Passengers with international connecting flights to a third country or region within 24 hours are exempted from border inspection procedures during transit. [Photo/WeChat account of Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport]
Starting from Jan 11, 2024, passengers boarding international or regional flights from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and transiting directly to a third country or region, and who stay not more than 24 hours at the airport will be eligible for exemption from border inspection procedures.
Xiamen is the first city in Fujian province to implement this measure.
Previously, international transit passengers had to undergo customs and check-in procedures before the transit process was complete.
After implementation of the new measures, the clearance time for international passengers has been reduced to about 10 minutes.
This measure is not limited by nationality and is applicable to foreign nationals, Chinese mainland residents, and residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
Upon arrival, passengers transiting directly within 24 hours will be guided and directed to the transit area by airline ground service personnel. They can then proceed directly to the departure waiting hall to board their connecting flights.
Xiamen has in recent years been expanding its international flight network, and this has attracted an increasing number of international transit passengers to transit through Xiamen.
About 52,000 international passengers transited in Xiamen in 2023.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
