TRANSIT IN CHINA - 72 HOURS VISA FREE

The Chinese government have implemented a 72 hours Visa Free Transit policy, which means that eligible passport holders can visit designated cities in China for up to 3 days, without a visa and without needing to apply in advance for a visa at the Chinese Consulate, in their country of residence.

Note that the following Chinese cities are part of the Visa Free transit policy:

• Beijing - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city) 
• Shanghai 
• Guangzhou - (can stay in the whole province) 
• Chengdu - (can stay in the whole province) 
• Chongqing - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city) 
• Harbin -  (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city) 
• Shenyang - (can just stay in this city) 
• Dalian - (can just stay in this city) 
• Xian 
• Guilin -  (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city) 
• Kunming - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city
• Wuhan -  (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city) 
• Xiamen - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city) 
• Tianjin - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city) 
• Nanjing 
• Qingdao - (can stay in the whole province) 
• Changsha - (can stay in the whole province) 
• Hangzhou
  

Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply for the 72 hour Visa Free Transit:

Schengen Agreement 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.

Other European Countries:

Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania.

American Countries:

United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.

Oceania Countries:

Australia, New Zealand.

Asian Countries:

Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

When does the 72 hour period start?

The 72 hours starts from 00:00 the day following the entry date in almost all the airports.

What documents are required for the 72 Hour Visa Free Transit:

• Passport
• Visa for a 3rd country 
• Arrival/Departure Card (including name, nationality, passport no., visa no. & issuance place, flight no., purpose of visit, date of birth, gender) 
• Onward travel ticket

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