China is expanding the number of destinations which will allow visa-free transit for visitors from the UAE, Qatar and 52 more countries,

China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Monday that the country’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been expanded to three more entry ports, taking the number of ports covered by the policy to 37.

According to China Central Television (CCTV), the administration announced the establishment of three new ports:

  • Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Henan Province in central China
  • Lijiang Sanyi International Airport in Yunnan Province in southwest China
  • Mohan railway port also located in Yunnan

Visa-free travel in China

Starting from Monday, eligible foreign nationals can enter China through Zhengzhou aviation port visa-free, with the stay limited to Henan Province.

Also, people entering Yunnan visa-free are allowed to stay in more areas of the province.

Previously, they could only stay in Kunming, but now, they can visit nine city or prefecture-level areas, including Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, and Xishuangbanna.

At present, foreign nationals from 54 countries, including the UAE, Qatar, United States, Canada, and Britain, are eligible for the 144-hour visa-free policy for short-term activities such as travel and business visits.

The NIA statement said the expansion of the visa-free policy is expected to provide more choices for foreign nationals travelling and doing business in China.

Countries eligible for the 144-hour visa-free visits are:

  • 25 countries in the Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland
  • 15 other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus
  • Six countries in Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar
  • Six countries in the Americas: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile
  • Two countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand