Visa-Free Transit Stay in China
1a Visa Consulting Limited
China generally requires a visa for entry. Visa on arrival is not available in China — with the only exception being a stopover of up to 72 or 144 hours visa-free in certain Chinese cities, provided you enter through one of 19 designated airports and show a confirmed onward flight ticket.
The stopover must be en route to a third country such as East Asia, Southeast Asia, or Australia/New Zealand. This also applies if you transit through China on your way to or from Hong Kong.
When boarding your flight to China, present the onward flight ticket instead of a China visa. This must be a direct flight. If another stopover in China is planned, the visa-free transit rule does not apply.
Applicable Transit Cities
- Up to 144 hours (6 days): Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Guangzhou
- Up to 72 hours (3 days): 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, Switzerland, 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, whether you need a visa depends on which ports you visit. Hong Kong is considered separate due to its special status — 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, a visa is also required. However, if your ship only docks at Tianjin or only at Shanghai, you can stay for up to 144 hours without a visa. The same applies if you fly to Shanghai and board a cruise ship directly abroad.
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 Chinese Visa