On Nov. 24, 2023, China decided to offer visa-free entry to travelers holding ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024. Citizens from those countries are able to enter China without a visa and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes.

Updates: In order to further promote personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries, China has decided to expand the scope of visa-free countries and implement a pilot visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries: Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. From March 14 to November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from the above countries can enter China without a visa if they come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days.

1. Countries qualified for the 24/144-hour free Transit Visa in Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing Capital International Airport now (Nov. 17, 2023) adopts 144-hour free Transit visa to the holders of passports issued by the following 54 countries: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Macedonia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Republic of Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

According to our experience, some of the countries do not belong to the 144-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 24/144-hour 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!

Now we have the best solution for all these concerns. Our company became an official partner of Beijing Capital airport. We are the one and only qualified tour company that operates tours at Beijing Capital airport. Only we can sell tours at the airport. Please see the tour options at: https://www.beijinglayovertour.com/book-a-tour-upon-your-arrival-beijing-airport/

222 comments on “Visa-free Policy

  1. malu bacani-pulz says:

    i will be having a 12 hrs layover in Beijing on Jan 9, 2018 and i am interested to join your Great Wall & Forbidden City Group tour. Do you accept credit card or can i pay the tour upon arrival? Thank you.

    • admin says:

      Hi Malu,

      Yes, we accept credit card via PayPal. According to our group booking policy, you would have to pay the full payment in advance.

    • admin says:

      Hi Ashwin,

      Sorry, you are not able to get 72 hours visa-free permit. You would have to apply Chinese entry visa in advance.

  2. Melanie says:

    HI! I’m a philippine passport holder but currently a U S green card holder.I will be going home to the Philippines in November 15 and planning to visit great wall then to Philippines .do I need a visa to stay in Beijing for 2 days ?thank you!

    • admin says:

      Hi Melanie,

      Thank you for contacting us!

      Yes, you need apply Chinese entry visa in advance.

      • Andy says:

        im a philippine passport holder, will travel from singapore-beijing-tokyo this Nov 22, 2017 and will land Beijing at 6AM with 9 hours layover wanted to do great wall tour, do i still need a visa or they would allow me?And that 6AM land, can i still join the 9AM tour?

        • admin says:

          Normally, you can get visa-free permit if your layover in Beijing within 24 hours. We did many tours for the Philippine Passport holders. But it is up to the immigration officers. They have right to stop you leaving the airport without any reasons.

  3. Tasneem Fredericks says:

    Hi,

    I would like to do a layover tour when i land in Beijing to the Great Wall of China. Is this possible with a South African passport? and if this possible what do i need to do once i land at the airport to get the visa free access?

    Thanks,
    Tasneem

    • admin says:

      Hi Tasneem,

      South Africa is not belongs to visa-free countries. I am afraid you are not able to get out of airport.

      We suggest you apply the Chinese entry visa in advance. Thank you!

Got a question? Ask us here. We will reply to you within 6 hours (normally within 1 hour).

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Are you human? Click the Grapes...