Currently, the scope of China's 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy has expanded to 54 countries. If you are still unfamiliar with this policy, here are some helpful Q&As for you.

1. "How do I calculate the 72/144-hour visa-free transit period? Does it begin on the day of my arrival in China?"

For a foreign traveler eligible for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy, the duration of stay is calculated from 00:00 of the day following his/her entry into China. Taking the 144-hour visa-free transit period as an example, if a traveler arrives in China on December 1, 2023, his/her period of stay would be counted from 00:00 on December 2, 2023. The traveler can stay within the visa-free transit area for a maximum of six days and has to depart by 24:00 on December 7, 2023.

Note: If the stay period exceeds 72/144 hours within the visa-free transit area due to force majeure, travelers shall follow the regulations and apply for the appropriate stay documents from the exit and entry administration departments of public security authorities.

2. "I haven't booked my next flight yet. Can I still apply for the 144-hour visa-free transit entry?"

Unfortunately, it is not possible. According to the regulations, to apply for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit entry, an eligible foreign traveler must possess a connecting flight ticket or relevant proof to a third country or region within the 72/144-hour timeframe with the departure date and seat confirmed.

3. "After entering through a port of Beijing and getting permission to stay before transit for 144 hours without a visa, can I travel to Hainan and exit from there?"

Unfortunately, it is not allowed. Foreign travelers entering China under the 72/144-hour transit visa-free policy are not permitted to leave their designated stay areas. It should be noted that, however, as the National Immigration Administration is promoting the policy integration, Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province currently implement relevant policies in coordination, allowing foreign travelers eligible for the visa-free transit policy to enter and exit from any port implementing the policy within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region while staying within the region.

4. "After entering through a port of Beijing and getting permission to stay before transit for 144 hours without a visa, which ports can I exit from?"

Under the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated 144-hour policy, foreign travelers can choose to enter or exit from any of the following ports: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing West Railway Station, Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port, Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, and Qinhuangdao Port. Travelers are allowed to stay within the administrative regions of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei for up to 144 hours.

Apart from these aforementioned ones, if you have any other questions regarding the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy, please feel free to leave us a message, and we will provide you with relevant policy information and answer your inquiries as soon as possible.

(Source: Beijing General Station of Immigration Inspection)