China offers visa-free entry to travelers holding ordinary passports from Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia, Sweden, Canada and United Kingdom. Citizens from those countries are able to enter China without a visa and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes till December 31, 2026.
So if your nationality is one of those countries, you DO NOT need to follow below instructions to apply for the transit visa, just please go to immigration directly.
1. Countries qualified for the 24/240 hours free Transit Visa in Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport now (Dec, 2024) adopts 240 hours free Transit visa to the holders of passports issued by the following countries: Canada, Indonesia, Chile, Czech Republic, Mexico, Macedonia, Monaco, Republic of Montenegro, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.
According to our experience, some of the countries do not belong to the 240 hours visa free countries, but if you layover within 24 hours in Beijing, you still can obtain the visa free for 24 hours. Such as: India, Philippines, Vietnam, Columbia, Ecuador, Panama, Dominican Republic, etc.
2. Restrictions of the 24/240 hours free Transit Visa
It only applies to passengers who transit through Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. The destination and place of departure cannot be the same.(e.g Auckland – Beijing – Auckland).
3. About how to get free Transit Visa at Beijing airport
Please see details at: https://www.beijinglayovertour.com/beijing-layover-tour-tips/.
Even if you fit all the policies above, the immigration officers still have the right to object to you for some reasons (sometimes they will tell you the reason, sometimes they don’t).
If you want to be 100% sure, please apply for the visa in advance at the Chinese Embassy.
We found some reasons that cause you can not obtain the free Transit Visa.
1. The validity of your passport is less than 3 months.
2. Worked or been to Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan.
There must be more reasons but we just don’t know yet. (The latest updated on Nov. 17, 2023)
As a tour company, if we agree to arrange a tour for you that means your flight information, layover time and your nationality fit the visa free policy requirements.
But there are still some other issues that might happen that might cause you can not obtain the visa-free or can not get out of the airport.
We don’t take any responsibility if it happens. And according to our private tour refund policy, we will deduct our tour guide and driver airport transfer costs accordingly and refund the rest of the tour fee to you. (Most companies are non-refundable)
Hope for your understanding!
I would like to confirm how to calculate the duration of the 72 hours transit visa exemption when transiting via Beijing (PEK airport).
My inbound flight from Japan arrives in PEK airport at 11h20 (Aug 29th 2016). My outbound flight to South Korea leaves PEK airport at 11h50 (Sep 1st 2016).
As per airlines’ scheduled time of landing and departure, it is 72 hours and 30 minutes.
However, I read that 72 hours’ time actually start counting from 0:01 on the day following entry, is that right?
Hi Eduardo,
Thank you for contacting us!
Yes, the “72 hours” start counting from midnight following arrival. So your flights should be fine. We’ve had clients did so.
Hi, I am travelling with three other adults (4 of us in total) we have a 6 hour and 40 minute lay over in Beijing on July 2. We arrive in Beijing at 6:20 and depart at 13:00, would this be enough time to do the great wall of china tour?
Thanks
Hi Sina,
Thank you for your message.
Yes, you will have time to do the Great Wall layover tour. We just sent an email about detailed tour itinerary and price to you, please check.
If your flight delay more than 0.5 hour, please do inform us in advance. Then we will cancel your tour and refund you in full.
I am a Philippine passport holder but a US green card holder, traveling with 3 family members that are US passport holders, we would like to avail of your Mutianyu and Hutong tour on March 30; we only have a 10-hour layover, how fast is it to get the 72hour visa free policy if we apply at the airport in the Philippines? Our flight to Beijing is 4 hours.
Hi Jose,
Thank you for your message.
According to our experience, you can get out of airport and take the tour. Many Philippine clients did our tours before. Please apply temporary Visa when you landing Beijing.
My friend and I are going to be in Bangkok for the next week and a half for vacation. We are traveling back home to the U.S. April 4th and have an 11 hour layover in Beijing (Bangkok – Beijing – New York City) We were wondering if we need a visa to leave the airport and do some sight seeing or if there is some sort of exemption since we will be in the city for only 11 hours? Any information would be helpful! Thank you!!
Hi Erika,
Thanks for your message.
You can apply temporary Visa when you landing Beijing. We will send an email about tour details to you now, please check.