China provides more channels and convenience for foreigners to come to China for tourism and other purposes. One is to provide port visa convenience for inbound tourists. At present, 97 port visa agencies in 71 cities across the country can apply for group travel visas for foreign tourist groups organized and received by domestic travel agencies, with each stay in China not exceeding 30 days. The second is to continuously optimize the transit visa free policy. At present, 31 ports in 23 cities and 18 provinces have implemented a 72/144 hourvisa free transit policy for personnel from 53 countries. Personnel from 53 countries who transit from China to third countries orregions can hold valid international travel documents and connecting tickets and stay in designated areas for 72/144 hours without a visa, providing convenient travel for foreigners to engage in temporary business, meetings, tourism and other activities during short-termtransit. The third is to implement regional entry visa free policies. Foreigners who meet the applicable conditions of the policy cantravel within the designated time and area. Currently, China has implemented a 15 day visa free policy for foreign tourist groups entering Shanghai, a 30 day visa free policy for 59 countries entering Hainan, a 144 hour visa free policy for ASEAN 10 countries entering Guilin, Guangxi, and a 144 hour visa free policy for foreign groups entering the Pearl River Delta region and Shantou in Guangdong. The fourth is to optimize customs clearance guarantees. Further simplify the inspection procedures for cruise ships and crew members, promote onboard inspection methods, improve customs clearance efficiency, and help promote relevant tourism enterprises and cruise companies to design and launch more cruise routes and tourism products, attracting more visiting cruise ships and foreign tourists to visit China for sightseeing. Next, the National Immigration Administration will continue to coordinate and research policies and measures to deepen and expand the opening up of immigration entry and exit management, further serving and ensuring the development of China's tourism industry.
China attaches great importance to inbound tourism services and will take multiple measures to meet the inbound tourism needs of foreign tourists. One is to actively promote the convenient application of entry and exit documents. Establish an identity authentication platform for entry and exit documents, and promote the convenient application of entry and exit documents in government services, public services, and the Internet. Currently, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents can enjoy 35 conveniences in transportation, finance, telecommunications, education, medical care, social security, industry and commerce, taxation, accommodation, and other fields by holding Mainland (Mainland) passes and other documents; Promote the convenience of social applications such as foreign tourists holding passports, permanent residence identity cards for foreigners in the People's Republic of China, and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan tourists holding entry and exit documents to and from the mainland (mainland) to book scenic spot tickets, purchase car (ship) tickets, and register accommodation. The second is to strengthen the training of inbound tourism courses. Actively participate in the inbound tourism partner action, continue to provide course trainingfor foreign tourists engaged in tourism business in China, help relevant personnel understand relevant laws and policies, improve thequality of tourism services, regulate tourism behavior in China,prevent overseas group tourists from leaving at will, maintain normalin bound and outbound order, and provide high-quality inbound tourism services for tourists in China.
What conditions do foreigners need to meet to apply for a 72/144 hour transit visa exemption?
First, Citizens of countries within the 72/144 hour transit visa free range;
Second, Must hold a valid international travel document that can proveone's national identity (with a validity period of no less than 3months) and meet the entry requirements for traveling to a third country or region;
Third, According to the transit visa free duration applied for, it isnecessary to hold a connecting ticket or relevant proof to a third country or region with a confirmed date and seat within 72/144 hours, fill out a temporary entry card for foreigners, and accept inquiries from the entry and exit border inspection authorities.
If foreigners meet the above conditions, they can apply for a 144 hour transit visa exemption to the border inspection authorities of 20 cities in China, or apply for a 72 hour transit visa exemption to the border inspection authorities of 3 cities. Other cities have not yet implemented this policy.
Tips
Individuals who hold passports or other international travel documents with avalidity period of less than 3 months, have a stamp of refusal fromChina's visa authorities, or have records of illegal entry, exit, residence, or employment within 5 years will not be granted atemporary entry permit by the border inspection authorities. Therefore, such individuals cannot apply for a 72/144 hour transit visa exemption.
Regional entry visa free policy
Shanghai Foreign Tourism Group Cruise Line Entry 15 Days Visa Free
Foreign tourist groups (2 or more people, including 2 people) are organized and received by travel agencies registered within China, and enter the Shanghai cruise port as a whole without visa application. The tourist group must accompany the same cruise itinerary and exit the country. The scope of activities is limited to coastal provinces and Beijing, namely Shanghai, Liaoning Province, Hebei Province, Tianjin City, Shandong Province, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Hainan Province. Cruise ports are located in cities and their surrounding urban administrative areas, with a stay time of 15 days.
30 day visa free for inbound tourism to 59 countries in Hainan
Individuals from 59 countries can enter Hainan without visa through travel agency invitations, unit invitations, or self declaration. The applicable countries are limited to 59 countries, including Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, CzechRepublic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland,Cyprus, Bulgaria Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, the United States, Canada,Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, SouthKorea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus, with activities limited to Hainan Province, All ports of entry and exit in Hainan that are open to the outside world, with a stay time of 30 days.
144 hour visa free entry for tourist groups from 10 ASEAN countries in Guilin, Guangxi
A travel group consisting of two or more people from ten ASEAN countries, organized and received by a travel agency, can enter Guilin Airport without visa application. Applicable countries are limited to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. The scope of activities is limited to the city of Guilin, Guangxi. The entry and exit ports are the open ports of Guilin, Guangxi, with a stay time of 144 hours (6 days) and a group entry and exit method.
144 hour visa free entry for foreign groups from Hong Kong and Macao entering Guangdong
Foreign citizens from countries that have established diplomatic relations with China are allowed to enter the Greater Bay Area through legally registered travel agencies in Hong Kong and Macau (with a tour groupof 2 or more people) to travel from Hong Kong and Macau to 9 citiesin the mainland and the Shantou area. They are allowed to enter without a visa and stay for 144 hours with a regular passport. The scope of activities is limited to 9 cities including Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Shantou. The entry and exit ports are open to the outside world ports of the 10 cities mentioned above, with a stay time of 144 hours (6 days) and a group entry and exit method.
中国为外国人来华旅游等提供更多渠道和便利。一是为入境旅游外国人提供口岸签证便利。目前，全国71个城市97个口岸签证机关可为国内旅行社组织、接待的外国旅游团办理团体旅游签证，每次在华停留不超过30天。二是持续优化过境免签政策。目前，18个省23个城市31个口岸，对53个国家人员实施72/144小时过境免签政策，即53国人员从中国过境前往第三国或地区，可持有效国际旅行证件和联程客票，在规定区域内免签停留72/144小时，为外国人短期过境从事临时商务、会议、旅游等活动提供出行便利。三是实施区域性入境免签政策。符合政策适用条件的外国人可在规定时间和区域内旅游，目前，我国已在上海实施外国旅游团邮轮入境15天免签、在海南实施59国入境旅游30天免签、在广西桂林实施东盟10国旅游团入境144小时免签、在广东实施港澳地区外国人组团进入珠三角地区和汕头旅游144小时入境免签政策。四是优化通关保障。进一步简化邮轮及船员查验手续，推行随船查验方式，提高通关效率，助力推动相关旅游企业、邮轮公司设计推出更多邮轮航线和旅游产品，吸引更多访问港邮轮来华和外籍旅客登陆观光。下一步，国家移民管理局将持续统筹研究深化扩大开放的移民出入境管理政策措施，进一步服务保障我国旅游业发展。
中国高度重视入境旅游服务工作，将多措并举满足境外游客入境旅游需求。一是积极推动出入境证件便利化应用。建立出入境证件身份认证平台，推动出入境证件在政务服务、公共服务和互联网领域便利化应用，目前港澳台居民可持内地（大陆）通行证等证件享有在交通、金融、电信、教育、医疗、社保、工商、税务、住宿等领域35项便利；推动外籍游客持用护照、中华人民共和国外国人永久居留身份证、港澳台游客持用来往内地（大陆）通行证等出入境证件预订景区门票、购买车（船）票、住宿登记等便利化社会应用。二是加强入境旅游课程培训。积极参与入境旅游商伙伴行动，持续为国外从事来华旅游业务人员提供课程培训，帮助相关人员了解有关法律政策，提升旅游服务质量，规范来华旅游行为，防范境外组团游客随意脱团，维护正常出入境秩序，为来华旅游人员提供优质入境旅游服务。
外国人申请72/144小时过境免办签证需要满足什么条件？
一是要属于72/144小时过境免签范围国家的公民；
二是需持有能证明本人国籍身份的有效国际旅行证件（有效期不少于3个月），符合前往第三国或地区入境条件；
三是根据申请的过境免签时长，需持有72/144小时内已确定日期及座位的前往第三国或地区的联程客票或者相关证明，填写临时入境外国人入境卡，并接受出入境边防检查机关询问。
如外国人符合上述条件，可向我国20个城市的边检机关提出办理144小时过境免签申请，或向3个城市的边检机关提出办理72小时过境免签申请，其他城市暂未实施该项政策。
温馨提示
具有所持护照或者其他国际旅行证件有效期不足3个月的，或有我国签证机关拒签章戳记的，或5年内有非法出入境、非法居留、非法就业记录等情形的人员，边检机关将不予签发临时入境许可，所以此类人员不能办理72/144小时过境免签。
区域性入境免签政策
上海外国旅游团邮轮入境15天免签
外国旅游团（2人以上，含2人）经由我国境内注册的旅行社组织、接待并从上海邮轮口岸整团入境免办签证，旅游团须整团随同一邮轮行程活动并出境。活动范围限定沿海省份和北京市，即上海市、辽宁省、河北省、天津市、山东省、江苏省、浙江省、福建省、广东省、广西壮族自治区、海南省内的邮轮靠泊港口所在城市及其周边城市行政区域内，停留时间为15天
海南59国入境旅游30天免签
59国人员可通过旅行社邀请接待、单位邀请接待或自行申报等方式由海南对外开放口岸免签入境海南。适用国家限定为59国，包括俄罗斯、英国、法国、德国、挪威、乌克兰、意大利、奥地利、芬兰、荷兰、丹麦、瑞士、瑞典、西班牙、比利时、捷克、爱沙尼亚、希腊、匈牙利、冰岛、拉脱维亚、立陶宛、卢森堡、马耳他、波兰、葡萄牙、斯洛伐克、斯洛文尼亚、爱尔兰、塞浦路斯、保加利亚、罗马尼亚、塞尔维亚、克罗地亚、波黑、黑山、北马其顿、阿尔巴尼亚、美国、加拿大、巴西、墨西哥、阿根廷、智利、澳大利亚、新西兰、韩国、日本、新加坡、马来西亚、泰国、哈萨克斯坦、菲律宾、印度尼西亚、文莱、阿联酋、卡塔尔、摩纳哥、白俄罗斯，活动范围限定在海南省，入出境口岸海南所有对外开放口岸，停留时间为30天。
广西桂林东盟10国旅游团入境144小时免签
东盟十国2人或2人以上组成的旅行团，经旅行社组织接待，可由桂林机场口岸免办签证入境。入出境口岸为广西桂林对外开放口岸，停留时间为144小时（6天），采取团进团出方式。
港澳地区外国人组团入境广东144小时免签
与中国建交国家的外国公民经在香港、澳门的合法注册旅行社组团（旅游团为2人或2人以上）由香港、澳门进入大湾区内地9市和汕头地区旅游，持普通护照允许免办签证入境并停留144小时。活动范围限定为广州、佛山、肇庆、深圳、东莞、惠州、珠海、中山、江门9市和汕头市，入出境口岸为上述10个城市的对外开放口岸，停留时间为144小时（6天），采取团进团出方式。
- sources from SFBC
