Press "PandaGuides" above to follow us!
China announced on Tuesday (Dec 17) a major expansion of its visa-free transit policy, allowing eligible foreign travelers to stay for up to 240 hours - 10 days - an increase from the previous limit of 72-144 hours. This move comes as part of the government’s continued efforts to boost inbound tourism and attract more international visitors to the world’s second-largest economy.
The announcement, made by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) via its official WeChat account, stated that the policy would take effect immediately. Under the updated measure, travelers from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, can enter China visa-free if they are transiting to a third country or region. These visitors can arrive at any of the 60 designated ports across 24 provinces and remain in specified areas for no more than 240 hours.
This expanded policy highlights China’s commitment to restoring international travel and strengthening its position as a global tourism hub. Since reopening its borders in 2023, China has actively eased entry regulations to encourage foreign visitation.
In November, China’s Foreign Ministry revealed further steps to facilitate travel by waiving visa requirements for citizens of a total of 38 countries. These nations, including Spain, Singapore, and the Netherlands, now benefit from a visa-free stay of up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit.
The impact of these relaxed visa policies has already been reflected in China’s tourism data. According to the NIA, 8.2 million inbound trips were made by foreigners in the third quarter of 2024, marking a 48.8% increase year-on-year. Notably, more than half of these visits were facilitated by China’s visa-free programs, a figure that surged by 78.6% compared to the previous year.
Long press or scan the QR CODE below to follow us!
