Visa-Free Transit Stay for Foreign Nationals

On December 17, 2024, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced that it would fully relax and optimize the visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals. The stay duration for foreign nationals eligible for visa-free transit has been extended from the previous 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). Additionally, 21 ports of entry and exit have been added for visa-free transit individuals, further expanding the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers. Individuals from 54 eligible countries traveling from China to a third country (region) who must hold a valid international travel document and interline passenger tickets to a third country (region) can enter visa-free through any of the 60 open ports in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), and stay within the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers for no more than 240 hours. During your stay, visa-free transit travelers may engage in tourism, business, exchange visits and family visits, while activities such as work, study, and news reporting that require prior approval should be carried out with the necessary visas in advance.

For details of the policy's applicable conditions, ports and allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers, please refer to the official website of the National Immigration Administration: https://www.nia.gov.cn/n794014/n794021/c1688899/content.html.

Foreign travelers who are eligible for the visa-free transit policy and have a layover of at least 8 hours at Shanghai Pudong International Airport can go to Shanghai Tourism Information & Service to sign up for the Shanghai Express half-day tour.