China Transit Visa, China Transit Visa 72 & 114 Hours

What is 72-hour/144-hour China Transit Visa?

Nationals from following 53 countries who transit via mainland China to a third country/region can be granted a visa-free stay up to 72 hours/144 hours on a city or region basis. Within the permitted region, visitors can choose any of the permitted port to leave China.

China trainsit visa 144 hours and 24 hours

County List for China 72-hour and 144-hour transit visa (TWOV)

Europe: 24 Schengen 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,

15 other European countries - Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus

America: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar

List of China cities for 72-hour/144-hour Transit Visa (TWOV )

Entry City	Port of Entry for 144-hour transit visa	Port of Entry for 72-hour transit visa	Permitted Area for TWOV
Beijing	Beijing Capital International Airport Beijing West Railway Station Beijing Daxing International Airport		Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province
Tianjin	Tianjin Binhai International Airport Tianjin International Cruise Home Port		Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province
Shijiazhuang	Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport		Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province
Qinghuangdao	Qinghuangdao Port		Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province
Shanghai	Shanghai Pudong International Airport Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Shanghai Railway Station Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal		Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Jiangsu, Zhejiang Provinces
Nanjing	Nanjing Lukou International Airport		Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Jiangsu, Zhejiang Provinces
Ningbo	Ningbo Lishe International Airport		Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Jiangsu, Zhejiang Provinces
Hangzhou	Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport		Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Jiangsu, Zhejiang Provinces
Kunming	Kunming Changshui International Airport		Kunming
Chengdu	Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport		Chengdu, Leshan, Deyang, Suining, Meishan, Ya'an, Ziyang, Neijiang, Zigong, Luzhou, Yibin (11 cities in Sichuan Province)
Xiamen	Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Xiamen Wutong Ferry Terminal Xiamen International Cruise Center		Xiamen
Wuhan	Wuhan Tianhe International Airport		Wuhan
Qingdao	Qingdao Liuting International Airport Qingdao International Cruise Home Port		Shandong Province
Dalian	Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport		Liaoning Province
Shenyang	Shenyang Taoxian International Airport		Liaoning Province
Shenzhen	Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport		Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Chaoshan, Guangdong Province
Guangzhou	Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport		Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Chaoshan, Guangdong Province
Chaoshan	Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport		Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Chaoshan, Guangdong Province
Xian	Xian Xianyang International Airport		Xian, Xianyang
Chongqing	Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport		Chongqing
Guilin		Guilin Liangjiang international Airport	Guilin
Harbin		Harbin Taiping International Airport	Harbin
Changsha		Changsha Huanghua International Airport	Hunan Province

Who can enjoy 72-hour and 144-hour transit visa?

From the above, you may note that the transit must via mainland China and head to a third country or region (Hong Kong and Macau are regarded as region, which means that both of them can be deemed as the third destination).

Example:

✔London – Chengdu – Singapore

✔New York – Shanghai – Hong Kong

✔Dubai – Guangzhou – Shenzhen - Hong Kong – Dubai

✔Sydney – Hong Kong – Guangzhou - Sydney

✘London – Beijing – London (Not to the third country/region)

✘London – Beijing – Xian – Singapore (Xian is neither the third country/region nor in the permitted region of Beijing entry)

✔London – Beijing – Tianjin – Tokyo (Beijing & Tianjin are in the permitted region)

How to calculate the time of 72 hours & 144 hours?

Instead of counting from the time of your arrival in China, the starting point to calculate is 00:00 of the next day after entry, and the ending point is 24:00 of the 3rd/6th day after entry.

Example: Your flight arrives at Beijing on 9am of 9rd October; the time will be counted from 00:00 of 10th October. You will have to leave Beijing (2 airports) or Tianjin (airport or cruise port) before 24:00 of 15th October.

Important notes: If you’re unable to depart China on your scheduled day due to unavoidable reasons, like flight cancellation, you need to apply for a China visa at Municipal Public Security Bureau.

China Transit Visa 72 hours

How to apply for 72-hour/144-hour China Transit Visa?

Required Documents:

Passport with a validity of at least 3 months from the date of entry;

Flight/Train/Cruise ticket to a third country/region with confirmed seat and date within 144 hour on arrival;

Completed Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners;

Valid visa to the third country or region (if requires).

6 steps to apply for 72-hour/144-hour China Transit Visa

Step 1: Inform the carrier when boarding that you would apply for the transit visa when arrive in the transit city.

Step 2: Fill in an Arrival/Departure Card, which can be obtained from the carrier to China.

Step 3: Follow the signs to 72-hour/144-hour transit visa counter at the immigration inspection upon arrival. Fill in the Visa-free Transit Application and answer questions from the immigration officer. If you have a China visa but do not want to use it this time, do remember to tell the immigration officer.

Step 4: Get approved and your passport will be stamped a stay permit by the officer. The permitted duration of stay is shown on the stamp.

Step 5: Clear customs and leave airport to your hotel.

Step 6: Show your passport to check in hotel. If you do not stay in hotel, you must register yourself within 24 hours upon arrival at the local police station or Public Security Bureau.