Zhejiang holds press conference on promoting border inspection, convenient entry and exit policies for foreigners and enterprises
21 January 2025
54 countries eligible for a 240 hour visa free transit policy:
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, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
At present, the National Migration Administration has relaxed and optimized the transit visa free policy, and the stay time of transit visa free foreigners in China has been extended to 240 hours, significantly longer.
In 2024, Zhejiang Province inspected a total of 6.6166 million inbound and outbound personnel and 72600 transportation vehicles, an increase of 66.8% and 29.9% respectively compared to 2023. Among them, 72.6% are mainland residents, 8.7% are Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, and 18.7% are foreigners; Zhoushan Port ranks third in the number of inbound and outbound cargo ships nationwide, while Ningbo Port ranks fourth in the number of inbound and outbound cargo ships nationwide. From the perspective of immigration, the number of inbound foreigners reached 400500, mainly from South Korea and Southeast Asian countries, mainly for tourism and business meetings; From the perspective of outbound travel, there were 2.4291 million mainland residents who mainly went to Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian countries for tourism and sightseeing.
From 144 hours to 240 hours, foreigners can have more time to arrange tourism, trade, visit, etc. after entering the country. These activities can be more leisurely than before. In addition, there are two changes: one is that there are more applicable ports. Before the policy optimization, foreigners who came to Zhejiang to apply for 144 hour transit visa free can only enter and exit from the designated ports in the Yangtze River Delta. After policy optimization, the number of applicable ports in our province has increased to 6. Citizens from 54 countries who meet the 240 hour transit visa free policy can enter and exit from any open airport port in Zhejiang Province, as well as Wenzhou and Zhoushan cruise ports, and other 54 open ports nationwide. Secondly, the scope of the activity area is wider. Before the optimization of the policy, foreigners who came to Zhejiang through the transit visa free policy can only operate in Zhejiang and the Yangtze River Delta region, and are not allowed to stay beyond the scope. After the optimization of the policy, the transit visa free foreigners can travel across provinces in the regions where the transit visa free policy is applicable in 24 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) in China. For example, foreign businessmen participating in the Canton Fair in the Pearl River Delta in the future can go directly to Zhejiang Province for activities during the visa free stay time, which facilitates the entry of foreigners.
For foreign nationals who come to Zhejiang province without visa, the following precautions should be note:
1. Pay attention to the duration of visa free stay. According to regulations, transit visa free foreign personnel are allowed to stay in China for no more than 240 hours, during which they can engage in activities such as tourism, business, visits, and family visits. Reasonably plan the time and route within the policy allowed area, and not exceed the time and area. In addition, activities that require prior approval such as work, study, and news interviews still require obtaining a visa before coming to China
2. Remember the entry and exit service hotline. Foreign nationals who encounter problems and confusion during their stay in Zhejiang Province can call the 12367 Immigration Management Service Hotline or use the official website's "12367 Online Service" function. This hotline operates 24 hours a day and also provides multilingual policy online consultation and answer services
3. Comply with Chinese laws and regulations. During their stay in China, foreign personnel must comply with relevant laws and regulations, such as timely processing of accommodation or overnight registration
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, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
At present, the National Migration Administration has relaxed and optimized the transit visa free policy, and the stay time of transit visa free foreigners in China has been extended to 240 hours, significantly longer.
In 2024, Zhejiang Province inspected a total of 6.6166 million inbound and outbound personnel and 72600 transportation vehicles, an increase of 66.8% and 29.9% respectively compared to 2023. Among them, 72.6% are mainland residents, 8.7% are Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, and 18.7% are foreigners; Zhoushan Port ranks third in the number of inbound and outbound cargo ships nationwide, while Ningbo Port ranks fourth in the number of inbound and outbound cargo ships nationwide. From the perspective of immigration, the number of inbound foreigners reached 400500, mainly from South Korea and Southeast Asian countries, mainly for tourism and business meetings; From the perspective of outbound travel, there were 2.4291 million mainland residents who mainly went to Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian countries for tourism and sightseeing.
From 144 hours to 240 hours, foreigners can have more time to arrange tourism, trade, visit, etc. after entering the country. These activities can be more leisurely than before. In addition, there are two changes: one is that there are more applicable ports. Before the policy optimization, foreigners who came to Zhejiang to apply for 144 hour transit visa free can only enter and exit from the designated ports in the Yangtze River Delta. After policy optimization, the number of applicable ports in our province has increased to 6. Citizens from 54 countries who meet the 240 hour transit visa free policy can enter and exit from any open airport port in Zhejiang Province, as well as Wenzhou and Zhoushan cruise ports, and other 54 open ports nationwide. Secondly, the scope of the activity area is wider. Before the optimization of the policy, foreigners who came to Zhejiang through the transit visa free policy can only operate in Zhejiang and the Yangtze River Delta region, and are not allowed to stay beyond the scope. After the optimization of the policy, the transit visa free foreigners can travel across provinces in the regions where the transit visa free policy is applicable in 24 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) in China. For example, foreign businessmen participating in the Canton Fair in the Pearl River Delta in the future can go directly to Zhejiang Province for activities during the visa free stay time, which facilitates the entry of foreigners.
For foreign nationals who come to Zhejiang province without visa, the following precautions should be note:
1. Pay attention to the duration of visa free stay. According to regulations, transit visa free foreign personnel are allowed to stay in China for no more than 240 hours, during which they can engage in activities such as tourism, business, visits, and family visits. Reasonably plan the time and route within the policy allowed area, and not exceed the time and area. In addition, activities that require prior approval such as work, study, and news interviews still require obtaining a visa before coming to China
2. Remember the entry and exit service hotline. Foreign nationals who encounter problems and confusion during their stay in Zhejiang Province can call the 12367 Immigration Management Service Hotline or use the official website's "12367 Online Service" function. This hotline operates 24 hours a day and also provides multilingual policy online consultation and answer services
3. Comply with Chinese laws and regulations. During their stay in China, foreign personnel must comply with relevant laws and regulations, such as timely processing of accommodation or overnight registration
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