Foreign tourists pose for photos at Temple of Heaven in Beijing, capital of China on May 3, 2025. The Temple of Heaven became a popular tourist spot for foreign visitors during the Labor Day holiday. Photo: VCG

China has added Indonesia to its 240-hour visa-free transit program, bringing the total number of countries eligible for the policy to 55, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Thursday.

Effective Thursday, eligible Indonesian travelers can enter China through any of the 60 ports across 24 provincial-level regions and stay up to 240 hours, or 10 days, without a visa before heading to a third destination, according to the NIA.

According to the NIA, adding Indonesia to the list of countries eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy is a significant measure to implement the principles established in the central conference on work related to neighboring countries and China's commitment to deepening regional cooperation with ASEAN members. 

"With deepening exchanges between China, Indonesia, and other ASEAN members, China's visa-free policy is gradually evolving into a broader regional initiative," Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at Guangxi Minzu University, told the Global Times on Thursday.  

The recent extension of the visa-free transit period for Indonesian citizens reflects this ongoing trend. Such adjustments not only facilitate business and tourism between China and Indonesia but also deepen mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation between China and ASEAN as a whole, said Ge.

On June 3, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular press conference that China will issue the corresponding category of "ASEAN Visa" for business personnel from the 11 countries, as well as their spouses and children, who meet the requirements. The visa will allow multiple entries within five years and a maximum stay period of 180 days.

The NIA said in a release on Thursday that moving forward, it will continue to expand the institutional openness of immigration management, continually improve the policies facilitating entry and exit for immigrants, and enhance the convenience for foreign nationals to study, work, and live in China.

"China's transit visa policy keeps expanding, enabling more foreigners to visit and explore the country. This also clearly reflects China's commitment to opening-up and boosting international exchanges," said Ge. 

The expert noted that in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where he lives and works, they now see not only students, businesspeople, and tourists from ASEAN members, but also a growing number of people from Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. 

Citizens of 55 countries, including Indonesia, Russia, and the United Kingdom, may transit through China using the 240-hour visa-free transit policy if they hold valid international travel documents and interline tickets with confirmed dates and seats to a third country or region. They may enter China through any of the 60 open ports across 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government, such as Beijing and Shanghai, and stay in designated areas for up to 10 days, according to NIA. 

During this period, visa-free transit travelers may engage in tourism, business, exchange visits, or family visits. Activities such as work, study, or news reporting still require prior approval and appropriate visas, according to NIA.