City or Not! Over 14 Million Foreign Entries in the First Half of the Year

In the first half of 2024, China saw a significant increase in foreign visitors, with 14.63 million arrivals, a 152.7% increase from the previous year. Of these, 8.54 million entered through visa-free policies, representing 52% of the total and marking a 190.1% rise. The National Immigration Administration expects the trend to continue in the second half of the year. Additionally, there were substantial increases in the issuance of passports and various entry-exit permits.

In the first half of the year, China’s National Immigration Administration inspected 15.419 million transport vehicles, a 56.9% year-on-year increase. This included 405,000 planes, 211,000 ships, 50,000 trains, and 14.753 million cars. Additionally, 12.34 million passports were issued (up 23.2%), and 46.152 million Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan travel permits were processed (up 7.8%). The issuance of port visas rose by 267.9%, with 686,000 visas granted. Residence permits for foreigners in China increased by 2.4% to 388,000.

Here is a summary of the visa-free transit policies in China:

24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

– Eligibility: All foreign travelers with valid international travel documents.

– Conditions: Passengers with a confirmed onward ticket departing within 24 hours. Must stay within the airport.

– Application: No prior application required; managed by the border inspection authorities.

72-Hour or 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit

– Eligibility: Citizens from 54 specified countries.

– Conditions: Valid travel documents and onward tickets to a third country.

– Application: Submit an application to the border inspection authorities upon arrival.

List of Eligible Countries:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar.

This list provides a comprehensive overview of the visa-free transit policies and the eligible countries. For further details, please refer to the official immigration website or contact local Chinese embassies.