Visa-Free Transit Stay in China

China generally requires a visa for entry, which must be presented at the airport when boarding your flight to China. Visa on arrival is not available in China, with the only exception being a stopover of up to 72/144 hours visa-free in certain Chinese cities, provided you enter through one of 19 designated airports and show a confirmed onward flight ticket from that location at the time of boarding your flight to China.

However, the stopover in China must be en route to a third country, such as East Asia, Southeast Asia, or Australia/New Zealand. This arrangement also applies if you transit through China on your way to or from Hong Kong.

When boarding your flight to China, instead of a China visa, simply present the corresponding onward flight ticket to one of these countries. This must be a direct flight. If another stopover in China is planned, the visa-free transit rule does not apply.

The transit regulation applies to stopovers in the following Chinese cities:

• Up to 144 hours (6 days) in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Guangzhou.
• Up to 72 hours (3 days) in the cities of Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guilin, Harbin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenyang, Wuhan, Xi'an, Xiamen.

The regulation is valid for nationals of 45 countries, including all EU countries, Russia, Ukraine, Iceland, and Switzerland, as well as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Visa-Free Transit for Cruise Tourists

If you visit China on a cruise ship, the need for a visa depends on which and how many ports you visit. Hong Kong is considered separate due to its special status and is not technically part of China for visa purposes. Commonly visited Chinese port cities include Sanya, Xiamen, Qingdao, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Visas are mandatory for Sanya, Xiamen, and Qingdao. If your cruise visits both Shanghai and Tianjin, you will also need a visa.

However, if your ship only docks at Tianjin (and you then fly back from Beijing) or only at Shanghai (and then fly back from there), you can stay in Tianjin/Beijing or Shanghai for up to 144 hours without a visa. The same applies if you fly to Shanghai and board a cruise ship that travels directly abroad (to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea); in this case, a visa is not required.

Caution: It's possible that border officials at airports and ports may not be fully aware of the relatively new rules for cruisers, which could lead to delays. To ensure a smooth entry, please check with your cruise line beforehand to see if you should apply for a China visa regardless. Cruise lines like AIDA and COSTA recommend doing so.

If the visa-free entry regulation does not apply to your situation, we are happy to assist you in applying for a China tourist visa.

Apply for a Chinese Visa Now