China Expands Visa-Free Entry Policy for Hainan: Broader Entry Purposes Allowed
Starting February 9, 2024, China has expanded the range of purposes under its visa-free entry policy for Hainan, allowing citizens from a list of countries to enter Hainan without a visa for activities other than study and employment. These eligible purposes include business, visits, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, and sports events. The policy covers nationals from countries such as Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, and the United States, among others. Visa-free stays in Hainan are limited to 30 days, with entry and exit through all open ports in Hainan Province. The stay duration begins at 12:00 AM the day after entry, and visitors are restricted to Hainan’s administrative area unless covered by a separate visa-exemption agreement with China.
Visitors from the 59 countries on the Hainan visa-free list must enter through Hainan ports, primarily Haikou Meilan Airport and Sanya Phoenix Airport, and are restricted to Hainan Island during their stay. Notably, visitors from countries eligible for 15-day visa-free stays in other parts of China, such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Malaysia, Ireland, and Switzerland, can enter Hainan visa-free for up to 30 days if they arrive directly at a Hainan port but must remain on the island to benefit from the 30-day allowance. Should they choose to depart Hainan, the standard 15-day visa-free duration would apply.
International flights into Haikou and Sanya include routes from Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Phnom Penh.
FAQs on Visa-Free Entry Policy for Hainan
- Can foreigners entering Hainan under the visa-free policy travel to other regions within China?
No, the Hainan visa-free entry policy is a regional visa-free policy exclusive to Hainan. If a foreign visitor needs to extend their stay for a legitimate reason or wishes to leave Hainan to visit other areas of China, they must apply for a visa at the Hainan Provincial Public Security Bureau’s immigration management department. Applications must be submitted at least seven days before the expiration of the visa-free period.
- For nationals of the 59 countries eligible for Hainan’s visa-free policy, is it possible to enter other regions of China first before traveling to Hainan?
Entry under the Hainan visa-free policy requires arrival at an open port in Hainan. Foreign nationals who enter China through ports outside Hainan cannot use the Hainan visa-free policy and must instead follow entry policies applicable to their point of arrival.
- What is the difference between the 16-country unilateral visa-free policy and Hainan’s visa-free entry policy?
As of July 10, 2024, China offers unilateral visa-free entry for nationals from 16 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, and Poland. This policy allows these nationals to enter China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit purposes for up to 15 days until December 31, 2025.
The main difference is the scope and duration: the unilateral visa-free policy allows entry to multiple regions within China for up to 15 days, whereas the Hainan visa-free policy restricts travel to Hainan Province but allows stays of up to 30 days. Travelers should choose the policy that best fits their plans—selecting the unilateral visa-free policy if they wish to visit regions outside Hainan for up to 15 days or the Hainan visa-free policy if they plan to stay in Hainan for up to 30 days.
- For nationals of nine countries, such as Singapore and Thailand, who qualify for both Hainan’s visa-free policy and a mutual visa waiver, which policy should they use when entering Hainan?
Nationals from countries with mutual visa waiver agreements with China should follow the terms of those agreements when entering Hainan.