China has recently enhanced its visa policy for international travelers, significantly expanding its visa-free transit program. This change, announced by the National Immigration Administration, allows citizens of 54 countries, including the United States, to stay in China for up to 10 days without needing a visa.
This extension is a major improvement over the previous policy, which allowed for visa-free stays of only 72 or 144 hours, depending on the region. As part of this update, 21 additional entry and exit ports have been added to the visa-free program, and five new destinations are now eligible for visa-free travel.
The Chinese Visa Application Service Center emphasized that this initiative is designed to "accelerate cross-border movement of people, promote international exchange and cooperation, and inject new momentum into the high-quality development of China's economy and society." The policy aims to make China more accessible to foreign tourists and business travelers, inviting them to experience the country's culture and attractions firsthand. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable stay, the administration advises travelers to secure comprehensive travel insurance.
Despite the positive changes, the visa-free policy does come with certain limitations. For instance, while U.S. citizens can visit multiple regions in China for up to 10 days under the new rules, this is only applicable if their journey includes travel to a third country. This means that travelers cannot take a direct round-trip flight between the U.S. and China without a visa. The policy is designed to facilitate transiting through China on the way to another destination.
According to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center, citizens from the 54 eligible countries can use any of the 60 open ports located across 24 provinces to enter China and stay for up to 240 hours in designated areas, as long as they are en route to a third country. U.S. citizens who plan to stay in China for longer than 10 days or intend to travel directly between the U.S. and China will still need to apply for a visa. Several different visa categories are available, catering to both tourists and business travelers.
This expansion of the visa-free policy is seen as a positive step in China's efforts to boost international tourism and business opportunities while making travel to the country more convenient and accessible for foreign nationals.