China adds Indonesia to 240-hour visa-free transit program

China has included Indonesia in its 240-hour visa-free transit program with effect from June 12, 2025, bringing the total number of eligible countries to 55. 

According to the announcement made by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Thursday, Indonesian nationals who meet the eligibility criteria can enter China through any of the 60 ports across 24 provincial-level regions and stay in the country for a maximum of 10 days without a visa. 

Indonesian travelers are allowed to take part in tourism- or business-related activities and visit family and friends during this visa-free transit period. However, the NIA stated that visitors are not allowed to engage in paid work, study, or journalistic activities, all of which require appropriate visas. 

The move to add Indonesia to the program is part of China’s larger efforts to strengthen its ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It is expected to improve bilateral cooperation, boost trade, and promote cultural exchange between China and Indonesia. 

Welcoming the visa policy, Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun said the latest change will strengthen people-to-people connections, especially in the tourism sector. 

At the beginning of June, China rolled out a five-year, multiple-entry visa policy for businesspeople from ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste. This new “ASEAN visa” also permits the spouses and children of applicants to stay in the country for up to 180 days per visit. 

China has been relaxing its visa rules to increase mobility, with authorities expanding the visa-free transit period from 72 or 144 hours to 240 hours. On top of that, travelers eligible for the visa-free transit program can travel to several destinations within designated regions. 

In 2024, there were 64.88 million international arrivals in China, marking a year-on-year increase of 82.9 percent. The NIA also shared that the number of visa-free entries exceeded 20 million, which was a 112.3 percent increase from 2023.