BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) — China has eased its visa-free policy for entering the country’s southern island province of Hainan, allowing eligible visitors to enter the province for more purposes, the relevant authority announced Friday.
Starting Friday, visitors from countries such as Russia, France, the United States, Brazil, Japan and the United Arab Emirates are allowed to enter Hainan visa-free for purposes including business, a tourist visit, visiting a relative, medical treatment, an exhibition or sports, China’s National Immigration Administration said in a statement.
Such visitors can stay in Hainan Province for up to 30 days, the statement said.
The previous policy also allowed visitors from these countries to enter Hainan visa-free but only for tourism purposes, according to the administration.
The statement from the administration said the new policy aims to advance reform and opening up across the board in Hainan and to support the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Original article:
NIA to Expand Allowed Purposes of Visa-Free Entry into Hainan Province for Citizens of Some Countries
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) released an announcement today. Since February 9th, 2024, the announcement allows citizens of Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, etc., to enter Hainan Province for commercial activities and trade, visit and exchange, and family reunions, receiving medical treatment, attending exhibitions,taking part in sporting events and other needs(excluding long-term working and studying) for up to 30 days without a visa. Foreign nationals who need to enter Hainan for the aforementioned purposes can enter through any open port in the province and remain in the province’s administrative area during their stay periods (subject to the relevant provisions if applicable to a mutual visa exemption agreements signed with China). Each entry period is calculated from 00:00 on the day following the day of entry. The existing policy of 30-day visa-free trips to Hainan for citizens of the aforementioned countries remains in effect.
According to NIA’s officials, the decision to expand the allowed purposes for visa-free entry into Hainan for citizens of some countries is a new effort to deepen reform and opening-up of the province, and contribute to the development of Hainan Free Trade Port as a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. Moving forward, NIA will continue to focus on the new situations and demands associated with the high-level opening-up of China, keep reforming its immigration and entry-exit policies in an innovative manner, to fully support the high-level opening-up and high-quality development.
