About the policy

Travellers, who hold passports issued by any of the 45 countries eligible for Beijing’s 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy and will remain in Beijing for no more than 72 hours while in transit, may apply to the frontier inspection authority in the Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) for 72-hour visa-free transit stays in Beijing.This policy is applicable to foreigners who enter and exit from Beijing only.

Requirements:

According to the regulations of the Ministry of Public Security, foreign travellers, arriving at BCIA, must satisfy the following conditions to qualify under the 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy:

◆ Travellers must be citizens of one of the 45 countries covered by the policy.

◆ Travellers must hold international travellers’ credentials proving their citizenship.

◆ Travellers must meet the entry conditions of their destination countries or regions.

◆ Travellers must hold continuing air tickets with confirmed dates and seats, indicating their intent to depart from the Beijing Capital International Airport to a third country or region within 72 hours, or hold related certificates.

◆ Arrival and departure airlines must report to the frontier inspection authority. The Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection will authorize 72-hour visa-free transit stays for travellers only if all these conditions are fulfilled.

Timeline: 72-hour visa-free policy in China

1994

Shenzhen becomes first mainland city to introduce 72-hour convenient-visa policy for foreigners via Hong Kong. Visa procedures are streamlined but not scrapped entirely.

2000

Convenient-visa trial in Shenzhen extended to nine cities in Guangdong province, with limit of stay increased to 144 hours.

January 2013

Beijing and Shanghai introduce 72-hour visa-free stay for citizens of 45 countries.

June

State Council approves launch of visa-free policy in Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan, but local tourism authority says it needs time to prepare.

August

Guangzhou introduces 72-hour visa-free policy. Visitors can visit anywhere within Guangdong province under the policy.

September

Chengdu introduces 72-hour visa-free policy.

October 16

State Council approves launch of visa-free policy in Chongqing.

November

Transit visitors from 45 countries will be able to stay in Chongqing for three days without a visa.