Xiamen 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide

1. About Travel Route

Your travel route should be: country (region) A --> Xiamen --> country (region) B

Valid Routes Examples (by flight):

Siem Reap (Combodia) --> Xiamen --> Tokyo

Seoul --> Xiamen --> Hong Kong

Taipei --> Xiamen --> Bangkok

2. About Stay Area

After entry, foreigners are allowed to tour and stay within administrative region of Xiamen only, which consists of 6 districts, Siming, Haicang, Huli, Jimei, Tongan and Xiang’an Districts.

Attractions you can visit: Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple (South Putuo Temple), Xiamen University, Zhongshan Road Walking Street, etc,

You can NOT visit Fujian Tulous, Xiapu Mudflat outside Xiamen, unless you hold a China Visa instead of a short-term “Temporary Entry Permit”.

3. About Port of Entry and Exit

Xiamen has 1 airport (Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport) and 2 harbors (Xiamen Wutong Ferry Terminal, Xiamen International Cruise Center) applicable to 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit. Aliens can use one of the three ports for entry and exit to onward destinations.

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (厦门高崎国际机场, IATA: XMN) , located in north Xiamen City, is the major airport serving Xiamen. Currently, the airport is well connected with 32 international/regional cities (including Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Tokyo, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Melbourne, Vancouver...) and over 120 cities in China (like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, etc). Upon arrival, tourists can take airport shuttle express, local public bus or taxi to transfer to your hotel or downtown.

Useful Links: Xiamen Transportation Guide | Xiamen Travel Maps

4. About Visa-Free Period The visa-free 144 hours officially count from the 00:00am the next day upon arrival, not from the date you land at the airport or the issued date of your entry permit.

Tips: 1.) Visitors must make temporary accommodation registration within 24 hours after entry. If stay in hotel, the hotel staff will register for you, if not, you or your host have to do the registration to the local Public Security Bureau. 2.) Please go to the local Exit&Entry Administration of Kunming Public Security Bureau for further help, if you will overstay for irresistible causes.

5. About Ticket Booking

Make sure you already booked air/ship ticket leaving Xiamen within 144 hours, the reservation record will be checked carefully at the border immigration desk. We suggest you leave a relative longer time, several days are the best, to get greater chance of getting a 144 hour visa. If connection time is too rush, you may only granted 24 hours visa-free transit.

South Korean Cruise Passenger Transit in Xiamen

Xiamen Districts Map (click to enlarge)

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport

Foreigners Enjoy Trip to Xiamen

Step 1 - Fill in e-application form through online system in advance. Provide travel information and keep the QR code after submission.

Step 2 - When boarding, inform the air or ship company staff that you will apply 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Xiamen. They will soon transfer your request to the Immigration Authority at border ports before arrival.

Step 3 - Upon arrival, fill in the Arrival Card (blue version) at specialized desk, and then follow guide to 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption counter. Print your application form out from the automatic machine. Wait and submit application with passport, connecting flight or ship ticket to next destination, and related travel itinerary.

Step 4 - The Exit and Entry Immigration officer will stick a Temporary Entry Permit on your passport to grant your short-term entry to Xiamen after verification.

Step 5 - Go through customs and immigration formalities, then you can leave the airport or cruise ports, begin your Xiamen layover tour for up to 6 days.

Sample of China Temporary Entry Permit
(click to enlarge)

For urgent entry, qualified applicants can apply China C, F, R, Q2, S2, R Visa at opened port. China Visa Types >>

Tourist Group Visa - Travelers joining in group tour (with at least 2 members) organized by licensed Chinese travel agency may get Chinese Tourist Group Visa at entry port under help of the agency.

Xiamen 5-Day Special Economic Zone Tourist Visa - A short-term single entry visa permits business, tour only in administrative region of Xiamen for 5 days. Applicants don’t need to fill in application form, just complete the Arrival Card and accept immigration checking.

A China Visa is required from Exit & Entry Administration of Xiamen Public Security Bureau you intend to visit areas out of Xiamen Special Economic Zone.

Germany Visitor Applied Work Visa on Arrival at Xiamen Gaoqi Airport