Core Policy Overview
Effective August 20, 2026, ordinary passport holders from Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam are eligible for two major visa-free entry schemes in China.
Under the 240-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy, eligible travelers with confirmed onward tickets to a third country or region may enter China via 65 designated ports and stay up to 240 hours in approved areas without a prior visa. Following this update, the policy now covers 57 countries worldwide.
Under the Hainan 30-Day Visa-free Entry Policy, visitors arriving through Hainan’s international ports can stay visa-free for up to 30 days within Hainan Province. This expansion raises the total eligible country list to 61.
Both schemes only allow short-term activities such as tourism, business visits, and family reunions. Employment, formal study, and journalistic work are not permitted under visa-free entry and require valid advance visas.
Key Policy Drivers
This visa facilitation serves China’s high-standard opening-up strategy and enhances strategic mutual trust with neighboring countries, supporting regional community development.
It streamlines cross-border travel procedures, lowers administrative barriers, and facilitates frequent people-to-people exchanges for tourism, business, and family visits across China’s land borders with Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.
The policy also stimulates bilateral economic interaction, boosting two-way tourism consumption, trade communication, and investment cooperation, while expanding market access for foreign enterprises and driving inbound tourism growth.
In addition, the expansion optimizes China’s national visa facilitation framework, filling regional coverage gaps in Central Asia and Southeast Asia and improving the overall layout of China’s transit and tourist entry policies.
China balances expanded travel convenience with strict border risk control. All visa-free privileges are limited to legal short-term stays, with robust regulatory measures ensuring orderly border management.
The above visa-free arrangements are strictly limited to short-term visits. For individuals or corporate professionals seeking long-term residence, employment, study, or sustained business settlement in China, dedicated immigration procedures and compliant arrangements are mandatory.
Please contact us for customized China immigration solutions and consulting support.
This alert is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please contact Newland Chase directly for case-specific guidance.
