HONG KONG: China introduced a leisure of its visa-free transit coverage on Tuesday (December 17), extending the permitted keep for eligible international vacationers to 240 hours, or 10 days, from the unique 72 to 144 hours, as authorities intention to draw extra international guests.
The measure, efficient instantly, was introduced by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on its official WeChat account.
People from 54 international locations together with Russia, Brazil, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, “transiting from China to a 3rd nation (area), can enter China and not using a visa from any of 60 open ports in 24 provinces and stay within the specified space for not more than 240 hours,” it mentioned.
China has waived visa necessities for vacationers to encourage visits to the world’s second-largest financial system since reopening its borders in 2023 after three years of self-imposed isolation resulting from COVID-19.
In November, China’s Foreign Ministry mentioned China had prolonged its visa-free coverage to a complete of 38 international locations.
People from these international locations, together with Spain, Singapore and the Netherlands, don’t want a visa to enter China and might keep as much as 30 days for enterprise, tourism, household visits, alternate and transit functions,
Foreigners made 8.2 million inbound journeys to China, up 48.8% year-on-year within the third quarter of 2024. More than half of those had been facilitated by the visa-free coverage, up 78% .6% on an annual foundation. NIA mentioned in October.
