China’s National Immigration Administration confirmed late on 3 November that the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit programme will be extended to five additional entry points, including the cross-border West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port.
Travellers from 55 eligible countries can now fly into Hong Kong or arrive by high-speed train, cross the border at the new ports and spend up to 10 days anywhere in 24 Mainland provinces before departing to a third country. The policy, effective 6 November, lifts the total number of visa-free transit ports nationwide to 65.
![West Kowloon Station and HZMB added to China’s 240-hour visa-free transit scheme]()
For airlines and hotels, the change opens new itinerary options: international passengers transiting through Hong Kong can schedule a multi-city tour of southern China without securing a full visa in advance. Hong Kong tourism officials hope to capture more stop-over traffic and position the city as the gateway for “visa-free China short breaks.”
Corporate travel managers should review routing guides and duty-of-care notes. While the scheme waives the visa requirement, travellers must carry an onward ticket dated within 240 hours and complete a brief arrival form. Business activities such as meetings and site visits are permitted; however, gainful employment, journalism and study remain prohibited without a separate permit.
Immigration advisers expect demand to concentrate on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen corridor and recommend booking high-speed rail tickets early during peak fairs and trade-show seasons.
Travellers from 55 eligible countries can now fly into Hong Kong or arrive by high-speed train, cross the border at the new ports and spend up to 10 days anywhere in 24 Mainland provinces before departing to a third country. The policy, effective 6 November, lifts the total number of visa-free transit ports nationwide to 65.
For airlines and hotels, the change opens new itinerary options: international passengers transiting through Hong Kong can schedule a multi-city tour of southern China without securing a full visa in advance. Hong Kong tourism officials hope to capture more stop-over traffic and position the city as the gateway for “visa-free China short breaks.”
Corporate travel managers should review routing guides and duty-of-care notes. While the scheme waives the visa requirement, travellers must carry an onward ticket dated within 240 hours and complete a brief arrival form. Business activities such as meetings and site visits are permitted; however, gainful employment, journalism and study remain prohibited without a separate permit.
Immigration advisers expect demand to concentrate on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen corridor and recommend booking high-speed rail tickets early during peak fairs and trade-show seasons.
