Yes, this is true! If you belong to any of the following countries that are pre-approved to enter China, you don’t need to have any visa to China for up to 72 hours. But most airlines are not aware of this program.

• American nations – The United States, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Chile and Argentina
• Schengen Agreement nations – Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Belgium, Estonia, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain and Switzerland
• Other European nations – The United Kingdom, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Serbia, Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia and Ireland
• Asian nations – Japan, Korea, Brunei, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Qatar
• Oceania nations – New Zealand and Australia

Requirements

• Confirmed ticket and valid visa to a 3 rd country or region (if needed) are necessary to enter China. Depending on the latest information, 72 hours starts from 00:00 the day following the date of entry in all airports. For example, if you reach Guangzhou at 08:00 on July 3, your latest time for leaving the country will be 23:59 on July 6. In this particular case, the stopover time exceeds 72 hour. But to be on safe side, you’re recommended not to go beyond that ‘strict 72 hours’ that actually counts from your flight’s scheduled arrival time to the scheduled departure time.

• The flights should stop in a particular Chinese city, i.e., you’ve to enter and exit only from the same city except Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai and Guangdong where 144-hour visa-free transit is being implemented. For example, if your flight lands in Xian through Beijing, you’re not eligible to enjoy this policy. It’s pertinent to mention that Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan are considered as a 3 rd region in term of transit-related issues. If your flight passes USA-Beijing- Macau/Hong Kong/Taiwan, you can enjoy the policy.

• You’re required to use flights to transfer in China. If you’re using other vehicles like using flight for a single trip, you won’t be eligible for this policy.

• You need to leave from the same airport that you’ve arrived only except Zhejiang, Shanghai and Jiangsu where you can enter or exit from any airport including Nanjing Lukou Airport, Shanghai Airport or Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport.

Documentations

• • Visa for the 3 rd region or country
  • Valid passport
  • A fully completed arrival/departure card that includes your name, date of birth, gender, passport number, visa number & place of issuance, flight number, nationality and purpose of visit
  • An onward ticket toward confirmed seat Procedure

1. Inform your airlines as you board – fill in the arrival/departure card – apply for 72-hour permit after arriving the airport – claim your luggage – go through custom verification – exit airport. It’s compulsory to inform the airline while checking-in so they can inform the airport customer about your request before boarding.

2. There’s a specific counter for 72-hour free transit at airport immigration so you can go there directly.

3. After your request for 72-hour free transit gets approved, your passport will be stamped with a stay permit. The stay duration will be written on your passport.

4. After leaving airport, you must register at local police station within next 24 hours of arrival in case you want to stay beyond 24 hours. But if you’ll be staying in a hotel, you don’t need to do this as the hotel will do the same on your behalf.

5. If you fail to depart on time owing to some unavoidable circumstances, like sudden medical condition or flight cancellation, you need to apply for a China visa from Municipal Public Security Bureau or PSB. Or else, you can’t request for a stay extension.