Visa policy of mainland China

[2][52][53] To qualify for the 24-hour TWOV, travelers must possess a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry, arrive by air, cruise ship, or train, and have confirmed onward tickets to a third-country destination outside mainland China departing within 24 hours.

However, as of January 2024, the National Immigration Administration has implemented a new policy allowing foreigners to transit directly for 24 hours without inspection procedures at nine key hub airports: Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an, Chengdu Tianfu, and Xi'an Xianyang.

International travelers with connecting flights within 24 hours and holding tickets to a third country or region can transit through these airports without a visa and are exempt from border inspection procedures.

Travelers are permitted to remain in the airport for a maximum of two hours, after which they must depart mainland China from Ürümqi on an international flight.

[55][56] Eligibility requires entry through designated ports, passports valid for at least three months beyond arrival, and visas for destination countries if needed.

[2] Inbound and outbound flights must arrive at and depart directly from approved ports of entry, without mainland China stopovers.

240-hour visa-free transit allows arrival and departure[b] through the following border crossing ports:[55] Airports (47) Seaports (12) Railways (1) Different from the previous policy, foreign nationals entering China through the visa-free transit policy can make cross-province travels within the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers in these following areas:[55][56] The Chinese government has implemented visa waiver schemes or special visa regulations for foreign citizens traveling to particular areas of mainland China or foreign nationals residing in certain regions bordering mainland China.

This policy allowed visitors to stay on Hainan Island without a visa for up to 15 days if they were part of a tour group organized by a qualified travel agency.

Besides tourism, foreign citizens could now enter visa-free for various purposes, including business, trade, visiting, family reunification, medical treatment, conferences and exhibitions, and sports competitions (excluding work and study) for up to 30 days.

Additionally, the National Immigration Administration allowed individual self-application or entry through an entity invitation, replacing the previous requirement for travel agency involvement.

Since 30 July 2024, foreign tour groups of two or more people from Hong Kong and Macau can entry Hainan Province without a visa for up to 144 hours (six days).

In addition, 24-hour and 144-hour TWOV policies apply to those who are not joining a tour group and are leaving China by air, train or sea in 24 or 144 hours depending on their nationality.

[69] Tourists from ASEAN member states may visit Guilin, Guangxi or Xishuangbanna, Yunnan without a visa for a maximum of 6 days if they travel with an approved tour group and enter and exit China through Guilin Liangjiang International Airport or Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port and Mohan Highway Port.

[citation needed] For a maximum stay of 3 months No additional restrictions on stay Citizens of the following countries are only eligible for visa on arrival service at Beijing (Capital and Daxing), Shanghai (Pudong and Hongqiao), and Chengdu (Tianfu and Shuangliu): 1 - Travellers may enter without visa under a temporary measure to bypass this restriction.

Home Return Permit holders also need to obtain an employment authorization from the municipal governments in order to work legally in mainland China.

[citation needed] Non-visa-exempt citizens who are non-permanent residents of Hong Kong or Macau require a visa to visit the mainland.

The 5-year permit, which also serves as the de facto ID card in mainland China, may be applied from travel agencies in Taiwan and CTS in Hong Kong or Macau.

They may, however, enjoy social benefits in certain municipalities like Shanghai once they have legally settled in mainland China, some of which are only offered to local residents.

Eligible airports are: Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Haikou, Hailar, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Huangshan, Jinan, Kunming, Nanchang, Nanjing, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Quanzhou, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Weihai, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi'an, Xuzhou, Yancheng, Yantai, Yinchuan, Zhangjiajie and Zhengzhou.

Applicants who were born in the Greater China Area or who are family members of Chinese nationals can obtain multiple-entry visas with validity of 12 or 24 months.

[2] The Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, which went into effect on 1 September 2013, mandates some basic documentation for securing a Chinese visa.

The only exceptions to this rule are for type G (transit) and L (tourism) applicants, who can either obtain a LOI, or produce their paid round-trip tickets plus the hotel reservations for the duration of their stay in mainland China.

[140] The requirement, however, does not apply to Hong Kong and Macau permanent residents as their Chinese nationality is determined by their respective governments.

[citation needed] The only way to obtain a TTP is to arrange a tour operated by a Tibet-based travel agent which at least includes hotels and transportation.

[153] In practice, journalists are escorted by MFA and MPS officials for the entire duration of their visit and their movements are limited in order to prevent them from communicating with the Tibetans.

[154] In March 2016, the government of TAR announced intentions of reform, which include the streamlining of TTP and ATP application procedures and shortening processing time of the permits.

[150] All foreign nationals who stay in mainland China for more than 24 hours must register with the local public security bureaus (PSBs) or offices.

Foreigners staying in a private home can upload their identification documents, passport-sized photos, and housing information to complete their accommodation registration without the need to physically visit any government office.

[155] All visa-free passengers, including those in transit who stay for more than 24 hours, must adhere to the rule, as failure to comply can result in a warning, a fine or being detained by PSB for up to 15 days.

2 Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia and the partially recognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia each span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia.