Starting from February 9, 2024, China expanded the allowed purposes  of visa-free entry to Hainan Province for ordinary passport holders of  59 countries (see announcement of the National Immigration  Administration of China

 https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147413/c160943/content.html ). The details are as follows:

    1.Eligible Countries

Russia,  United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria,  Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium,  Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania,  Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland,  Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,  Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, United States, Canada, Brazil,  Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea,  Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines,  Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus.

    2. Allowed Purposes of Visa-Free Entry

Ordinary  passport holders of the 59 countries can enter Hainan visa-free for  tourism, business & trade, visits, family visits, medical treatment,  exhibitions and sports competition (except purposes of work and study).

    3. Duration of Visa-Free Stay

Travelers  can enter Hainan through all its ports open to foreign countries, and  stay for up to 30 days, calculated from 00:00 on the day following the  day of entry.

    4. Way of Entry

Travelers  of the 59 countries can take civil airlines, business charter flights  or cruise ships, and enter Hainan with valid ordinary passports via all  its ports open to foreign countries (Haikou Meilan International  Airport, Sanya Fenghuang International Airport, Qionghai Boao Airport,  Yangpu Port, Haikou Port, Qinglan Port, Basuo Port, Sanya Port), after  being checked and approved by border inspection authorities, without the  need to declare in advance.

Please note that to be  eligible for visa-free entry, travelers flying to Hainan need to arrive  by either direct international flight from their country or transit via a  third country or China’s Hong Kong or Macao region.

    5. Allowed Area of Visit

The administrative area of Hainan Province.

For  those who wish to extend their stay in Hainan or leave Hainan for other  parts of China for legitimate purposes, they must apply for a visa at  the exit-entry administrations of Hainan’s public security authorities  with supporting materials before the expiration of their visa-free  stay. 

    6. Other Matters

If any of  the 59 countries has mutual visa exemption agreement with China,  provisions of the mutual visa exemption agreement shall prevail. If  other visa exemptions are also applicable, foreign nationals concerned  can choose which policy to comply with.

    7. Where is Hainan? Is it fun?

    (1) China’s only tropical island province and a popular tourist resort

Hainan  is the southernmost and only tropical island province of China. The  Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is one of China’s first five  national parks. With three international airports, the world’s first  high-speed loop line and the Coastal Scenic Highway, it’s easy to travel  around the island. Every year, various international conferences as  well as cultural and sports events would take place in Hainan, including  the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, China International Consumer  Products Expo, Hainan Island International Film Festival, Hainan Island  Carnival, international road cycling race Tour of Hainan and Round  Hainan Regatta. In addition, tourists could also enjoy surfing, cruise  and yacht rides, rainforest tours, highway trips and experience local  folk culture.

    (2) China’s largest special economic zone and the world’s largest free trade port

From  one of China’s first five special economic zones to the only free trade  port with Chinese characteristics, and the world’s largest free trade  port, Hainan has always been at the forefront of reform and opening up.  Endeavoring to embrace the highest level of opening up in the world,  Hainan has put in place a set of policies and institutional arrangements  supporting the free trade port, with a focus on the “zero tariffs, low  tax rates, and a simplified tax system”, the free and convenient flow of  trade, investment, cross-border capital, people and transportation, and  the safe and orderly flow of data. A modern industrial system that  features “four pillars, three strengths, and three premium service  sectors” is also established in Hainan.

For more information about Hainan, please visit https://qr61.cn/o1gIPY/qDjWUTB  (This is Hainan).