On December 17, 2024, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) issued the Announcement on Further Relaxing and Optimizing the Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreign Nationals. Effective immediately, the announcement expands the country’s visa-free transit policy to allow travelers of 54 countries, including the United States, to travel in certain parts of China for 240 hours (10 days), provided they have a connecting ticket with the confirmed departure date and seat number leaving for a third country or region within 240 hours.
Many of the 54 countries already enjoy unilateral visa-free travel to China for up to 30 days, such as Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. Citizens of a few other countries, such as Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, can enter China visa-free through mutual visa exemption agreements. Currently, China grants unilateral visa-free travel to citizens of 38 countries and has full mutual visa exemption agreements with another 25 countries.
The rest of the 54 countries that do not appear to have been covered by these existing programs are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to the NIA announcement, foreigners eligible for the new visa-free transit policy are permitted to enter China through 60 ports in 24 provinces, municipalities, or autonomous regions. While a few of the provincial regions limit access to one city or several cities, most of them, including Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Fujian, allow travel in the whole region. Travelers can also travel across the 24 provincial regions.
During their stay, visa-free transit travelers can engage in activities such as tourism, business, and family reunions. Activities requiring prior approval, such as work, study, or journalism, still require an appropriate visa.
In addition to the visa requirements, China’s Exit-Entry Administration Law requires all foreign nationals entering China to register their place of residence with the local public security authority (police) within 24 hours of arrival. If staying in a hotel, the hotel must register their information and report to the local public security authority. (Art. 39.) Failing to complete the registration is punishable by a fine of up to 2000 yuan (about US$275) for individuals, or a fine ranging from 1000 to 5000 yuan (about US$137 to $686) for hotels. (Art. 75.)
Laney Zhang, Law Library of Congress
December 19, 2024
Read more Global Legal Monitor articles.