After consulting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the General Administration of Customs, following the approval by the State Council, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has decided to implement a visa-free entry policy for foreign tourist groups traveling to China by cruise ships, which came into effect on May 15, 2024. According to the policy, any foreign tourist group consisting of two individuals or more arriving on a cruise ship for a trip organized and handled by a Chinese travel agency may enter as a whole into China without visas at one of the cruise ports located in the 13 following cities: Tianjin, Dalian (Liaoning Province), Shanghai, Lianyungang (Jiangsu Province), Wenzhou and Zhoushan (Zhejiang Province), Xiamen (Fujian Province), Qingdao (Shandong Province), Guangzhou and Shenzhen (Guangdong Province), Beihai (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), and Haikou and Sanya (Hainan Province). Upon arrival, visitors may stay in China for a maximum of 15 days and are obliged to continue their journey to the next scheduled port and depart from China by the same cruise ship as scheduled. In addition, foreign tourist groups are permitted to travel within the coastal provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) and Beijing. To promote cruise tourism, China has expanded the implementation of its visa-free transit policy, which now covers additional cruise ports located respectively in Beihai, Dalian, Guangzhou, Lianyungang, Shenzhen, Wenzhou, and Zhoushan, streamlining the transit processes for the foreign cruise passengers eligible of visa-free trips.

According to an official of NIA, the visa-free entry policy for foreign tourist groups entering by cruise ships is essential for the growth of China's cruise industry, contributes to the country's institutional openness, and highly evidences the country's determination to deepen reform and opening up. Moving forward, NIA will continue to work closely with other authorities to execute the directives of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, prioritizing economic growth and high-quality development, strengthening reform and innovation, and coordinating policies more effectively to create a more collaborative working mechanism. NIA aims to facilitate exchanges between Chinese and foreign nationals, foster international cooperation, and contribute to China's high-standard opening up.