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!
Hi, just want to clarify if travelling from Thailand to Beijing with layover and tour to Great Wall in China, will I be required to get Visa to leave airport for tour, or will my passport work?
Sorry if this is a copy of another inquiry.
Thanks
Hi Tracy,
No, you do not need apply Chinese entry visa in advance. You can get the temporary visa when you landing airport. About where to get the temporary visa, please see details at: https://www.beijinglayovertour.com/beijing-layover-tour-tips/.
Hello – I just wanted to clarify the visa policy, as the phrasing I read online looked like you had to be flying to a Chinese destination. If I am flying from Japan to London, am I allowed into China for the visa free travel? Is it the same rule for the 72hr and 144hr transit allowances? I am a U.K. citizen.
Thanks so much for your help!
Emma
Hi Emma,
If you fly from Japan to London and stop Beijing on the way, so you would not need a Chinese visa. And this situation is suitable for the 72 hours visa free policy.
Hello,
I will arrive at 5am in Beijing. My friend would like to do a tour to the great wall and other places. How does this work? My flight leaves at 5pm to Tokyo. I would like to be at the airport by 3pm.
Hi Thuy,
Thank you for your reply.
According to your layover time, you can do the Mutianyu Great Wall and Forbidden City layover tour. May I know your tour date and how many people do you have? Then we will send you a detailed itinerary.
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.