144 Hours Visa Free Transit

Since 2016, 144-hour Visa Free Transit Policy has been carried out in 7 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chengdu, Xiamen, Wuhan and Kunming) and 4 provinces (Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Hebei and Shandong) in China. Eligible foreigner travelers from the 53 nations are allowed make a transit from cities and provinces listed above to a third country or region within 144 hours without a visa.

European Schengen Agreement Countries (25): Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco.
Other European countries (14): Russia, the U.K., Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus.
American countries (6): United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
Oceania countries (2): Australia, New Zealand
Asian countries (6): Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

Beijing: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing West Railway Station.
Shanghai: Pudong International Airport, Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, Wusong Passenger Transport Center and all railway stations.
Tianjin: Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port.
Chengdu: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Xiamen: Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport
Shandong: Qingdao Liuting International Airport, Qingdao International Seaport.
Wuhan: Wuhan Tianhe Airport
Kunming: Kunming Changshui Airport
Zhejiang: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
Jiangsu: Nanjing Lukou International Airport
Liaoning: Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, Dalian International Airport.
Hebei: Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, Qinhuangdao International Port.

Foreigners who apply for 144-hour visa-free transit status should abide by the following conditions and requirements:

• Foreign travelers must be passport holders of 53 eligible countries specified above, and their passports must be valid for at least three months from the date of entry.
• They also need to show an onward air / ship / train ticket bound for a third country or region with confirmed seat and departure date within 144 hours.
• Foreigners must enter and exit China from the designated ports, and they shall not step out of the specified area of stay within 144 hours.

An eligible transit route should be keep accordance with the type: Country A → Ports of Entry in China → Country C. For example, one cannot travel from Sydney to Shanghai and then back to Melbourne, but it's okay to fly to nearby third countries and regions, such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.

Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan could be regarded as the third regions A or C in this situation. Therefore, routes like USA-Beijing-Hong Kong or Taiwan - Shanghai - Japan are eligible for 144-hour visa-free policy.

Though Beijing and Shanghai are eligible for 144-hour visa-free policy, you cannot have a cross-area trip like UK-Beijing-Shanghai-South Korea. However, adjacent visa-exempt regions are eligible for cross-area travel. You could move around Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang and exit from any of the specified ports. It is also applicable for the region covering Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

Examples of Qualified Routes:
Malaysia - Shanghai - Hangzhou - Thailand
USA - Beijing - Tianjin - Japan

You do not have to leave from the same port that you entered. For instance, if you land Shanghai by air, you could opt to depart by a cruise via the designated international cruise terminal.

Once you enter China, the eligible stay is calculated from 12am of the next day upon your arrival. For example, you land Shanghai on 9am at 1st August 2019, the 144 hours is actually counted from 00:00 of 2nd August.

If your transit is applicable to the 144-hour visa-exemption policy, Chinese immigration inspection station will issue you a temporary entry permit affixed on your passport. Moreover, in the first 24 hours of entry, foreign travelers shall register their residence addresses with the local public security bureaus or foreigner service stations. With temporary entry permit, you could skip the hassle if getting lodged in a hotel as the hotel has the obligation to register residence for you.

If you fail to leave China on time due to unavoidable causes like flight cancellation or a sudden illness, you shall lodge an application to the exit and entry administration department of a public security bureau for corresponding stay or residence documents. However, if you intentionally stay beyond the approve duration, you would receive punishments according to relevant regulations stipulated in the Exit and Entry Administration Law of P.R.C..

No. It is for free. And you will get a stay permit affixed on your passport so that you could smoothly get lodged in a hotel.