From 1 March 2024 onwards, Thailand and China have agreed to implement a visa-free entry policy permanently for their citizens. This means that tourists from both countries are free to enter and exit with a stay of up to 30 days per entry.
This new policy has been implemented to replace the former temporary visa waiver for Chinese travellers which was in effect until 29 February 2024. It is expected that this new enactment will encourage more economic activities between the two countries.
Following the implementation, airlines are launching more flights and routes to Chinese cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Kunming.
A low-down on the new Thailand-China free-visa entry policy
Conditions for the Thailand-China visa-free entry
According to the terms of the agreement, Thai nationals holding valid passports and Chinese nationals holding valid public affairs and ordinary passports will not require visas for entry, exit, or transit through each other’s countries for up to 30 days. Within 180 days, the cumulative days of stay should not exceed 90 days. Otherwise, they will need additional official approval.
Other things to note
For Thai tourists, this means one less hurdle for travelling to Mainland China. Still, there are several things to prepare before you embark on your trip.
- Some social media applications are not available in China such as Instagram, Facebook, LINE, Google and Youtube. In order to still have access to these, it is recommended to turn on the roaming from your Thai cellular service, or use a travel sim card bought from Thailand. VPN access is generally illegal in China.
- Digital wallet is highly preferred in China, and some shops don’t accept cash payments at all. WeChat Pay and Alipay are two common channels for online payment, though you will need a Chinese bank account to use WeChat. For tourists, Alipay Tour Pass can be used to connect with your credit cards.
- You can carry cash not exceeding CNY 20,000, and other currencies not exceeding USD 10,000.
- Marijuana is prohibited in China.
The new diplomatic manoeuvre holds significant importance for both nations, coinciding with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Thailand-China diplomatic relations in 2025. Additionally, there is a push for further policies aimed at constructing a railroad between the two countries to enhance tourism even further.
For more information, visit Embassy of The People’s Republic of China in The Kingdom of Thailand.
[Hero and featured image credit: Ling Tang/unsplash]
In spite of her name, Paint can't really paint or even draw. Life, for her, is a journey in search of good chocolates, fries, chicken wings, and the implication behind her fat cats' split personalities.
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