240-hour Visa-Free Transit Guides at Kunming Changshui Airport

From December 18 2024, China visa-free transit has been extended from the previous 72/144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). The policy applies to citizens from 54 countries who hold valid international travel documents (with a validity of at least three months), and a passenger ticket for connecting travel to a third country (region) with the confirmed seat and the departure time within 240 hours of the arrival time at Kunming Changshui Airport (KMG).

The Flow to Apply for 240-hour Visa-Free Transit at Kunming Changshui Airport(KMG)

1. Inform the carrier when you boarding

2. Fill an Arrival/Departure Card

3. Apply for the 240-hour stay permit upon arrival. You also can do it online in advance.

4. Leave the airport to visit Kunming, or the other allowed areas in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities).

5. Back to Kunming Changshui Airport , or go to any of the other 60 open ports within 240 hours

6. Pass through the customs

7. Leave China by plane, train or ship to the third country (region)

Documents Needed for Application

1. Passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry

2. The passenger ticket (flight, train or ship) ) for connecting travel to a third country (region) with the confirmed seat and the departure time within 240 hours of arrival.

3. Fully completed Arrival/Departure Card

Locations of Application

In the arrival hall

Contact Phone

(86) 10 12367

The list of 54 countries:

Europe (40 countries): Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine

Americas (6 countries): the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.

Oceania (2 countries): Australia and New Zealand.

Asia (6 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Policy interpretation

According to the China National Immigration Administration regulations, individuals, who do not hold a valid Chinese passport and who apply for 240-hour visa-free transit status, should meet the following requirements:

I. They must be citizens from one of the 54 eligible countries specified, and hold valid international travel documents certifying their nationality and identity and with a validity of at least three months.

II. They must have a valid passenger ticket for connecting travel (including an airplane ticket, ship ticket or train ticket), to a third country or region. The ticket must specify the traveler has a confirmed seat and the departure time is within 240 hours of the arriving.

III. Eligible travelers can choose any of the other 60 open ports to enter and leave China, but travellers must stay in the allowed areas in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities).

After document examination and verification is conducted by the border authority at the port of Kunming Changshui Airport, applicants who meet the above requirements will be issued with a temporary entry permit which will enable them to enter and stay in the allowed areas in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities).

Tips:

1. Individuals who have successfully applied for 240-hour visa-free transit can visit the allowed areas in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities). Failure to comply with the terms of the visa-free transit will be punished according to relevant regulations.

2. Individuals travelling on the 240-hour visa-free transit and staying in a hotel or accommodation other than hotels (including the self-purchased house, rented house and borrowed house) in China are required to register their temporary residence according to law. Those who stay in a hotel in China are required to check in and adhere to the hotel’s check in and personal identification protocol. Those who stay in accommodation other than hotels are required to register their temporary residence with the local public security facility within 24 hours of arrival, either in person, or by the person who is providing the accommodation. Registration is required at every residence that the individual stays in during the 240 hour visa-free transit. If an individual changes residence multiple times, he/she is required to register with the public security facility for each place of residence where he/she is staying, within 24 hours of arrival.

FAQ

1、How is the duration of the 240 hour visa-free transit policy calculated?

The duration of stay as referred to in the 240-hour visa-free transit policy will begin from 00:00 o'clock the following day, after entry at Kunming Changshui Airport.

In accordance with the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, from 00:00 o'clock he following day after entry in Kunming, he/she will can visit the allowed areas in 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) without an entry visa.

2, If citizens from 54 designated countries eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy do not hold a valid connecting travel ticket to a third country, can she/he apply for 240-hour visa-free transit?

According to the regulations pertaining to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, any applicant must hold a valid connecting passenger ticket for travel, with the confirmed seat, and the departure time within 240 hours of arrival in Kunming, or citizens must possess relevant supporting documents. The applicant must have these documentations before applying for the 240-hour visa-free transit.

3, If citizens from 54 designated countries arrive in Kunming with a valid ticket for travel to their country of origin, with a confirmed seat and with a departure time within 240 hours of entry to Kunming, would she/he be eligible for the 240 hour visa-free transit policy?

The policy applies for 240-hour visa-free transit rather than visa-free entry. Therefore, the applicant should transit to a third country or region to be eligible for this policy. Travelers returning to their country of origin would not be eligible for this policy.

4, What kind of punishment will be imposed on those who have successfully applied for the 240-hour visa-free transit but have stayed in China for more than 240 hours when they depart from Kunming Changshui Airport?

According to the relevant regulations of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, individuals who do not hold a valid Chinese passport and are suspected of illegal residence in China will be warned. In case of gross violation, the offender will be fined RMB500 per day for illegal residence, not exceeding RMB10,000 in total, or he/she will be detained for 5-10 days. Anyone who violates the relevant laws and regulations for the 240 hour visa-free transit policy may not be accepted for future applications for visa-free transit.

5, Who can I contact with enquiries regarding the 240-hour visa-free transit policy?

For questions relating to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, including handling of entry and departure procedures, please call the 24-hour hotline of China National Immigration Administration: (+86) 10 12367