Visa-free policy for how many days foreign tourist groups can enter by cruise ship

Implement a 15-day visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering the country by cruise ship. Entry and exit procedures for cruise ships and yachts, support the implementation of 15-day visa-free entry for foreign tourist groups on cruise ships. Foreign tourist groups (2 people or more) can be organized, received and arranged by a legally registered travel agency in the country to enter the whole group without a visa from the Shanghai cruise port. , the stay shall not exceed 15 days (from the next day of entry), and the scope of activities is also limited.

Since October 1, 2016, Shanghai has implemented a 15-day visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering the country by cruise ship. Foreign tourist groups (2 people or more) can be organized, received and arranged by a legally registered travel agency in China to enter the whole group from the Shanghai cruise port without a visa, and the stay shall not exceed 15 days (counted from the next day of entry)

The scope of activities is limited to coastal provinces and Beijing, namely: Shanghai, Liaoning Province, Hebei Province, Tianjin City, Shandong Province, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Hainan Province The city where the cruise ship berths is located and the administrative areas of the surrounding provincial cities and Beijing City.

The implementation of a 15-day visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering Shanghai on cruise ships is another major positive measure taken by the state to support the construction of Shanghai's science and technology innovation center, and will greatly promote the development of Shanghai's cruise industry.

Shanghai’s cruise economy is developing rapidly. According to statistics, in 2015, 1.624 million passengers entered and exited the Shanghai port by cruise ship, an increase of 35.5% year-on-year. However, there were only more than 69,000 foreign passengers, accounting for 1.6% of that year’s total. 4.3% of the total number of inbound and outbound cruise passengers was basically the same as the number of foreigners entering and leaving the country in 2014.

A very important reason why the number of foreign tourists entering the country by cruise ship is not high is that foreigners need to apply for a valid Chinese visa in advance, and the time for tourists to land for sightseeing is very short, so the "cost-effectiveness" is not good. High, to a certain extent, weakened the willingness of foreigners to travel to China by cruise ship.

After the implementation of the 15-day visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering the country on cruise ships at the Shanghai port, foreigners holding valid international travel documents and coming to Shanghai with the cruise ship will be organized, received and passed through the border by a legally registered travel agency in my country. After inspection and approval by the inspection agency, the group can enter the country without a visa from the Shanghai Port International Passenger Transport Center and Wusongkou International Cruise Port, stay in China for 15 days, and travel with the cruise group to the next port until the cruise ship departs the country on this voyage.

Legal basis:

"Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China"

Article 15 Foreigners entering the country shall apply for a visa to the resident abroad The agency applies for a visa, except as otherwise provided for in this law.

Article 16 Visas are divided into diplomatic visas, courtesy visas, official visas and ordinary visas.

Diplomatic and official visas will be issued to foreigners who enter the country for diplomatic and official reasons; and courtesy visas will be issued to foreigners who require courtesy due to their special status. The scope and issuance methods of diplomatic visas, courtesy visas and official visas are stipulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For foreigners entering the country for work, study, family visits, tourism, business activities, talent introduction and other non-diplomatic and official reasons, ordinary visas of corresponding categories will be issued. The categories and issuance methods of ordinary visas are stipulated by the State Council.