2024 Policy Archive: China’s 144-Hour Transit Expansion
Archive: the 15 July 2024 policy announcement
Historical policy, not current entry advice. The 144-hour duration and 37-port total in the original report describe the July 2024 policy. Do not use this archive or its historical cover image to determine current eligibility or permitted stay.
On 15 July 2024, China’s National Immigration Administration expanded the then-existing 144-hour visa-free transit arrangements. The announcement added Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport and Mohan Railway Station, and expanded the permitted travel area in Yunnan. A related announcement reported a total of 37 participating ports at that time.
The 2024 rules applied only to eligible travelers meeting specified conditions, including qualifying transit to a third country or region. They did not provide unrestricted visa-free entry for every passenger arriving by train from Laos.
Check the current rules with the immigration authority
Consult the National Immigration Administration’s current Visa-Free Transit Policies before booking. Check nationality, passport type, entry and exit ports, onward destination, confirmed onward travel and permitted areas against the rules applying to your journey. The authority has revised its guidance since the 2024 announcement; this archive deliberately does not replace it with another fixed duration or country count.
For train logistics, see the Vientiane–Kunming cross-border planning guide. Ticket availability and permission to enter China are separate checks.
