Starting from February 9, 2024, China expanded the allowed purposes of visa-free entry to Hainan Province for ordinary passport holders of 59 countries (see announcement of the National Immigration Administration of China https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147413/c160943/content.html). The details are as follows:
1. Eligible Countries
Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus.
2. Allowed Purposes of Visa-Free Entry
Ordinary passport holders of the 59 countries can enter Hainan visa-free for tourism, business & trade, visits, family visits, medical treatment, exhibitions and sports competition (except purposes of work and study).
3. Duration of Visa-Free Stay
Travelers can enter Hainan through all its ports open to foreign countries, and stay for up to 30 days, calculated from 00:00 on the day following the day of entry.
4. Way of Entry
Travelers of the 59 countries can take civil airlines, business charter flights or cruise ships, and enter Hainan with valid ordinary passports via all its ports open to foreign countries (Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Fenghuang International Airport, Qionghai Boao Airport, Yangpu Port, Haikou Port, Qinglan Port, Basuo Port, Sanya Port), after being checked and approved by border inspection authorities, without the need to declare in advance.
Please note that to be eligible for visa-free entry, travelers flying to Hainan need to arrive by either direct international flight from their country or transit via a third country or China’s Hong Kong or Macao region.
5. Allowed Area of Visit
The administrative area of Hainan Province.
For those who wish to extend their stay in Hainan or leave Hainan for other parts of China for legitimate purposes, they must apply for a visa at the exit-entry administrations of Hainan’s public security authorities with supporting materials before the expiration of their visa-free stay.
6. Other Matters
If any of the 59 countries has mutual visa exemption agreement with China, provisions of the mutual visa exemption agreement shall prevail. If other visa exemptions are also applicable, foreign nationals concerned can choose which policy to comply with.
7. Where is Hainan? Is it fun?
(1) China’s only tropical island province and a popular tourist resort
Hainan is the southernmost and only tropical island province of China. The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is one of China’s first five national parks. With three international airports, the world’s first high-speed loop line and the Coastal Scenic Highway, it’s easy to travel around the island. Every year, various international conferences as well as cultural and sports events would take place in Hainan, including the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, China International Consumer Products Expo, Hainan Island International Film Festival, Hainan Island Carnival, international road cycling race Tour of Hainan and Round Hainan Regatta. In addition, tourists could also enjoy surfing, cruise and yacht rides, rainforest tours, highway trips and experience local folk culture.
(2) China’s largest special economic zone and the world’s largest free trade port
From one of China’s first five special economic zones to the only free trade port with Chinese characteristics, and the world’s largest free trade port, Hainan has always been at the forefront of reform and opening up. Endeavoring to embrace the highest level of opening up in the world, Hainan has put in place a set of policies and institutional arrangements supporting the free trade port, with a focus on the “zero tariffs, low tax rates, and a simplified tax system”, the free and convenient flow of trade, investment, cross-border capital, people and transportation, and the safe and orderly flow of data. A modern industrial system that features “four pillars, three strengths, and three premium service sectors” is also established in Hainan.
For more information about Hainan, please visit https://qr61.cn/o1gIPY/qDjWUTB (This is Hainan).
