[InKunming--Kunming] Approved by the State Council, five cities of Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Chengdu and Kunming will implement the 144-hour transit visa exemption policy for foreigners from January 1, 2019. Citizens from 53 countries can enjoy visa-free in above-mentioned 5 cities for 144 hours with valid international travel documents and 144-hour connected passenger tickets to the third country (region) on which have exact date and seat number.

According to the national immigration administration, the policy implemented next year is a further optimization comparing with the existing 72-hour transit visa exemption policy, which not only extends the hours of visa-free stay, but also increases the entry and exit ports. Passengers can enter or leave China via Xiamen air and sea port, Qingdao air and sea port, Wuhan air port, Chengdu air port and Kunming air port.

Since 2013, the State Council has successively approved 72-hour transit visa exemption policy in 18 cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and so on, facilitating foreigners for short-term tourism and temporary business visits to China. Kunming officially implemented the policy on October 1, 2014.

In order to build a strong civil aviation province and an international aviation junction, Yunnan is speeding up the development of international routes, especially south and southeast Asia routes. Yunnan has opened a total of 88 international regional passenger and freight routes, and 56 international and regional navigable points, and will focus on opening 17 new direct international routes from Kunming to Pakistan, Jakarta, Mumbai, Kuching, Karachi and so on.

Click here to view Chinese report

(Editors: Christine, Rachel)