With the approval of the State Council, since January 1, 2019, Chengdu will implement the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Foreigners from 53 countries, who hold valid international travel documents and a connecting flight ticket bound for a third country (region) with a fixed seat and a fixed date within 144 hours, can enter via Chengdu Airport and stay in Chengdu for 144 hours, visa free. The extension from 72 to 144 hours will further facilitate foreigners' transit and transfer and their traveling and business in Chengdu.

1. What is the 144-hour transit visa-free policy?

According to 144-hour visa-free policy, foreign travelers from 53 countries, who holdvalid international travel documents and a connecting flight ticket bound for athird country (region) with a fixed seat and a fixed date within 144 hours, canenter via Chengdu air ports and stay in Chengdu for 144 hours, visa free.

2. List of Countries Applicable for 144-hour Visa-free Policy

(1) European Countries under Schengen Visa Agreement (25)

Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Monaco.

(2) Other EuropeanCountries (14)

Russia，UK，Ireland，Cyprus，Bulgaria，Romania，Ukraine,Serbia，Croatia，Bosnia and Herzegovina，Montenegro, Macedonia，Albania，and Belarus. 

(3) Countries of Americas (6)

U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. 

(4) Oceania Countries (2)

Australia and New Zealand.

(5) Asian Countries (6)

Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, The United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

3. How to apply

Individuals who apply for 144-hour visa-free transit status should meet the following requirements:

(1) They must be citizens from one of the 53 eligible countries specified. They must hold valid international travel documents certifying their nationality and identity.

(2) They must have a valid airplane passenger ticket for connecting travel to a third country or region. The ticket for travel must specify the traveler has a confirmed seat and that the departure time is within 144 hours.

(3) Port of entry and exit: Chengdu Airport.

4. Bilingual hotline

Exit and Entry Administration Division of Chengdu Public Security Bureau has set up a hotline in both Chinese and English to provide 24-hour consultation—18030695002.

5. Notices

(1) 144-hours stay begins from 00:00 on the next day of entry.

(2) Stay in the administrative districts of Chengdu only.

It is worth noting that the foreigners under the 144-hour visa-free transit policy shall only be allowed to stay in the administrative districts of Chengdu after their entering via Chengdu  Airport.

(3) Departure Country A→Chengdu B→Third Country C

The foreigners under this policy who enter via Chengdu Airport shall fly to a third country (region) via the same airport. Departure country A and the third country C shall not be the same one.

6. Supporting Service

To provide the above mentioned foreigners with better service during their stay in Chengdu, So far, Chengdu is ready for the implementation of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Border Defense General Squad of Sichuan is taking three preparatory measures of matching policies, clearance facilitation and targeted service to provide quality, convenient and efficient service for foreigners under this policy. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is promoting the construction of a smart transit platform to provide rich and varied value-added services for visa-free foreigners. Basing on the "14+48+30" general plan for international airline network, Chengdu Port Logistics Office is coordinating and launching the upgrading project on international terminal building to enhance the clearance efficiency and to provide better service for cross-border travelers. Chengdu Tourism Bureau is launching a theme promotion campaign to publicize the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, and will promote jointly with Ctrip boutique travel routes to the world. Chengdu Culture and Tourism Group is promoting a series of theme products such as "Ancient Shu Culture” and Chengdu Travel PASS Card which covers all major scenic spots in Chengdu. City Municipal Commission of Commerce is promoting the construction of model consumption scenarios to optimize the consumption environment and meet the diverse and multi-level consumption needs of domestic and foreign tourists.