The 144-hour visa-free transit policy in China allows air, train and ship passengers from 53 countries to transit and stay for up to six days without a visa. You must be in transit to a third country or region (Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are included) with a departure time within 144 hours for the country you are traveling to.

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. 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. 

NOTE: 144-hour Visa-Free is valid for the following passport holders:

24 Schengen Agreement 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

15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Belarus, Monaco

6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile

2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand

6 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar

How the 144 Hours are calculated?

Be advised that the 144 hours begin the moment you receive permission for transit and not when your plane lands in China. i.e.: If one arrives at 6:00 am on July 1, the layover time counts from 00:00 of July 2 and the passenger should hold a ticket with the scheduled departure time before 23:59 of July 7. In this case, the allowed stay period is 162 hours in maximum.

About: How to go through the “visa free access ” at Beijing Capital International Airport

If wishing to leave the transiting area to explore the city during the layover, passengers are supposed to apply for a free temporary stay permit at the immigration counter upon arrival. Inform the carrier when boarding and fill an Arrival/Departure Card and upon arrival follow the following steps.

Please follow the instructions below if your flight is landing at Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3.

Step 1: When you get off the airplane please follow the sign “Exit, Baggage Claim”. Please record your fingerprints at Foreigner Fingerprint Self-Collection Area and will get OK Card from the machine automatically.  Keep walking until you see “China Inspection and Quarantine”. (Opposite the boarding gate E11)

Please DO NOT stop on the way, with signs such as: “ Transfer”. You might never be allowed to get out.

Step 2: Please walk through the “China Inspection and Quarantine”, you need to fill a form “Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners” at the desk on the right side before line up at Temporary Entry Permit Application(For 24/144-hour Transit Passengers Applying for Leaving Airport), then you will get the “Visa-free Permit ” there(as the image below). 

Step 3: After you get the Visa-free permit, please follow the Queue on the right side to get through the immigration (Please see the picture below).

Step 4: After you pass through the immigration, there is an escalator. Please take the escalator downstairs. Then you will see a little train station.

Step 5: Please get on the train, there are 2 stops please get off the train at the terminal station (T3 C).

Step 6: Get off the train at “T3 C”, follow the sign “Exit” you will see Exit “B“. Pass through the Exit “B”, there is a “STARBUCKS Coffee on the left. Our guide will be holding your name waiting for you there.

According to our experience, the location of “Visa-free Permit Stamp” might change. If you cannot find it, please do not hesitate to consult with the airport staff.

Please follow the instructions below if your flight is landing at Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2.

Step 1: When you get off the airplane take an escalator up and please follow the sign “Exit, Baggage Claim“. Please keep walking until you see “China Inspection and Quarantine“. Please DO NOT stop on the way, with signs such as: “Transit for international Flights within 24 hours”; “Entry Visa”; “Visa Application”. You might never be allowed to get out.

Step 2: Please walk through the “China Inspection and Quarantine” follow the yellow arrow on the ground “144-Hour Visa-free Transit“. At the “CHINA IMMIGRATION INSPECTION” there are several accesses for “Foreigners“, please go through those accesses and then you can get the “Visa-free Permit Stamp“.

Step 3: Continue to follow the sign “Exit, Baggage Claim“ then take an elevator down then you will see “CUSTOMS“, through the “CUSTOMS” you will see the “STARBUCKS COFFEE” right on the opposite side. Our tour guide will be there holding your name waiting for you in front of the “STARBUCKS COFFEE”.

According to our experience, the location of “Visa-free Permit Stamp” might change. If you cannot find it, please do not hesitate to consult with the airport staff.