China Eases Transit, Expands Smart Borders for Foreigners

The key policy changes are as follows:

1. Expanded Talent Visa Pilot Program for Hong Kong and Macao

The pilot program for multiple-entry talent visas to Hong Kong and Macao will be significantly expanded. It will now be implemented across the entire Yangtze River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jingjinji) regions, as well as in all Free Trade Pilot Zones nationwide. Eligible individuals will be able to apply for multiple-entry talent visas valid for one to five years, permitting each stay in Hong Kong or Macao to last up to 30 days.

2. Wider Adoption of Smart Border Clearance

Smart clearance systems utilizing facial recognition technology will be deployed at 12 additional ports, including Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Xiamen Gaoqi Airport. Eligible mainland residents, Hong Kong and Macao residents (including non-Chinese nationals), and Taiwanese residents who consent to provide facial and fingerprint data for verification will be able to use the smart e-gates for faster processing at these ports.

3. More 24-Hour Direct Transit Ports

Ten more international airports, including Tianjin Binhai and Kunming Changshui, have been designated as 24-hour direct transit ports. Passengers with confirmed onward international flight tickets within 24 hours, who transit directly through these airports without leaving the terminal, will be exempt from standard immigration inspection procedures.

4. Additional Ports for 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Five ports in Guangdong Province—Guangzhou Pazu Passenger Port, Hengqin, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Zhongshan Port, and the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link—have been added as designated entry points for the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. This brings the total number of ports eligible for the 144-hour visa-free transit from 60 to 65.