As of 17 December 2024, China now offers visa-free transit for 10 days for citizens of 54 countries (including the UK), the latest in a series of moves aimed at attracting tourists
The policy allows foreign travellers transiting through the country to enjoy a 10-day stay in 24 provinces (via 60 entry/exit points) without a visa. Note that this is a transit visa, so it only applies to travellers flying into China from one country and flying out to another. For example, UK – Shanghai – Hong Kong would be a valid route under this policy, but UK – Shanghai – UK would not.
Where can you travel in China under the 10-day visa-free transit policy?
An additional 21 ports have been added to China’s visa-free transit program, taking the number of entry and exit points from 39 to 60. It now covers major airports in further-flung regions such as Shanxi, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hainan, and Guizhou, as well as the most widely-known international airports in provinces such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong.
Visitors can now access 24 provinces across China, up from 19 previously. The newly added regions include Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guizhou.
In Anhui, Hainan, and Guizhou, visitors can explore the entire province, while there are some city-based limitations in other provinces. The stay area in other regions like Fujian, Hubei, and Shaanxi has now expanded to cover the entire province.
Notably, under this policy, visa-free visitors can cross provincial boundaries within the 24 eligible regions, offering greater flexibility for regional travel.
(For a full list of all the entry/exit points and where visitors entering via these points can travel, see this article from Dezan Shira & Associates’ China Briefing).
Who is eligible for the 10-day visa-free transit?
Citizens of the following 54 countries can make use of the visa exemption:
- Europe Schengen area: 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, and Switzerland.
- Other European countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Russia, and Belarus.
- North and South America: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
- Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
- Asia and the Middle East: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
What documents do you need to apply for the 10-day visa-free transit?
- A passport valid for at least three months from the date of entry
- An onward flight ticket to a third country or region (must be a direct flight out of China) with confirmed departure date and seat number
- A completed arrival/departure card
Note: Visa requirements may be subject to change. Please check the website of the Embassy of China or the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre nearest to you for the most up-to-date guidance.
