5 More Cities in China Enjoy 144-Hour Visa Free Transit since January 1, 2019

Qingdao1043Jan 01, 2019

From January 1, 2019, China expands the 144 Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy to 5 more cities including Qingdao, Xiamen, Wuhan, Chengdu and Kunming.

From January 1, 2019, China expands the 144 Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy to 5 more cities including Qingdao, Xiamen, Wuhan, Chengdu and Kunming. Approved by the State Council, the visa-free transit policy is applicable to travelers from 53 countries such as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Passengers from the designated countries are allowed to stay in these 5 cities for up to 144 hours by showing the valid travel documents and tickets to a third country or region with confirmed seats. Upon arrival, they only need to fill in an application form at the port's border checkpoint, and they will get a paper travel permit for temporary stay within the cities.

Previously, a 72-hour visa-free transit policy was carried out in 18 China cities, and a great extension to 144 hours was adopted gradually in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Shanghai and the neighboring provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, as well as the cities of Shenyang and Dalian in Liaoning Province. Moreover, there are additional airports and seaport eligible for entry and exit during the international transit.

Chinese Immigration Administration said that China receives about 43 million foreign visits annually, while the extensional visa-free stay would greatly benefit these 5 cities by creating more convenient condition for layover trips. The policy is also a good news to travelers since the 5 designated cities are amazing travel destinations in China, for instance, Xiamen for the picturesque island scenery and tulou folk residence, Qingdao for charming coastal views, Wuhan for the annual cherry blossom, Chengdu for the adorable giant pandas and Kunming for the bizarre Stone Forest and gateway to divers minorities.

List of 53 Eligible Countries
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Monaco, Russia, Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia and Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE ief, Qatar.