China Expands Visa-Free Transit Program to Indonesia, Boosts Bilateral Cooperation

Strategic Insights -

China has announced the addition of Indonesia to its 240-hour visa-free transit program, making the country the 55th eligible nation for visa-free travel. This move is part of broader efforts to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA). The program allows Indonesian travelers to enter China through 60 ports across 24 provincial-level regions and stay for up to 10 days before heading to a third destination, without the need for a visa. The policy aims to boost bilateral cooperation, improve trade and investment efficiency, and foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Indonesia.

Key Takeaways:

  • China has expanded its 240-hour visa-free transit program to include Indonesia, bringing the total number of eligible countries to 55.
  • The program allows Indonesian travelers to enter China through 60 ports across 24 provincial-level regions and stay for up to 10 days without a visa.
  • The policy aims to boost bilateral cooperation, improve trade and investment efficiency, and foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Indonesia.
  • Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun has welcomed the development, saying it will strengthen people-to-people connections, particularly in the tourism sector.
  • Veronika Saraswati, director of the Indonesia-China Partnership Studies Institute, has praised the new policy, expressing its benefits for bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
  • The policy shift is part of a series of adjustments to China's visa rules, aimed at boosting cross-border mobility and exchanges following the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • China has also expanded its unilateral visa-free access program, allowing travelers from 47 countries to stay for up to 30 days.
  • International travelers made 64.88 million cross-border trips to China in 2024, up 82.9 percent year-on-year, with more than 20 million of these being visa-free entries.

Statistics:

  • 55 countries are now eligible for China's 240-hour visa-free transit program.
  • 60 ports across 24 provincial-level regions in China are designated for Indonesian travelers to enter and exit without a visa.
  • Indonesia is the 55th country to join the visa-free transit program.
  • 231,000 foreigners entered China without a visa during the recent three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, an increase of 59.4 percent compared to a year earlier.
  • International travelers made 64.88 million cross-border trips to China in 2024, up 82.9 percent year-on-year.
  • More than 20 million visa-free entries were made in 2024, marking a 112.3 percent increase from the previous year.

Sources:

  • Xinhua News Agency (2025-06-13)
  • National Immigration Administration (NIA)
  • Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun
  • Veronika Saraswati, director of the Indonesia-China Partnership Studies Institute
  • Xinhua News Agency (2024-12)