First, an eligible foreign national must be a citizen of one of the 54 countries covered by the 144-hour visa-free transit policy:

Europe (40 countries): Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom;

The Americas (six countries): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and the United States;

Oceania (two countries): Australia and New Zealand;

Asia (six countries): Brunei, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

Second, the foreign national concerned must hold a valid international travel document with a validity period of no less than three months, and meet the conditions for entering a third country/region.

Third, the foreign national concerned must hold a connecting ticket to a third country/region with a confirmed date and seat for departure within 144 hours after arriving in China, or a relevant certificate. He/she shall also fill out an Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners, and accept inspection and inquiry from the responsible entry-exit border inspection authority.

Fourth, the foreign national concerned must not have a rejection stamp from a visa-issuing agency of China on any of his/her travel documents and must not have a record of illegal entry or exit, illegal residence, or illegal employment within the last five years.

Any foreign national meeting the above conditions can apply at the entry-exit border inspection authority at any of the 37 exit-entry ports located in Beijing, Shanghai and other administrative divisions in China. The entry-exit border inspection authority will then process his/her application for temporary entry. The duration of stay for each foreign national starts from 00:00 on the day following the day of entry (the provisions of the mutual visa exemption agreements signed with China or China’s unilateral visa exemption policies may prevail for the individuals covered by such provisions).

Please check the table below for the details on the eligible exit-entry ports, permitted areas of stay, and other relevant information concerning the 144-hour visa-free transit policy.

Source: National Immigration Administration