One, Visa-on-Arrival (Port Visa)

Certain port cities in China offer visa-on-arrival services for eligible foreign nationals, but prior application or compliance with certain requirements is necessary, and not all nationalities can directly apply upon arrival. The specifics are as follows:

1. Hainan Entry Exemption

• Eligible Nationals: Passport holders from 59 designated countries (including the U.S., Canada, Australia, EU countries, etc.).
• Stay Duration: Up to 30 days, restricted to activities within Hainan Province.
• Entry Ports:
• Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Phoenix International Airport
• Qionghai Boao Airport, Haikou Xiuying Port, Sanya Phoenix Island Cruise Port
• Conditions: Travel itineraries must be pre-declared through a travel agency, and group entry and exit is mandatory (groups of 2 or more).

2. Specific Port Visas (Visa-on-Arrival)

• Eligible Nationals: Foreigners entering for urgent matters without time to apply for a visa abroad (proof materials required).
• Open Ports:
• Major international airports such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Xiamen, Xi'an, Chongqing, Hangzhou, etc.
• Some land border crossings (e.g., Shenzhen Luohu, Zhuhai Gongbei).
• Application Materials:
• Valid passport
• Proof letter from an inviting organization or individual
• Urgent reason documentation (e.g., medical emergencies, urgent business meetings)
• Cost: Approximately 160-800 RMB (depending on visa type and urgency).

Two, Transit免Sign Policy

China offers 24-hour, 72-hour, and 144-hour transit免sign policies to citizens of selected countries, allowing them to stay in specified cities or regions without needing to apply for a visa beforehand.

1. 24-hour Transit免Sign

• Eligibility Conditions:
• Hold a connecting flight ticket and valid visa (if required) to a third country
• Do not leave the international transit area of the airport
• Applicable Cities: All international airports that operate international flights (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.).
• Stay Range: Limited to the international transit area of the airport; no entry into the city is allowed.

2. 72-hour Transit免Sign

• Eligible Nationals: Passport holders from 54 designated countries (including the U.S., Canada, Australia, EU countries, etc.).
• Applicable Cities:
• Chengdu (Shuangliu/Tianfu Airport), Chongqing (Jiangbei Airport), Xi'an (Xianyang Airport)
• Changsha (Huanghua Airport), Wuhan (Tianhe Airport), Xiamen (Gaoqi Airport)
• Harbin (Taiping Airport), Kunming (Changshui Airport), Qingdao (Jiaodong Airport)
• Stay Conditions:
• Must hold a connecting flight ticket to a third country
• Activity range is limited to the administrative region of the city of entry (e.g., if entering Chengdu, cannot proceed to Chongqing).

3. 144-hour Transit免Sign (Most Flexible)

• Eligible Nationals: Same as the 72-hour transit免sign policy, 54 countries.
• Applicable Regions and Cities:
  | Region Name | Covered Cities/Provinces | Entry/Exit Ports |
  |---------------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
  | Yangtze River Delta Region | Shanghai + Jiangsu + Zhejiang + Anhui | Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao, Nanjing Lukou, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, etc. |
  | Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region | Beijing + Tianjin + Hebei | Beijing Capital/Daxing, Tianjin Binhai Airport |
  | Greater Bay Area | Guangzhou + Shenzhen + Zhuhai, etc. in Guangdong Province | Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an Airport |
  | Chengdu-Chongqing Region | Chengdu + Chongqing | Chengdu Tianfu, Chongqing Jiangbei Airport |
  | Shenyang/Dalian | Liaoning Province | Shenyang Taixian, Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport |
  | Qingdao/Yantai | Shandong Province | Qingdao Jiaodong, Yantai Penglai Airport |
• Stay Conditions:
• Hold tickets and valid visas (if required) for a third country
• Can move across cities within the region (e.g., enter via Shanghai and exit via Hangzhou)
• No prior application needed, simply fill out the "Temporary Entry Registration Form for Foreigners" upon entry.

Three, Other Special免Sign Policies

1. Transit免Sign in Hong Kong/Macau:
2. Holders of third-country tickets transiting through Hong Kong/Macau can stay 7 days (subject to Hong Kong/Macau entry conditions).
3. APEC Business Travel Card:
4. Cardholders can enter China免sign and stay for 60 days (both passport and card must be valid).
5. 15-day免Sign Countries:
6. Citizens of Japan, Singapore, and Brunei holding ordinary passports can enter China免sign for 15 days (nationwide).

Four, Precautions

1. Policy Changes: Lists of transit免sign countries and cities may change; check the website of China's National Immigration Administration before traveling (www.nia.gov.cn).
2. Required Documents: For transit免sign, provide connecting flight tickets and third-country visas (if required by destination).
3. Penalties for Violations: Overstaying or exceeding the authorized activity area will result in fines (500 RMB/day, capped at 5000 RMB) and impact future entry.

Five, Recommended Inquiry Tools

• China Visa Application Service Center: www.visaforchina.org
• 24-hour Transit Policy Inquiry: Airline websites or airport immigration announcements

Make full use of the above policies to greatly simplify your travel arrangements in China! 🌏✈️