Foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao can visit Hainan visa-free for 144 hours

閱讀中文版本

The tour groups must enter and exit collectively, and their activities are limited to the administrative area of Hainan province.

China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has announced the implementation of Hainan's 144-hour visa-free stay policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao, effective 30 July 2024.

According to the announcement, this policy is applicable to foreign visitors who are:

• citizens of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China;
• holding ordinary passports;
• entering Hainan as a tour group (with at least two people) organised by a travel agent registered in Hong Kong or Macao.

Under the policy, the tour groups could travel to Hainan visa-free and stay for not more than 144 hours. For those with mutual visa exemption agreements signed with China or other visa exemption policies of the Chinese Government, may follow the relevant requirements.

The entry ports include all those established by the country in Hainan province that are open externally. The tour groups must enter and exit collectively, and their activities are limited to the administrative area of Hainan province. The stay time starts from the day following their entry.

The HKSAR Government welcomes the policy, stating that it will further promote the integration of tourism between the two places and inject new vitality into the co-operation between Hong Kong and Hainan.

On the other hand, to further facilitate the exchange between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals, the NIA has already implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy at 37 exit-entry ports.

Citizens of 54 countries who hold valid international travel documents and confirmed connecting tickets for flights, trains and ships departing for third countries within 144 hours after having arrived in China, are eligible to transit through any of the 37 exit-entry ports without visas.

These visitors can travel, engage in business activities, visit their friends and relatives, and engage in other short-term activities during their stay periods (subject to the relevant provisions if applicable to a mutual visa exemption agreements signed with China or China’s unilateral visa exemption).