Two Different Visa-Free Policies Apply
China’s National Immigration Administration has added Kyrgyz citizens to two separate facilitated-entry programs. The decision, which also applies to Vietnamese nationals, took effect on August 20, 2026.
The first policy provides visa-free transit for up to 240 hours, or ten days. The second allows Kyrgyz citizens to stay in Hainan Province without a visa for up to 30 days.
Following the expansion, the 240-hour transit program covers nationals of 57 countries, while Hainan’s visa-free policy applies to 61 countries. The conditions are detailed in the official National Immigration Administration announcement.
Transit Requires an Onward Ticket
To use the 240-hour policy, a Kyrgyz citizen must hold an ordinary passport and a confirmed onward passenger ticket with a specified date and itinerary to a third country or region.
The scheme therefore does not cover a standard trip from Kyrgyzstan to China followed by a return along the same route. The passenger must travel through China to another destination, such as Bishkek–Beijing–Seoul.
Entry is available through 65 designated ports, including transport hubs in Beijing and Shanghai. Travelers must remain within the areas authorized under the program. The transit permit does not provide unrestricted access to the whole of China.
The complete list of eligible ports and permitted areas is available in the official immigration policy guidance.
Hainan Allows Stays of Up to 30 Days
Travelers entering Hainan do not need to be in transit to a third country. Kyrgyz citizens holding ordinary passports may enter through the province’s open ports and remain within Hainan’s administrative territory for up to 30 days.
The policy can be used for tourism, business meetings, exchange visits and family visits. It may also make it easier for Kyrgyz entrepreneurs to attend exhibitions, negotiations and other short-term commercial events on the island.
However, travelers cannot leave Hainan and continue into mainland China without a visa unless they independently meet the conditions of another visa-free policy.
Work, Study and Journalism Still Require Visas
Neither arrangement covers employment, education or journalistic activities. Travelers entering China for these purposes must obtain the appropriate visa in advance.
The change also does not automatically exempt drivers engaged in international road freight operations. The 240-hour transit rules require a confirmed onward passenger ticket to a third country or region. Transport companies should therefore verify the separate entry requirements applying to commercial drivers and vehicle crews.
The measure will make tourism, business and trade, visits, and investment more convenient and efficient
Chinese authorities expect the policy to support tourism, commercial exchanges and investment links with Kyrgyzstan. For businesses, the main benefit will be easier short-term travel for negotiations, exhibitions and supplier meetings, although transit and territorial restrictions must be considered when planning itineraries.
Read also: Kyrgyzstan and China Agree to Accelerate Fuel Supplies via Xinjiang
