Travel to China Without a Visa? Now You Can

2017-07-28

As of January 31, 2016, the Chinese government has implemented a new 144 Hour Visa-Exempt Transit Policy that allows some foreigners to enter the country without obtaining a visa. A traveler who intends to come to China as a layover for their final travel destination may now extend their stay in the country to 144 hours. That means certain foreigners traveling to Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan by way of a designated international port in China may move through Shanghai, Jiangsu, or Zhejiang visa-free for up to 6 days. The traveler’s departure and destination city may not be the same (e.g. a traveler may not travel from Los Angeles to Shanghai then back to Los Angeles), and they must remain within the approved three precincts for the entire duration of their stay. A full list of origination countries covered under this policy can be found on the Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection website and  currently includes 53 countries from five continents.

In order to obtain this transit status, a traveler should enter China through one of the approved international ports and provide immigration officers with a valid passport, a confirmed airline, vessel, or train ticket to a third-country destination that departs within 144 hours, and a completed arrival and departure card. Temporary entry status will be granted at the discretion of the immigration officer. Foreigners who overstay the 144 hour maximum or are forced to travel outside the approved precincts must apply for the relevant visa or risk punishment by the P.R.C.

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