Beijing, Tianjin & Hebei Offer 144-hour Visa-Free Transit

Beijing’s 72-hour visa-free transit upgraded to 144 hours and expanded to Hebei Province and Tianjin city.

China extended its visa-free policy for foreign visitors who transit through Beijing from 72 to 144 hours Thursday, Dec 28, 2017, and adding neighboring Hebei Province and Tianjin City to the plan.

People transiting via flight, train, and cruise, entering the country from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang can stay inland for six days (144 hours) before heading out of the country, based Beijing’s border control office. It also pointed out that a valid travel document and connecting flight ticket are required.

Passengers from the 53 countries which used to benefit from Beijing’s 72-hour visa-free policy are eligible for this new 144-hour free visa policy. Here’re the 53 countries as follow:

1. 24 Schengen Agreement Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

2. 15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco

3. 6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile

4. 2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand

5. 6 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar

Beijing started 72-hour free visa transit in 2013. The border control department has registered more than 32,000 such free visas in 2017, up to 25 percent increased sequentially. Our layover tour’s visitors have exceeded 1,000 people at same period.

The three neighboring regions of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei is the second regional part in China where foreign visitors (53 countries) can stay up to 144 hours (six days). Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu has started such visa-free service since 2016.

At Terminal 3 Beijing Capital International Airport, all passengers who requiring the free visa has to go to the desk of 24/144-hour International Transfer (photo above), the expected waiting time would be between 30 mins to 1 hour. For six days, you will have a great selection of tour products on our website:

Short layover tours: http://www.beijing-airport-transportation.com/airport-layover-tours

Day tours and packages: http://www.beijingimpression.cn/