We have prepared the following explanation regarding the visa waiver or free policy. Please check if you qualify for it or if you still need an invitation letter. If you have any further questions, you can consult your local Chinese embassy. The contact information is as follows: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zwjg/zgdsg/2491_665346/

FAQ on  visa waiver apply to China

Q：Who does the visa waiver apply to?

A：Nationals of 38 countries including Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan holding valid ordinary passports can be exempted from visa requirement if entering into China for the purpose of business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchange and transit. They can stay in China for no more than 30 days without visa.

Q：Do foreign nationals eligible for a visa waiver need to make declarations to Chinese embassies and consulates in advance?

A：Foreign nationals eligible for a visa waiver do not need to declare in advance to Chinese embassies and consulates before entering China without a visa.

Q：Will the purpose of intended stay in China be examined by Chinese border inspection authorities when entering China? How will it be done? Are other documents needed for entering China in addition to a passport?

A：Foreign nationals traveling for purposes of business, tourism, family or friends visits，exchange and transit that meet the visa waiver requirements can be allowed to enter China without a visa upon examination and approval in accordance with law by border inspection authorities. Entry into China shall be denied by border inspection authorities in accordance with law to foreign nationals who travel for purposes that do not meet the visa waiver requirements or who are not allowed to enter China in accordance with laws and regulations. It is recommended to take documents such as invitation letters, air tickets and reservations of accommodation as a proof corresponding to the purposes of entry into China. Visa waiver does not apply to those who come to China for work, study, journalistic or alike purposes.

Q：Is there any additional requirement for minors eligible for a visa waiver?

A：Visa waiver requirements for minors are the same as for adults.

Q：Are there any requirements on the type and validity of entry documents?

A：For foreign nationals, an ordinary passport valid for at least the duration of intended stay in China is needed. Holders of travel documents or temporary or emergency documents other than ordinary passports are not allowed to enter into China without a visa.

Q：How to calculate the duration of stay of 30 days?

A：Foreign nationals eligible for a visa waiver may stay in China continuously without a visa from the date of entry to the 30th calendar day until 24:00.

Q：Does the visa waiver apply to foreign nationals who travel from a third country?

A：Eligible foreign nationals can depart for China from any country or region.

Q：Does the visa waiver apply to foreign nationals who travel by forms of transport other than aviation?

A：The visa waiver applies to all travelers coming to China through any sea, road and air port open to foreign nationals (except where laws, regulations and bilateral arrangements specify otherwise). For arrivals in China by private transport, certain procedures for entry and exit of means of transport shall be processed in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China.

Q：Does the visa waiver apply to tour groups?

A：The visa waiver applies to eligible foreign nationals either in tour groups or as individuals.

Q：If the length of intended stay exceeds 30 days, can the visa waiver be extended?

A：Foreign nationals planning to stay in China for over 30 days shall apply for visas corresponding to their purposes of stay in advance at Chinese embassies or consulates. If they have to stay longer than 30 days for appropriate and sufficient reasons after entering China without a visa, they shall apply for stay permits to the exit and entry administrations of public security authorities of China.

Q：Does the visa waiver allow multiple entries? Is there any requirement on the length of intervals between each entry, or any restriction on the number of entries without a visa or total days of stay?

A：Foreign nationals eligible for the visa waiver can enter China without a visa for multiple times. Currently there is no restriction on the number of entries or total days of stay, but those who enjoy visa-free/visa-waiver policy travel to China shall not engage in activities inconsistent with their purposes of entry.  

FAQ on China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy

Q：What is China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy?

A：On December 17, 2024, the National Immigration Administration issued an announcement. Starting from December 17, 2024, China's visa-free transit policy has been fully relaxed and optimized. The stay time for visa-free transit foreigners in the country has been extended from the original 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). At the same time, 21 additional ports have been added as entry ports for visa-free transit personnel, and the activity area for stay has been further expanded. Eligible personnel from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, who transit through China to a third country (region), can enter China visa-free from any of the 60 open ports in 24 provinces (regions, municipalities) and stay and conduct activities in the specified area for no more than 240 hours.

Q：What are the stay activity areas under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy? 

A：The policy applies to the following areas: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi (including 12 cities such as Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Hezhou, Hechi, and Laibin), Chongqing, Sichuan (including 11 cities such as Chengdu, Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Yibin, Ya'an, Meishan, and Ziyang), Yunnan, Shaanxi, Shanxi (including Taiyuan and Datong), Anhui, Jiangxi (including Nanchang and Jingdezhen), Hainan, and Guizhou, a total of 24 provinces (regions, municipalities). Foreigners coming to China through the visa-free transit policy can travel across provincial domains within the allowed stay activity areas of the above-mentioned 24 provinces (regions, municipalities).

Q：What are the ports of entry that are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy?

A：There are a total of 60 ports, which are: Beijing Capital International Airport port, Beijing Daxing International Airport port; Tianjin Binhai International Airport port, Tianjin sea port (passenger transport); Hebei Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport port, Qinhuangdao sea port (passenger transport); Liaoning Shenyang Taoxian International Airport port, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport port, Dalian sea port (passenger transport); Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport port, Shanghai Pudong International Airport port, Shanghai sea port (passenger transport); Jiangsu Nanjing Lukou International Airport port, Sunan Shuofang International Airport port, Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport port, Lianyungang sea port (passenger transport); Zhejiang Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport port, Ningbo Lishe International Airport port, Wenzhou Longwan International Airport port, Yiwu Airport port, Wenzhou port (passenger transport), Zhoushan port (passenger transport); Anhui Hefei Xinqiao International Airport port, Huangshan Tunxi International Airport port; Fujian Fuzhou Changle International Airport port, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport port, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport port, Wuyishan Airport port, Xiamen sea port (passenger transport); Shandong: Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport port, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport port, Yantai Penglai International Airport port, Weihai Dashepo International Airport port, Qingdao sea port (passenger transport); Henan Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport port; Hubei Wuhan Tianhe International Airport port; Hunan Changsha Huanghua International Airport port, Zhangjiajie荷花International Airport port; Guangdong Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport port, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport port, Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport port, Nansha port (passenger transport), Shekou port (passenger transport); Hainan Haikou Meilan International Airport port, Sanya Phoenix International Airport port; Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport port; Guizhou Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport port; Shaanxi Xi'an Xianyang International Airport port; Shanxi Taiyuan Wusu International Airport port; Heilongjiang Harbin Taiping International Airport port; Jiangxi Nanchang Changbei International Airport port; Guangxi Nanning Wuxu International Airport port, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport port, Beihai Fucheng Airport port, Beihai sea port (passenger transport); Sichuan: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport port, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport port; Yunnan Kunming Changshui International Airport port, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport port, Mohan Railway Port.

Foreigners who are eligible for the policy can choose any of the above 60 ports for entry, and the exit ports are the above 60 ports and other open ports in Guangdong.

Q：What conditions must foreign travelers meet to apply for a 240-hour visa-free transit through the four international airports in Jinan, Qingdao, Yantai, and Weihai in Shandong, and the Qingdao sea port passenger terminal?

A：First, they must be citizens of countries within the scope of the 240-hour visa-free transit, and currently, 54 countries have been included in the scope of the 240-hour visa-free transit countries.

Second, they need to hold their own valid international travel documents and meet the entry conditions for going to a third country or region.

Third, they need to hold a connecting flight ticket or relevant proof with a confirmed seat within 240 hours for transit to a third country or region, fill in the temporary entry foreigner entry card, and accept the inspection and inquiry of the immigration inspection authority.

Foreign travelers who meet the above conditions can apply to the border inspection authority for the 240-hour visa-free transit procedures. At the same time, according to relevant regulations, for those whose international travel documents are valid for less than 3 months, or have the rejection stamp of our country's visa authority, or have illegal entry and exit, illegal residence, illegal employment records in China within 5 years and other illegal situations, the border inspection authority will not issue a temporary entry permit.

Q：Which 54 countries' citizens are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy?

A：(1)A total of 40 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway.

(2) A total of 6 American countries: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.

(3) A total of 2 Oceanian countries: Australia, New Zealand.

(4) A total of 6 Asian countries: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

Q：Does the 240-hour limit in "240-hour visa-free transit" start from the time of entry?

A：No, the 240-hour limit starts from midnight of the day following the entry. For example, if a traveler enters through Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport at 08:00 on January 1, 2025, the visa-free period starts from 00:00 on January 2, 2025, and they just need to exit before 23:59 on January 11, 2025.

Q：If I haven't bought a return ticket when entering and plan to buy a ticket to a third country (region) after entering, can I apply for the transit visa-free policy?

A：According to the policy, to apply for visa-free transit, one must hold a confirmed ticket with a date and seat for travel to a third country (region), which means the return ticket must be purchased before entry. Therefore, those who haven't booked a connecting flight ticket cannot enjoy this convenience policy.

Q：If I come from a certain country (region) and have already booked a ticket to return to my country (region) within 240 hours, can I apply for this policy?

A：No. According to the policy, the visa-free transit policy is for foreigners from the 54 countries who are transiting through China to a third country (region). Therefore, foreigners whose destination country is the same as the departure country cannot enjoy this convenience policy.

Q：What are the precautions for visa-free transit foreigners staying in Shandong?

A：Firstly, it is necessary to comply with the stay management regulations. Visa-free transit foreign travelers can stay in China for no more than 240 hours, during which they can engage in activities such as tourism, business, visits, and family visits. It should be particularly noted that during the trip, one should plan the travel route reasonably within the area allowed by the policy and must not stay beyond the specified range. Activities that require prior approval, such as work, study, and press interviews, still require a proper visa to come to China. In case of urgent and reasonable reasons or force majeure (such as illness, loss of documents, etc.), if it is necessary to continue staying in the Shandong area, one should go to the local public security bureau's exit-entry administration department in advance to handle the corresponding stay documents.

Secondly, it is important to handle accommodation registration in time. After entering the country, foreign travelers who stay in hotels can handle accommodation registration procedures within the hotel. If staying in other places than hotels, the traveler or the host should go to the local police station to handle accommodation registration procedures within 24 hours after check-in.

Thirdly, remember the immigration exit-entry management service hotline. If foreign travelers encounter problems and confusion during their trip in Shandong, they can call the 24-hour Shandong Public Security Exit-Entry 12367 service hotline, or use the "12367 online service" function on the official website. It provides multi-language policy online consultation and real-time response services, answering questions and solving puzzles for Chinese and foreign personnel in time, and effectively improving the convenience of foreign travelers' trips to Shandong.