1. Q: What are the principal components of China’s regional visa-free entry policy for foreign nationals?

A: The major regional visa-free entry policies for foreign nationals of China are as follows.

I. 30-Day Visa-Free Entry Policy for Foreign Nationals Entering Hainan Province;

II. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Foreign Tourist Groups Traveling by Cruise Ships;

III. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Tourist Groups Entering Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province from ASEAN Member States;

IV. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Tourist Groups Entering Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from ASEAN Member States;

V. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Foreign Tourist Groups Traveling from Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs) to Guangdong Province;

VI. Visa-Free Entry Policy for Foreign Tourist Groups Traveling from Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs) to Hainan Province.

2. Q: Which countries’ nationals are eligible for the regional visa-free policy for foreigners to enter Hainan? What activities can they undertake? How long can they stay?

A: Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from 61 countries may enter and stay within the administrative region of Hainan Province for a maximum of 30 days without a visa for short-term stays for purposes associated with tourism, business, visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences and exhibitions, sports competitions, etc. The policy does not apply to those who intend to enter for working or studying.

The exit-entry ports for the foreign nationals concerned include all the open ports in Hainan. The 61 countries are Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam.

3. Q: My friend and I plan to travel to China by cruise ship. Can we enter visa-free under the regional visa-free entry policy for foreign nationals? And in which areas can we stay?

A: Any foreign tourist group consisting of two or more individuals, which is organized and received by a travel agency registered in China, may enter China without a visa by a cruise ship via one of the cruise ports in the following 13 cities: Beihai (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Dalian (Liaoning Province), Guangzhou (Guangdong Province), Haikou (Hainan Province), Lianyungang (Jiangsu Province), Qingdao (Shandong Province), Sanya (Hainan Province), Shanghai, Shenzhen (Guangdong Province), Tianjin, Wenzhou (Zhejiang Province), Xiamen (Fujian Province) and Zhoushan (Zhejiang Province).

All eligible foreign tourist groups shall continue their journey to the following scheduled ports and depart China with the same cruise ship as scheduled. The tourists concerned may stay in the Beijing and 11 coastal provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government (namely Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Zhejiang) for a maximum of 15 days.

4. Q: Can tourist groups from ASEAN countries enjoy the regional visa-free entry policy for foreigners to visit Xishuangbanna in Yunnan?

A: Any tourist group (consisting of two or more individuals holding ordinary passports) from a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) may enter and exit China through Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, and Mohan Highway Port visa-free, provided that the tourist group is organized and received by a travel agency registered in China.

The tourists concerned shall enter and leave China as part of their tourist group, and can stay within the administrative region of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture for a maximum of 6 days. The ASEAN member states include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

5. Q: Apart from Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province, where else can tourist groups from ASEAN countries use the regional visa-free entry policy for foreigners to visit? And how long can they stay?

A: Any tourist group (consisting of two or more individuals holding ordinary passports) from a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) may enter and exit China through the airport in Guilin visa-free, provided that the tourist group is organized and received by a travel agency registered in China.

The tourists concerned shall enter and leave China as part of their tourist group, and can stay within the administrative region of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region for a maximum of 6 days. The ASEAN member states include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

6. Q: After foreign tourist groups arrive in Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs), can they enter Guangdong Province visa-free under the policy?

A: Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from countries with diplomatic relations with China may enter nine cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as Shantou, without a visa, provided that they will enter Hong Kong or Macao SAR first and then enter Guangdong Province as part of a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in any of the two SARs.

The foreign tourists in this case can stay for a maximum of 6 days in the following cities: Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and Zhuhai. The tourists concerned shall enter and exit the Chinese mainland as part of their tourist group via any of the exit-entry ports in these 10 cities.

7. After foreign tourist groups arrive in Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs), can they enter Hainan Province visa-free under the policy?

A: Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from countries with diplomatic relations with China may enter Hainan Province without a visa, provided that they will enter Hong Kong or Macao SAR first and then enter Hainan Province as part of a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in any of the two SARs.

The tourists concerned shall enter and exit Hainan Province as part of their tourist group via any of the exit-entry ports in Hainan and can stay for a maximum of 6 days.

8. Q: How is the stay duration calculated?

A: The stay period specified in any of the aforementioned policies is calculated from 0:00 on the day after the day of entry. For the individuals who meet the requirements specified in the bilateral visa exemption agreements and the unilateral visa exemption policies of China, the relevant regulations shall prevail.