144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China
China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy is carried out in Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Chengdu, Xi'an, Chongqing, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna and other 5 areas in Yunnan as well as Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, to facilitate international travelers. It allows passengers from 54 countries or regions to transit in Guangdong Province, Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang region, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Liaoning Province, Sichuan Province or Chinese cities of Xi'an, Chongqing, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Kunming and other main cities or autonomous prefectures in Yunnan for no more than 144 hours (6 days) without holding a visa.
Who can enjoy China 144-hour visa exemption? - List of 54 Qualified Countries
 |
| China 144-hour visa sample |
25 Schengen Agreement Countries: 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, Switzerland 15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco 6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile 2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand 6 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar
* The same as countries enjoying 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit.
What is an eligible transit route?
A → B: one of the allowed areas in Mainland China → C
 |
A and C should be different countries or regions out of Mainland China.
* Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can be the Destination A or C, so the route "UK-Shanghai-Hong Kong" is acceptable as the typical route "US-Hangzhou-Japan". B refers to only one of the following areas in China, and you cannot have a cross-area visa-free tour among them:
1. Guangdong
2. Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang
3. Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei
4. Liaoning
5. Chengdu
6. Xiamen
7. Qingdao
8. Wuhan
9. Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Yuxi, Puer, Chuxiong, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, Wenshan
10. Xi'an
11. Chongqing Key point: The international flights flying in and out of China – from A to B and from B to C – should be non-stop, without a stopover anywhere in Mainland China. Eg:
× UK – Guangzhou – Shanghai - Hong Kong
× US – Beijing – Shanghai - France
Note: Both of Beijing and Shanghai are eligible for this policy, but you can only have one between the original country and the third country.
√ US – Dalian - South Korea
√ Singapore – Shanghai – Hangzhou - Malaysia
Note: Shanghai and Hangzhou (provincial capital of Zhejiang) are within one visa-free area.
In which Chinese cities can I get a visa exemption for 144 hours?
1. Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang
Shanghai: All international air, sea and railway ports, including Pudong Airport, Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, Wusong Passenger Transport Center and all railway stations. Hangzhou of Zhejiang: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport Ningbo of Zhejiang: Ningbo Lishe Airport Nanjing of Jiangsu: Nanjing Lukou Airport Cruise ports in Lianyungang, Wenzhou and Zhoushan
Entry and Exit Ports
Passengers can enter and leave from any of the above ports. Eg: One can take a cruise to Shanghai and leave by air from Hangzhou or Nanjing.
Areas Allowed to Stay
Passengers can move around Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. If one have to go to other cities or can't leave within 144 hours, he/she should go to a nearby Public Security Bureau to apply for a visa.
See more about 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang
2. Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei
Beijing: Capital International Airport, Daxing International Airport Tianjin: Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port Shijiazhuang of Hebei: Zhengding International Airport Qinghuangdao of Hebei: Qinhuangdao Beidaihe International Airport
Passengers are allowed to enter and exit from any of these ports and move around the three places.
See more about 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei
3. Liaoning Province
Dalian: Zhoushuizi International Airport, International Cruise Port Shenyang: Taoxian International Airport
Passengers are allowed to enter and exit from either of the two ports and move around the whole province.
See more about 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Liaoning
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Chengdu
5. Xiamen: Gaoqi International Airport and Cruise ports
6. Wuhan: Tianhe International Airport
7. Yunnan: Changshui International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, Mohan Railway Port
8. Qingdao: Liuting International Airport and sea ports
Passengers are permitted to stay in the whole Shandong Province.
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Qingdao
9. Guangdong
Passengers are allowed to enter via Guangzhou Airport, Shenzhen Airport, Jieyang Airport, Guangzhou international cruise port, Shenzhen international cruise port and travel within Guangdong Province.
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Guangdong
10. Xi'an: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Xi'an
11. Chongqing: Jiangbei Airport, Wanzhou Wuqiao Airport
See more about 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Chongqing
12. Henan: Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
How do I request the 144-hour TWOV China: transit without visa?
6 Steps to Apply for 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit:
1. Inform the carrier when boarding
2. Fill an Arrival/Departure Card
3. Apply for the 144-hour visa-free stay permit upon arrival
4. Claim the luggage
5. Go through the customs
6. Leave the airport
 |
Note for Step 3:
Upon arrival, find the 144-hour visa-free counter at the immigration inspection to apply for the entry permit, which will be stamped on your passport indicating the allowed stay time. Remember to tell the officer if you have a visa for China but don't want to use it this time.
Documents Needed for Application
Passport valid for at least 3 months from date of entry
Ticket to a third country with confirmed seat and date
Fully completed Arrival/ Departure Card
* Prepare a valid visa if the third country or region in your plan requires.
* Hotel reservations may be required if you want to leave the airport.
How to count the layover time of 144 hours?
It counts from 00:00 of the day following passengers' arrival. That is to say, the allowed time to stay is actually longer than 144 hours.
Eg: If one arrives at 6:00 am on July 1, the layover time counts from 00:00 of July 2 and the passenger should hold a ticket with the scheduled departure time before 23:59 of July 7. In this case, the allowed stay period is 162 hours in maximum.
What can I do during the 144 hours?
Weeklong Tour in China
Convenient transportation among Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei endows tourists with a smooth trip, whether they enter by air, cruise ship, or international train. It's a must to visit the Great Wall and Forbidden City to explore China's long history and traditional culture. The Ancient Cultural Street in Tianjin and Shanhaiguan Great Wall in Hebei should not be missed either.
If using the visa-free transit in Shanghai, after visiting the Bund, Huangpu River, and skyscrapers, one can travel to Suzhou to see the classical Chinese gardens and elegant water towns. A stroll by the West Lake in Hangzhou and a taste of the delicious local snacks must be a perfect ending of the trip.
3 Days Private Beijing City Tour from $429
Beijing Mini Group Tours from $89
A trip to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Zhuhai along China's south coast is a good choice to feel the energetic economic development.
Business Conferences and Trade Fairs
6 days are enough to attend various trade fairs or forums in Beijing, Shanghai, or the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, conduct market research, review suppliers' factories, or sign contracts with partners.
Further Contact Information
| Shanghai | General Station of Immigration Inspection | 0086-21-51105100 |
| Nanjing | Lukou Airport | 0086-25-968890 |
| Hangzhou | Xiaoshan Airport | 0086-571-96299 |
| Beijing | Capital International Airport Immigration Inspection | 0086-10-56095400 |
| West Railway Station | 0086-10-56092165 | |
| Tianjin | Binhai International Airport | 0086-22-24905908 |
| International Cruise Home Port | 0086-22-25605128 | |
| Shijiazhuang | Zhengding International Airport | 0086-311-88027961 |
| Qinhuangdao | Qinhuangdao Beidaihe International Airport | 0335-7520000 |
| Dalian | Zhoushuizi International Airport | 0086-411-96600 |
| Shenyang | Taoxian International Airport | 0086-24-96833 |
| Guangzhou | Baiyun Airport | 0086-20-36066622 |
| Shenzhen | Bao'an Airport | 0086-755-82327700 |
| Jieyang | Chaoshan Airport | 0086-663-3828770 |
| Chengdu | Shuangliu Airport | 0086-28-85205555 |
| Xiamen | Gaoqi Airport | 0086-592-96363 |
| Qingdao | Liuting Airport | 0086-532-96567 |
| Wuhan | Tianhe Airport | 0086-27-96577 |
| Kunming | Changshui Airport | 0086-871-96566 |
| Xi'an | Xianyang Airport | 0086-29-96788 |
| Chongqing | Jiangbei Airport | 0086-23-966666 |
Note:
Note that if 1) you are not able to show any of the required documents listed above, 2) or your route does not qualify, 3) or you have overstayed in a country or been refused in visa application before, you may face the possibility of being refused at the 144 visa-free counter. For fear of inconvenience caused by such case, please make sure that you are eligible or apply for a regular visa in advance.
Further Reading:
China Visa-free Policy
How to Travel to China without a Visa
Shanghai 15-day Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Tour Groups
ReplyUSA (LAX)-Beijing (2 days)-Shanghai(3 days)-Hong Kong(is there a limit here that needs to be inside the 144 hour rule in Hong Kong? Then back to USA
1
0ReplyIt is only 24 hour visa free transit that allows you to travel via China with more than one stop in a row.
To conclude, if you retain your actual flight itinerary you will have to obtain a Chinese visa in advance or if you can, you will alter/adapt your flight itinerary in order to make it eligible for 144 hour visa free transit by inserting a return flight to some third country/territory between Beijing and Shanghai. Fort example, you can do the following:
US - Beijing - Taiwan or South Korea - Shanghai - Hong Kong
This is the only alternative if you do not plan to obtain visas. I'm sorry for bringing you these unfavorable information.
00ReplySo we are US citizens. Can we do LAX to Paris, then Paris to Shanghai, leave Shanghai within the 144 hours to Hong Kong. Is there a limit of time we can stay in Hong Kong or is it another 144 hours? Then we’d go Hong Kong to LAX.
00ReplyAfter Shanghai, you can take ma flight to Hong Kong where you are not limited with 144 hour visa free transit because Hong Kong has separate immigration/visa policy from mainland China. In other words, you can stay in Hong Kong absolutely visa free for up to 90 days.
To conclude, your new itinerary is eligible for 144 hour visa free transit in Shanghai and you can proceed with your entire travel plan visa free and with absolute peace of mind.
ReplyI am EU citizen with nationality eligible for the 144H visa free, not for full travel without visa. I have already brought tickets to this flight itinerary and I am confused if this can be visa free.
Europe country - Beijing PEK, 3-4h layover and then another flight with same company to PVG Shanghai.
From Shanghai I plan to book a flight to Bangkok. Can I apply for 144h visa free transit in Shanghai and take the flight to Bangkok a few days later? Or I need to leave with a flight to Bangkok in the same day? What is allowed without visa?
00ReplyIt is only 24 hour visa free transit that allows you to travel via China with more than one stop in a row.
To conclude, if you do not want to obtain a Chinese visa in advance, your imperative is to buy your ticket from Shanghai to Bangkok in order that your transit time in China, counting from your first scheduled landing (in your case in Beijing) until your last scheduled departure (in your case from Shanghai) remains shorter than 24 hours. In other words, your flight for Bangkok should depart within 24 hours in relation to the arrival of your flight in Beijing.
If you decide to use 24 hour visa free transit, you can use separate tickets and unrelated airlines. As far as the formalities are concerned, the first thing you will do upon your landing in Beijing will be to approach 24/144 hour visa free transit where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets because your next flight will be a domestic one. After your permit is granted, you will proceed to the immigration and then to your flight to Shanghai and from there to your flight to Bangkok.
ReplyMy flight itinerary is:
Budapest - Guangzhou (Baiyun International Airport,Terminal 2) - Guangzhou (Baiyun International Airport,Terminal 2) - Kunming (for 6 days) - Laos (by train)
I hope to use the 144 hour visafree entry in Kunming and to transit Guagnzhou without leaving the transit area and needing to go to thru immigration and therefore not breaking the A - B - C rule
Will that be possible?
00ReplyAs you know, when traveling on 144 hour visa free transit, you cannot have two mainland Chinese stops in a row and you have exactly that, Guangzhou and then Kunming. This is something that definitely disqualifies you from enjoying 144 hour visa free transit and you will have to obtain a Chinese visa in advance, before your departure toward China.
In China as it is in Schengen area as well, all the formalities are done at the very first airport. In other words, you will formally enter China in Guangzhou and your flight Guangzhou - Kunming will be a domestic flight. Travel based on 144 hour visa free transit does not allow a domestic travel between two different transit zones, in this case, Guangdong province and Kunming city. I'm sorry.
ReplyFlying from UK - Hong kong to cruise ship - Japan - Shangai - flying out to Dubai -Uk
Am I eligible for the 144 free hours, staying in Shanghai for three days but 2 are transit days from cruise and to the airport?
00ReplyThe main thing you should take care of is the segment Japan - Shanghai. You should be aware that you are not allowed to have any mainland Chinese port docking immediately before Shanghai. In other words, you cannot have a docking of this kind:
Japan - Tianjin - Shanghai
However, you can have something like this:
Japan - Tianjin - South Korea - Shanghai.
It is always important that your mainland Chinese stop has both of its immediate stops, before and after, in two different countries or eligible territories (eligible territories are Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau).
So, if all the requirements I have mentioned are satisfied, you are free to go and enjoy your stay in Shanghai absolutely visa free. Have a nice trip.
ReplyI am dual citizen with UK and TR passports. I am currently in the US with a visa in my TR passport. I would like to visit Beijing (US > Seoul > Beijing > Paris). The Chinese consulate in US say they cannot give me a visa in my UK passport because I did not enter the US with it. Can I take advantage of the 144 hour visa free transit in Beijing?
00ReplyTo conclude, your itinerary as you have presented it, is definitely eligible for 144 hour visa free transit in wider Beijing area and you are undoubtedly free to travel on UK passport. You should just take care that you do not have any additional landing within mainland China beside Beijing and you cannot return to Seoul immediately after Beijing. Have a nice journey.