China announced yesterday that it will expand its 240-hour visa-free transit program to more ports and extend its unilateral visa exemption arrangements for more than 40 countries until December 31st, 2026, in the country’s latest move to further open up to the world.
Newly added ports include Guangzhou, Hengqin in Zhuhai, and Zhongshan, as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the West Kowloon Station on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed rail line, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said.
The new policy, which takes effect on Wednesday, will increase the total number of ports eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit from 60 to 65 across China.
Travelers from 55 countries who meet certain criteria may enter China through any of these ports in 24 provincial-level regions and stay in the country for up to 240 hours, or 10 days, without a visa before heading to a third destination, the NIA stated.
This is one of 10 new policies announced by the NIA regarding entry and exit administration, aimed at further facilitating travel for Chinese and foreign nationals.
A total of 10 international airports in Tianjin, Nanjing, Chongqing, and other cities will be added to the list of ports that allow 24-hour direct transit for foreign nationals without the need for border control procedures, according to these measures.
The NIA also announced that from November 20th, foreign travelers to China will be able to fill out their entry cards online before arrival. They will also be able to choose to complete them on-site using electronic devices available at checkpoints or opt for traditional paper entry cards.
The newly announced measures also include provisions that simplify travel for residents of mainland China visiting Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, as well as for residents of Taiwan traveling to the mainland.
On the same day, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that China will extend its unilateral visa exemption arrangements for more than 40 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, until December 31st, 2026. The current visa-free policy for citizens of some of these countries is valid until December 31st, 2025, before the extension.
China has also decided to include Sweden in the visa-free regime, and this decision will take effect from November 10th, 2025, until December 31st, 2026, said ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
