China Extends Visa-Free Transit Stays to 10 Days

China has recently expanded its visa-free transit policy, allowing eligible foreign travelers to stay in the country for up to 10 days (240 hours) without a visa. This extension, effective immediately, increases the previous visa-free transit period from 72 or 144 hours to 240 hours.

Travelers from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, can now enter China without a visa if they are transiting to a third country. This policy is applicable at 60 designated ports across 24 provinces. Additionally, the number of provincial regions open to visa-free travelers has increased from 19 to 24, providing greater flexibility for international visitors.

This initiative is part of China's efforts to boost foreign visits following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in 2023. In November, China's Foreign Ministry announced the extension of visa-free travel to 38 countries, including Spain, Singapore, and the Netherlands, permitting stays of up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit.

The impact of these policies is evident in the increased number of foreign visitors. In the third quarter of 2024, China recorded 8.2 million inbound trips, marking a 48.8% year-on-year increase. Notably, more than half of these trips were facilitated by the visa-free policy, representing a 78.6% increase compared to the previous year.

These developments underscore China's commitment to enhancing international travel and tourism by simplifying entry procedures and extending the duration of visa-free stays for eligible travelers.

Here is the list of countries with ordinary passport holders eligible for visa-free entry into China:

• Albania

• Argentina

• Australia

• Austria

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Brazil

• Brunei

• Bulgaria

• Canada

• Chile

• Croatia

• Cyprus

• Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Finland

• France

• Germany

• Greece

• Hungary

• Iceland

• Indonesia

• Ireland

• Italy

• Japan

• Kazakhstan

• Latvia

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• North Macedonia

• Malaysia

• Malta

• Mexico

• Monaco

• Montenegro

• The Netherlands

• Norway

• The Philippines

• Poland

• Portugal

• Qatar

• Romania

• Russia

• Serbia

• Singapore

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Spain

• The Republic of Korea

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Thailand

• The United Arab Emirates

• The United States

• New Zealand

• The United Kingdom

• Ukraine