Chengdu 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

The nationals of 53 countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Americans (of 6 countries): the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the Republic of Chile

European citizens (of 39 countries): Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, and Monaco

Oceanians (of 2 countries): Australia and New Zealand

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

As regulated by the authority, applicants wishing to use the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit must meet all requirements. Check them carefully to find out if you could apply it while transiting in Chengdu.

Requirements includes:

⒈From designated 53 foreign countries included in the 144-hour Visa-free Transit Program;

⒉Hold a valid passport or international travel document with a validity of minimum 3 months;

⒊Hold a connecting flight ticket with confirmed seat and departure date (leaving Chengdu) to a third country or region within 144 hours. And the flight should depart from A country to C country, transit in city B - Chengdu, China. Normally a e-ticket is applicable.

⒋Transit in Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Chengdu Airport is the only used port of entry and exit for 144-Hour TWOV Policy in Chengdu.

1. About Travel Route: The 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption is only applicable for international transits through Chengdu. It demands your last departure city different from onward destination.

Eligible Routes Examples: Country (Region) A > Chengdu > Country (Region) B

● U.S.A > Chengdu > Thailand is OK

● U.S.A > Chengdu > Hong Kong is Ok

2. About Stay Area: During the 144-hour visa-free period, travelers are permitted to move around within the administrative precincts of Chengdu (13 districts, 4 counties and 5 county-level citiesm, including Dujiangyan), Leshan (乐山), Deyang (德阳), Suining (遂宁), Meishan (眉山), Ya'an (雅安), Ziyang (资阳), Neijing (内江), Zigong (自贡), Luzhou (泸州) and Yibin (宜宾), all together 11 cities within Sichuan Province.

So, once get the transit visa free, you can visit Renmin Park, Kuaizhai Alley, Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, and other attractions in Chengdu, Mount Qingcheng, Dujiangyan Panda Base, Dujiangyan Irrigation System in Dujiangyan, Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei (Leshan), Shunan Bamboo Forest (Yibin), Bifeng Canyon (Ya'an), and more attractions in Sichuan.

3. About Port of Entry: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is the only port applying to the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy in Chengdu. So, all transit passengers must enter and exit via the airport.

Currently, Chengdu Airport operates more than 300 airlines, includes 112 international (regional) air routes to lots of cities worldwide. To prompt better services, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport offers many privileges and services supporting the transits, including fast security check channel, free baggage storage and free international first-class lounge, etc.

4. About Visa-Free Period: The 144-Hour Visa-Free duration of stay officially counts from 00:00 (midnight) the day after arrival, instead of your flight’s landing time. For example, if you arrive at Chengdu Airport on May 1, 2019, you are allowed to stay in Chengdu and exit before 24:00 on May 7. As you can see, you actually will have a layover tour in Chengdu more than 144 hours.

5. About Ticket Booking: Please make sure your onward travel ticket is already booked before transit in Chengdu, because it would be checked when applying for Temporary Entry Permit for leaving airport.

6. About Number of Application: It’s free to apply for the 144-Hour Visa-free Transit more times as long as your travel routes and situation qualified to all the regulations.

Step 1 - When boarding, inform the air company staff of your application of 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Chengdu. They will deliver your request to the Immigration Authority at Chengdu Airport.

Step 2 - After landing at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, fill in the Arrival Card (blue version) at specialized desk, and then follow guide to the “Exclusive Channel for 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption”. There you shall wait and submit application with passport, connecting flight ticket to onward destination, and related travel itinerary.

Step 3 - The Exit and Entry Immigration officer will seal a Temporary Entry Permit on your passport to grant your short-term entry to Chengdu after verification.

Step 4 - Go through customs and immigration formalities, and you can leave Chengdu Airport, enter and stay in administrative region of Chengdu for a 6-day stopover tour.

Warm Tips: Exit-Entry Administration Division of Chengdu Public Security Bureau has opened 24/7 service helpline (in both English & Chinese) for consultation of Chengdu’s 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy.

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

2. Ticket to a third country with confirmed seat and date

3. Fully completed Arrival/Departure Card

* Prepare a valid visa if the third country or region in your plan requires.
* Hotel reservations may be required if you want to leave the airport.