Shanghai's Pudong International Airport has witnessed a surge in international transit passengers since the implementation of the new 240-hour visa-free policy.

As of March 17, 2025, over 11,000 international transit passengers had benefited from this policy, a 52-percent increase compared to the same period last year, when the 144-hour visa-free policy was in effect.

The new policy, which came into force on Dec 17, 2024, extends the stay period for visa-free transit foreigners from 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). It also adds 21 ports to the list of entry and exit points for visa-free transit personnel and expands the designated activity areas.

A customs officer examines a document. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

The majority of these visa-free transit passengers are from Europe and North America, accounting for over 90 percent of the total. Many of them choose Shanghai as their first destination in China and plan to visit multiple provinces and cities during their 10-day stay.

To facilitate the smooth implementation of the policy, the Shanghai Airport Border Inspection Station has introduced several measures, including upgrading inspection channels, pre-inspection of transit passenger information, and the establishment of a 24-hour foreign-language volunteer service team.

Passengers queue up for entry at Pudong Airport. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

A police officer offers help an international passenger. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

These efforts have significantly improved the efficiency of passenger clearance, with the current waiting time for Chinese citizens not exceeding 30 minutes and the immigration clearance speed for foreigners increasing by 17 percent. The policy has promoted international exchanges and contributed to Shanghai's development as a top inbound tourism destination in China.