144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei
The 144-hour visa-free transit has been implemented in Beijing, Tianjin and Heibei since December 28th, 2017. It enables air, train, and ship passengers heading for a third country or region to stay within the three places for up to six days without needing a visa application.
Who can enjoy the 144-hour visa exemption? - List of 53 Qualified Countries
- 24 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
- 15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco
- 6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
- 2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand
- 6 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar
What Is An Eligible Route?
A: departure country ⇒ B: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei ⇒ C: the third country or region
- A and C should be different countries or regions out of Mainland China.
* Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can be the Destination A or C, so the route "UK-Beijing-Hong Kong" is acceptable as the typical route "US-Beijing-Japan".
- The international flights flying in and out of China – from A to B and from B to C – should be non-stop, without a stopover anywhere in Mainland China.
* For example, if the passenger stops in Guangzhou before entering Beijing, Tianjin, or Hebei, he or she cannot enjoy the 144-hour visa-free transit.
How to Apply for 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit?
6 Steps to Apply for 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit:
1. Inform the carrier when boarding
2. Fill an Arrival/Departure Card
3. Apply for the 144-hour visa-free stay permit upon arrival
4. Claim the luggage (if needed)
5. Go through the customs
6. Leave the airport
* Note for step 3: Upon arrival, find the 144-hour visa-free counter at the immigration inspection to apply for the stay permit, which will be stamped on your passport indicating the allowed stay time. Remember to tell the officer if you have a visa for China but don't want to use it this time.
Documents Needed for Application
1. Passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry.
2. Ticket to a third country with confirmed seat and date.
3. Fully completed Arrival/Departure Card.
* Prepare a valid visa if the third country or region in your plan requires.
How to count the layover time of 144 hours?
It counts from 00:00 of the day following passengers' arrival. That is to say, the allowed time to stay is actually longer than 144 hours.
* Eg: If one arrives at 6:00 am on July 1, the layover time counts from 00:00 of July 2 and the passenger should hold a ticket with the scheduled departure time before 23:59 of July 7. In this case, the allowed stay period is 162 hours in maximum.
What Are the Eligible Transit Ports?
Beijing: Capital International Airport, (0086-10-56095400)
West Railway Station.
Tianjin: Tianjin Binhai International Airport,
Tianjin International Cruise Home Port.
Heibei: Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport,
Qinghuangdao Port.
* The policy is under final interpretation by the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China.
