jingdezhen and Nanchang)
- Liaoning Province
- Shaanxi Province
- Shandong Province
- Shanghai Municipality
- Shanxi Province (only Datong and Taiyuan)
- Sichuan Province
- Tianjin Municipality
- Yunnan Province
- Zhejiang Province
Note, the entire provinces of Fujian Province, Hubei Province, and Shaanxi Province now allow included. Within Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the visa-free transit area has been expanded to include the administrative regions of Beihai, Fangchenggang, Hechi, Hezhou, Guigang, Guilin, Laibin, Liuzhou, Nanning, Qinzhou, Wuzhou, and Yulin.
Which ports allow visa-free entry and exit?
- Hefei Xinqiao International Airport and Huangshan Tunxi International Airport in Anhui Province
- Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing Municipality
- Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing Municipality
- Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, Wuyishan Airport, and Xiamen Port in Fujian Province
- Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, Beihai Fucheng Airport, and Beihai Port in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport, Nansha Port, and Shekou Port in Guangdong Province
- Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport in Guizhou Province
- Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Hainan Province
- Harbin Taiping International Airport in Harbin City
- Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport and Qinhuangdao Port in Hebei Province
- Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Henan Province
- Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Hubei Province
- Changsha Huanghua International Airport and Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport in Hunan Province
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Su’nan Shuofang International Airport, Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport, and Lianyungang Port in Jiangsu Province
- Nanchang Changbei International Airport in Jiangxi Province
- Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, and Dalian Port in Liaoning Province
- Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, Yantai Penglai International Airport, Weihai Dashuipo International Airport, and Qingdao Port in Shandong Province
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Shanghai Port in Shanghai Municipality
- Xi’an Xianyang International Airport in Shaanxi Province
- Taiyuan Wusu International Airport in Shanxi Province
- Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan Province
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Tianjin Port in Tianjin Municipality
- Kunming Changshui International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, and Mohan Railway Port in Yunnan Province
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Ningbo Lishe International Airport, Wenzhou Longwan International Airport, Yiwu Airport, Wenzhou Port and Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang Province
Is it safe to go to China right now?
The U.S. State Department says “for most visitors, the PRC remains a very safe country,” but travelers should exercise increased caution “due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans.”
In a Level 2 travel advisory, the State Department also notes “the tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the PRC government or by recognized authorities in the field.”
As with other international destinations, travelers are encouraged to sign up for the State Department’s free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts in the event of an emergency.
