CN’s 72/144h Visa-Free Transit Policy Expanded To 54 Countries!

In an official announcement by the China National Immigration Administration (NIA), China has added Norway to the list of countries eligible for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy. This new policy will be effective starting from November 17, 2023.

 

Norwegian citizens can now take advantage of the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy in 23 Chinese cities, covering a total of 20 cities and 29 entry and exit ports. With this addition, the number of countries benefiting from China's visa-free transit policy has reached 54.

The 54 countries are: 

 

  • 25 countries in the Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.  

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  • 15 other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.  

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  • Six countries in the Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.  

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  • Two countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.  

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  • Six countries in Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. 

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Foreign nationals from these countries can enjoy a 72/144-hour stay in the designated Chinese cities without a visa, provided they hold a valid passport or international travel document, possess an interline ticket with a confirmed departure date and seat number to a third country or region within the time limit, enter and exit China through eligible ports, and stay within the approved cities and regions. During their stay, they can engage in short-term activities such as tourism and temporary business visits.

 

Currently, the 72-hour visa-free transit policy is implemented in Changsha, Harbin, and Guilin. The 144-hour visa-free transit policy is available in 20 Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Xi'an, among others.

 

This expansion of the visa-free transit policy aims to facilitate travel and promote cultural exchange between China and Norway, further strengthening the bilateral relationship.