It should be noted that many cruise lines still strongly suggest passengers obtain visa prior to visiting China.
The People’s Republic of China last week introduced a new law that would make it easier for foreign travelers to enter the country for touristic purposes without the need for a visa.
Travelers who arrive in China at one of 13 designated ports of entry on an international cruise, who are then transferring to an organized tour of two or more people, can remain in the country for up to 15 days visa-free under the new regulations. Travelers must then depart the country on the same cruise. The tours must be operated by a Chinese agency that has been licensed by the government to accept passengers without a visa. Tours with visa-free passengers are also limited to China’s coastal provinces.
The Chinese government also increased the number of cruise ports that allow passengers to stay in China without a visa for up to 144 hours while transiting to another country (some cities, such as Changsha, Guilin, and Harbin only allow stays of 72 hours). Passengers arriving on a cruise to 38 Chinese ports of entry can now take advantage of the visa free program if they hold a passport from one of 54 countries, including the United States and Canada.
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To take advantage of the 144-hour exception, there are a couple other rules to be aware of. Travelers must inform their airline they’re planning to enter China without a visa, and they must not travel to China either from or via a country that is the port of call closest to China on their cruise.
For example, a U.S. passenger can fly directly to China to board a ship whose first call after leaving China is in Japan, but if they fly from Japan or make a connection in Japan, they cannot use the visa exemption. If the cruise calls at a port in Japan, and the passenger disembarks in China, they cannot use the visa exemption if their return flight is to or via Japan.
While the new visa exceptions can smooth travel for cruise passengers intending to visit China, it should also be noted that many cruise lines still strongly suggest passengers obtain visa prior to visiting China. Visa exemptions can be rescinded without notice, and airlines will be forced to deny boarding to passengers who had intended to visit using a visa exemption that is rescinded if they do not have a valid visa.
Cruise line and third-party travel insurers also do not typically cover cancellations related to improper travel documentation, so last-minute changes or cancellations to cruises or air tickets because a visa exemption has been modified or ended will likely result in fees or forfeited pre-paid tickets and packages.
In one example, the Seattle-based Holland America Line notes in its China visa exemptions information page that travelers will have an easier time traveling if they hold a Chinese visa: “The rules for exemptions are subject to change and we recommend you consider obtaining a visa even if an exemption is applicable to your situation.”
A tourist visa for China can cost from $140 to $172 and can take several days to process—longer for travelers who do not live in a city with a Chinese consulate and need to use a mail-in service to process their visa.
U.S. travelers who also hold passports from an E.U. country might also check whether they’re eligible for visa-free travel. Travelers holding passports from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland, in addition to Malaysia, can enter China without a visa for up to 15 days for touristic purposes.
It’s worth noting the exemptions are not necessary in Macau SAR or Hong Kong SAR, which have different entry requirements and do not currently require a visa for US and Canadian passport holders for short stays.