The tourist visa is a fast-track visa for international tourists, which is also very restrictive and generally has a short duration of validity and stay, and can only be used for tourism-related activities.
With globalization, the world tourism market is growing. Travelling abroad, the choice of tourist visa has become more convenient, becoming another major form of visa. Many countries have opened convenient tourist visa channels specifically for international travellers in order to promote tourism.
However, the longest duration of a tourist visa to China?
The maximum validity period for a foreigner applying for a tourist visa to China is 90 days and is generally not renewable. However, if you still want to stay in China after the expiration date, you can apply at the relevant department. Holders of tourist visas cannot work or engage in activities not related to tourism. There is also the group tourist visa, which is characterized by the fact that it is not on the individual's passport and the tourist must accompany the group.
China's 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit & Airport
On January 1, 2019, the 144-hour visa-free transit policy for foreigners will be officially implemented in the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Qingdao, Xiamen, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Kunming. Foreigners from 53 countries with a valid international travel document and a ticket to a third country (region) with a confirmed date and seat within 144 hours may enter without a visa from the airport port of the above-mentioned city and may stay in the city for 144 hours.
The following airports support 144 hours of visa-free access
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN)
- Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
- Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport (SJW)
- Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO)
- Xiamen Takasaki International Airport (XMN)
- Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH)
- Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU)
- Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG)
The following airports support 72-hour visa-free access
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
- Nanjing Locou International Airport (NKG)
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH)
What to prepare for a 144-hour visa waiver?
- A valid document, i.e. your own passport.
- A joint travel ticket, i.e. a joint ticket to a third country (region, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) with a confirmed date and seat!
- The foreigner's entry card, filled in correctly, and vetted correctly.
Once you are ready, you can apply for visa-free border control by finding the "144-hour visa-free border crossing lane" at the airport entry point.
It is worth mentioning that, according to the regulations, the 144-hour transit visa-free policy is aimed at foreigners crossing the border to a third country or region, so the place of origin and destination must be different.
How is the 144 hours of visa-free transit time calculated?
After the issuance of a temporary entry permit, passengers are allowed to stay for 144 hours from 0000 hours on the next day of entry.
For example, foreigners entering Shanghai at 7 a.m. on March 1 can stay visa-free for 144 hours until 12 p.m. on March 7.
List of countries (regions) to which the 144-hour transit visa-free policy applies (53)
I. European Schengen visa agreement countries (24)
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.
II. Other European countries (15)
Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus.
III. America (6)
United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
IV. Oceania (2)
Australia, New Zealand.
V. Asia (6)
Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar.
