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 (August, 2026) adopts 240 hours free Transit visa to the holders of passports issued by the following countries: Vietnam, Indonesia, Chile, Czech Republic, Mexico, Macedonia, Monaco, Republic of Montenegro, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Kyrgyzstan.
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, 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 booked my ticket today and I just wondering if do I need to get a visa if I have my layover in Beijing? Philippines passport holder. Thank you. Your reply is highly appreciated.
Hi Leah,
Thank you for contacting us!
Normally the Philippines passport holder can get through the immigration smoothly without visa within 24 hours layover. But it happens sometimes not allowed. We have no idea what is the reason and we can not control it.
Thank you. I’m just worried. But I’m permanent residence already here in Canada. I hope everything will be fine. Thank you
I think that will be no problem.
when i arrived at Beijing Airport can i availed your service on Beijing Airport for tours or sites and paid your services charges by hand.
Hi Razi,
Please book the tour before you landing Beijing, then we will have time to arrange your tour. If you book the tour when you in Beijing, we will no time to send our guide and driver to meet you.
Hello, I have a 14 hour layover (0100-1500) in Beijing with a group of 18 (3 adults and 15 students). What is the possibility of a tour to either the Great Wall or the Forbidden City/Tiananmen Square? Thank you!
Hi Aliza,
Thank you for contacting us!
According to your layover time, you can do the Great Wall or Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City layover tour. We just sent you an email about detailed itineraries and prices, please check it out.
Hello,
I arrive at 17.55 and leave around 2am. What tours are available
For that time frame?
Hi Tatiana,
Thank you for asking!
Sorry, your arrival time is too late, we do not have tours at that time.
Hello. I’m a US citizen and will have a 9 hour layover on Dec 27. Arriving at 11:20am, and departing 9:00pm. I’d like to inquire about the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square layover tour. I’m travelling alone and I dont want to spend the 1 person rate. Please advise. Thanks.
Hi Brad,
Thank you for contacting us!
According to your layover time, you will have plenty of time to visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City. But we do not have group tours to Forbidden City on Dec. 27, 2016. Only private tours available. Sorry about that!
Hello,
In few weeks i will transit to Beijing on my way to bangkok, and i m planning to apply for the 72 hours transit visa. I will depart from Czech Republic. I have ticket to Beijing, to bangkok as well but not back home, since i m planning to visit southeast asia for I don’t know how long. Is that ok for applying for transit visa?
Thank you
Antonio
Hi Antonio,
Yes, that is OK. You can get a temporary visa at Beijing airport.
Hi, My wife, son and I are Philippine passport holders travelling to the USA this Dec 26. We have an overnight layover of about 21 hours in Beijing. If we want to get a layover tour, do we need to have entry visa? How much does hotel/tour cost for all three of us? Thanks
Hi Allan,
Thank you for contacting us!
The Philippines is not belong to the 72-hour visa-free countries. But according to our experience, you still can get out of airport if you layover in Beijing within 24 hours. And we will email you a Description Letter in Chinese after you book the tour, please show to the customs officer. It will help you to get through easier.
Please provide us your arrival & departure time, then we will make a tour itinerary for you.