world · Xinhua

China Adds Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam to 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Program

about 2 hours ago1 MIN

Summary

China has added Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam to its 240-hour visa-free transit policy, bringing the total number of countries covered by the program to 57, immigration authorities announced on Thursday. The measure, effective from August 20, allows eligible citizens to enter China through any of the 65 designated ports and remain for up to 10 days without a visa, provided they hold confirmed interline tickets to a third country or region.

Key Points

  • Citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam holding ordinary passports are now eligible for China's 240-hour visa-free transit program
  • They must possess interline passenger tickets with confirmed dates and itineraries bound for a third country or region
  • Travelers may enter through any of the 65 ports across China and stay up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa
  • Both nationalities also qualify for Hainan Province's 30-day visa-free policy, now covering 61 countries total
  • Permitted activities include tourism, business, exchange visits, and family visits; employment, study, and journalism require proper visas

Why It Matters

This expansion reflects China's ongoing efforts to facilitate international travel and strengthen people-to-people exchanges with Central Asian and Southeast Asian nations, potentially boosting tourism and business connectivity across the region .
This expansion reflects China's ongoing efforts to facilitate international travel and strengthen people-to-people exchanges with Central Asian and Southeast Asian nations, potentially boosting tourism and business connectivity across the region .