Since the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy was introduced in China, the number of applicable countries and ports have been growing. In a bid to facilitate the application for 144-hour visa-exemption transit and speed up border clearance, Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection and Shanghai Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau developed in collaboration a pre-application or E-application system for foreign applicants for 144-hour visa-exemption transit. The system has come online on November 1, 2018.
E-application link:
http://crj.police.sh.cn/144zy.jsp
Prior to visiting Shanghai, an applicant is now able to declare via the E-application system their personal information, address in China, contact information, intended arrival and departure date and flight/vehicle/vessel number, etc. Once required information is collected, a QR code will be generated for the applicant to keep.
After reaching the 144-hour visa-exemption transit area within Pudong and Hongqiao International Airport, the applicant can operate specific self-service devices found in the area to scan the QR code and his/her travel document. An arrival card for temporary entry foreigners will then be printed complete with the information previously declared.
By virtue of the arrival card, onward ticket, international travel document and other necessary documents, the applicant will be subjected to inquiry, interview and evaluation by immigration officers regarding their application.
For those applicants who have never declared their information using the E-application system while overseas, they can instead declare relevant information via above-mentioned self-service devices deployed within the 144-hour visa-exemption transit area.
Introduction to the policy of 144-Hour Visa-Exemption Transit
1. An eligible passenger can transfer via any of the following ports of entry including Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, Shanghai Railway Station, Nanjing Lukou International Airport and Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, and stay within the administrative precincts of Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province for 144 hours.
2. An eligible passenger can transfer via any of the following ports of entry including Beijing Capital International Airport, Tianjing Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port, Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport and Qinhuangdao Sea Port, and stay within the administrative precincts of Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province for 144 hours.
3. An eligible passenger can transfer via any of the following ports of entry including Shenyang Taoxian International Airport and Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, and stay within the administrative precincts of Liaoning Province for 144 hours.
An applicant for 144-hour visa-exemption transit needs to possess a valid passport or other valid international travel documents and an onward air / vessel / train ticket to a third country (region) with confirmed date and seat within 144 hours upon arrival, fill out an arrival card for temporary entry foreigners, and be interviewed by the immigration inspection authority.
Which countries are covered in the policy?
Currently, there are 53 countries and they are：
1. European member countries of Schengen Visa Scheme (25)
Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco
2. Other European countries (14)
Russia, the U.K., Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus
3. American countries (6)
United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
4. Oceania countries (2)
Australia, New Zealand
5. Asian countries (6)
Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar
1. Completing the online application does not mean that you will automatically obtain a temporary entry permit for 144-hour visa-exemption transit. You still need to apply to the immigration inspection authority at the port and a decision will be made based on the results of on-site inspection.
2. The online platform is only for visitors who apply for 144-hour visa-exemption transit at ports of entry in Shanghai.
3. Applicants should confirm their onward flight/train/vessel tickets to a third country or region within144 hours upon arrival as well as their address in China in advance, and fill out the information accurately as required when applying via the E-Application System or self-service devices.
4. Currently, only application for 144-hour visa-exemption transit is accepted by E-Application System orself-service devices. A 24-hour visa-exemption transit applicant still needs to fill out the arrival card for temporary entry foreigners manually, go to the specific channel with his/her arrival card, onward ticket, international travel document and other documents, and be interviewed by an immigration inspection officer.
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