Visa-free Transit Extends to 54 Countries

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The number of countries in which citizens can enjoy a stay of up to 72 or 144-hour (3 or 6-day) visa-free offered by a transit policy in China was extended to 54 on Friday, with Norway joining the club.

▲Some of the first passengers to enjoy the 144 visa-free transit in Guangzhou

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Friday that passport holders from the 54 countries are exempted from visa requirements during transit and can stay for up to 72 or 144 hours in China if they are destined for a third country.

During the short-term transit period, qualified passengers can get involved in activities such as business visits and tourism, the NIA clarified during the announcement.‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Passengers transiting through the cities of Changsha, Guilin and Harbin will be able to enjoy up to 72 hours of visa-free transit policy, while the 144-hour visa-free transit policy is available in 20 cities, including Tianjin, Beijing, Shijiazhuang, etc.

If a passenger exceeds the limit of 72 or 144 hours, then they will need to head over to the exit-entry office nearby to apply for a visa (subjected to punishment if their extended stay is considered illegal).‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Countries Covered (54)

Americas (6)‍

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and USA.

Asian Countries (6)‍‍‍

Brunei, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, UAE.

European Countries (40)

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. 

Oceania (2)

Australia and New Zealand‍

Cities & Transit Period‍‍

72 Hours (3)‍‍‍‍

Changsha, Guilin and Harbin.

144 Hours (20)‍‍‍‍‍

Beijing, Xian, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shenyang, Dalian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Wushan, Xiamen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Jieyang.

Reference: NIA

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