China's 144 hour visa free transit policy applies to 37 ports

China's 144 hour visa free transit policy applies to 37 ports

The National Immigration Administration announced today that a 144 hour visa free transit policy will be implemented at the Zhengzhou Air Port in Henan Province, with a stay area within the administrative region of Henan Province; Expand the 144 hour visa free transit policy in Yunnan Province from Kunming City to 9 administrative regions including Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu'er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, and Wenshan. Three new ports, including Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, and Mohan Railway Port, have been added as eligible ports for the 144 hour transit visa free policy.

It is reported that as of now, the National Immigration Administration has implemented a 144 hour visa free transit policy at 37 ports in Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang and Qinhuangdao in Hebei, Shenyang and Dalian in Liaoning, Shanghai, Nanjing and Lianyungang in Jiangsu, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou and Zhoushan in Zhejiang, Zhengzhou in Henan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Jieyang in Guangdong, Qingdao in Shandong, Chongqing, Chengdu in Sichuan, Xi'an in Shaanxi, Xiamen in Fujian, Wuhan in Hubei, Kunming, Lijiang and Xishuangbanna in Yunnan. Citizens of 54 countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, who hold valid international travel documents and a connecting ticket with a confirmed date and seat within 144 hours, can transit through the above-mentioned ports to a third country (region) without a visa and stay in the designated area for no more than 144 hours. During their stay, they can engage in short-term activities such as tourism, business, visits, and family visits (in accordance with the mutual visa exemption agreement signed with China or China's unilateral visa exemption policy, they can follow its regulations).

According to the relevant person in charge of the National Immigration Administration, since the implementation of the 72/144 hour transit visa free policy in China in January 2013, the transit visa free policy has played an important role in serving the country's high-level opening up to the outside world, facilitating the exchange of Chinese and foreign personnel, and promoting foreign exchanges and cooperation. The expansion of the 144 hour transit visa free policy in two provinces provides more options for foreign nationals to travel and conduct business in China. Next, the National Immigration Administration will continuously improve and optimize the transit visa free policy, continue to deepen the opening up of the immigration management system, welcome foreign nationals to China with a more open attitude, and fully serve to promote high-level opening and high-quality development.