China Makes Major Changes To Visa Policy For 2025

If you missed the big travel news coming out of China late last year, you would be forgiven, as the announcement came in the thick of the holiday rush.

On December 17th, China altered parts of its foreign visa policy, significantly extending the permitted length of stay for travelers transferring through the country.

It’s a bit detailed about who can stay and for how long, so as we inch toward spring and you begin to plan your 2025 adventures, here’s a breakdown of what has changed in China:

American Travelers Can Now Enjoy a Long(er) Layover in China

Previously, American travelers could enter China when transiting to a third country or region and stay for up to 144 hours (six days) without a visa on a “long layover.”

Now, the new rules have increased the amount of time travelers can stay to 240 hours, or 10 days.

The announcement also increases the ports of entry and travel regions one can utilize on the multi-day layover.

American travelers can now enter China through up to 60 ports across 24 provinces, regions, and municipalities; previously, it was allowed only in 39 ports throughout 19 provincial-level regions.

“Compared with the previous [policies], a notable feature of the policy adjustment is the introduction of cross-regional travel, allowing foreign visitors to move freely across the designated areas,” said Liu Jia, deputy director-general of the Department of Foreigner Management under China’s National Immigration Administration.

The policy now includes the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, among others. You can find a complete list of participating cities and regions here.

How to Apply for Entry

Even though you don’t need a visa, you still must present certain paperwork at the border to be given access to the country as part of the new visa-free program.

When entering through one of the 60 ports, travelers must present the foreigner arrival card (usually handed out on the plane or prior to customs), a valid passport, and an airline ticket that’s bound for another country within the 10-day limit.

The 10-day stay period begins at midnight on the day following entry. So, if you enter at noon, the 10-day period will officially begin at midnight as the next day begins.

You can read more about the requirements for entry here.

New Year, New Possibilities

If it wasn’t obvious, this is great news for American travelers. Trips to Asia require long flights, and while most Americans may not have time to enjoy a full 10-day stopover in China, the flexibility is much appreciated.

Backpackers will surely love these new regulations, as they can get creative when flying around Asia and check out different parts of China as they bop around the continent, mixing and matching the Southeast and Eastern Asian countries that surround China.

Layovers are often a dreary thing to have when planning your itinerary, but policies like this one make it easy to add another segment to your trip if time permits.