China announces 10-day visa-free transit for visitors

Question

China announces 10-day visa-free transit for international visitors from 54 nations

https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/china-announces-10-day-visa-free-transit-for-international-visitors-from-54-nations/

Answer

The People’s Republic of China (China) has announced a significant change to its transit visa-free policy: eligible international travellers can now stay for up to 10 days (240 hours) without a visa when transiting through China, provided they meet certain criteria.

Here are the main features of the policy:

Travellers from a growing number of countries (now 55 countries, up from 54) are eligible for the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit programme.
The 10-day visa-free transit is valid only if the traveller is continuing to a third country or region (i.e., they must arrive from one country and depart to a different country/region).
The policy covers entry and exit through designated ports (now around 60 ports across 24 provinces/regions) in mainland China.
During the 240-hour stay, eligible travellers may engage in tourism, business, exchange visits or family visits; but other activities such as employment, full-study, or long-term residency still require proper visas.

In addition to the 10-day option, the policy also retains shorter transit-without-visa (TWOV) windows for other travellers:

A 24-hour visa-free transit window is available at many Chinese airports for most nationalities, provided onward confirmed tickets to a third country are held.
The previously common 72-hour and 144-hour transit visa-free arrangements remain in place for certain regions and countries (though they are now largely superseded by the 240-hour policy where applicable).

Important conditions and considerations to keep in mind:

Your passport must be valid, and you must hold confirmed tickets (with seat reservation) for the inbound arrival in China and the onward departure to a third country/region.
The “third country/region” means you cannot simply return to the country you came from; your onward journey must be to a different destination.

While you are allowed to travel within the specified region/provinces (depending on port rules) during your stay, you are not allowed to take up employment or engage in long-term study without the appropriate visa.

The policy is subject to change, so always verify the latest conditions with the National Immigration Administration of China or the relevant Chinese consulate/embassy before travel.

In summary: If you are from one of the eligible countries, are transiting through China to a third destination, and meet the ticket and port criteria, you may now spend up to ten days in China without a visa. This opens up possibilities for short-stay tourism or business activities during the lay-over.

China announces 10-day visa-free transit for visitors

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