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Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport is located in southeastern Fujian, China, and is known for its convenient access to the World Cultural Heritage site of Gulangyu Island. The airport offers a 240-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens of 54 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. This policy allows travellers to explore the Fujian Province and 23 other provinces and regions across Mainland China. For those with shorter layovers, Xiamen Airlines provides a free hotel room for transits longer than 6 hours. The airport itself has a variety of food options, duty-free shops, and comfortable seating. Outside the airport, taxis are readily available, and some drivers may even speak English or use translation apps. Xiamen is considered a safe city, and its airport is open 24 hours a day, making it convenient for travellers with long layovers or those wishing to explore the city during their brief stay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leaving Xiamen airport | Possible with a 24-hour transit visa or 240-hour visa-free transit |
| 24-hour transit visa requirements | A printout of your continuing flight and hotel booking |
| 240-hour visa-free transit requirements | Passport with at least three months left, an air or cruise ticket to a third country with a confirmed seat and departure date within 240 hours, a visa to the third country if required, and an arrival card for temporary entry |
| Hotel options | Free hotel room provided by Xiamen Airlines for transits longer than 6 hours, or book a hotel yourself |
| Transportation | Airport shuttle express, local public bus, or taxi |
| Food options | KFC and one cafe in the pre-check-in area, more options available after check-in |
| Attractions | Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University, Kulangsu Huandao Road, Zhongshan Road, South Putuo Temple |
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What You'll Learn
- Xiamen airport offers a 24-hour visa-free transit programme
- The 24-hour visa-free transit programme is available to citizens of 54 countries
- The airport provides free hot and cold water
- Xiamen Airlines offers a hotel room for layovers longer than 6 hours
- Xiamen airport is open 24 hours, but the lounges close at night
Xiamen airport offers a 24-hour visa-free transit programme
The programme is available to citizens of 54 foreign countries, including the USA, UK, New Zealand, and Australia. To be eligible, passengers must have a passport with at least three months' validity, a valid connecting international ticket, and a visa for the third country if required. It is important to note that this programme does not allow passengers to leave Xiamen Airport during their transit.
For those wishing to leave the airport and explore Xiamen, a 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been extended to 240 hours for tourism, family visits, exchange visits, and business. This allows travellers from the eligible 54 countries to explore Xiamen and other permitted regions in China for up to 240 hours (approximately 10 days) before departing for a third country.
To apply for the 240-hour visa-free transit, eligible travellers must fill out an e-application form in advance and inform their airline or ship company. Upon arrival, they must complete an Arrival Card and submit their application, passport, connecting ticket, and travel itinerary to the immigration authorities.
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The 24-hour visa-free transit programme is available to citizens of 54 countries
Foreign nationals from 54 countries can take advantage of China's 24-hour visa-free transit policy. This policy is available at all accessible exit-entry ports, including Xiamen Airport. To be eligible, travellers must hold valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with confirmed seats. They must also be transiting to a third country or region and must not leave the airport during their layover. Xiamen Airlines has implemented this policy, allowing eligible passengers to finish their transit formalities in 10 minutes.
The 54 countries whose citizens are eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit programme are:
- Albania
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- The Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- The United Arab Emirates
- The United Kingdom
- The United States
In addition to the 24-hour visa-free transit policy, China also offers a 144-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens of these same 54 countries. This extended stay option is available at 38 exit-entry ports in 18 provinces. Furthermore, as of November 17, 2023, Norway was added to the eligible country list, bringing the total to 55 countries.
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The airport provides free hot and cold water
If you have a long layover in Xiamen, you may be wondering if you can leave the airport. Well, you can! If you have a layover of 2-6 hours or more, you get your choice of hanging out in the Transfer Passenger Lounge, a free city tour, or a free hotel. However, you must return to the airport on the same day and cannot leave in the middle of your journey.
Now, onto the topic of water. The airport provides free hot and cold water, which is a big win for travellers. This means that if you buy cup-o-noodles from the souvenir shops, you can make yourself a hot meal. It's also useful if you've had one too many warm beers and fancy a sing-song in the karaoke pods!
The free water is not the only benefit of flying with Xiamen Airlines. If you have a long layover, you can also take advantage of the complimentary hotel accommodation. This is available for passengers with a layover of 6 hours or more, and you can book this at the Xiamen Airlines Transfer Service Counter.
If you're looking for food options, the pre-check-in part of the terminal has a KFC and a cafe. Once you've checked in, there are more options, although these are mostly just duty-free shops. So, if you have a long layover, it might be worth heading into the city to find something to eat.
Overall, Xiamen Airport provides a good range of facilities and services for passengers with long layovers, including free hot and cold water, a transfer lounge, a free city tour, and complimentary hotel accommodation.
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Xiamen Airlines offers a hotel room for layovers longer than 6 hours
If you have a long layover in Xiamen, Xiamen Airlines offers a free hotel room for layovers longer than 6 hours. This is a great option if you want to rest and take a shower during your layover. The hotel is likely to be close to the airport, but you will need to take a taxi to and from the hotel, which costs around 15 Chinese yuan ($2.20 US) each way. You can pay for the taxi in the local currency, and there is a money changer and ATMs available in the airport.
To book your hotel, go to the Xiamen Airlines Transfer Service counter, which is located opposite Gate 7 on the first floor of the T3 Terminal in Gaoqi International Airport. The staff will verify your information and make a hotel reservation for you. They will also print out a "Xiamen Airlines Transit Passenger Check-in Form", which you can use to check in at the designated hotel. The hotel accommodation standards are as follows: if you are a premium class passenger and have purchased a first-class or business-class ticket for the international segment, you will be given priority.
It is important to note that this offer is only valid for flights until 31 December 2023 and that Xiamen Airlines reserves the right to modify the service conditions without prior notice. Additionally, passengers must have a valid connecting international ticket operated by Xiamen Airlines for both the first and second halves of their journey.
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Xiamen airport is open 24 hours, but the lounges close at night
Xiamen Airport offers a variety of amenities during the day, including restaurants, cafes, and duty-free shops. However, as the airport transitions into the night schedule, many of these establishments begin to close. For example, the gift shops and KFC located within the airport typically close around 10 pm, leaving limited options for passengers with late-night flights or layovers.
If you find yourself at Xiamen Airport during the night, it is important to note that you may not be allowed to check in to your flight until three hours before departure, further limiting your access to certain facilities and services within the airport. This can make finding a comfortable place to rest or a meal a challenging experience.
In such situations, it may be worthwhile to explore alternatives outside the airport. Xiamen Airlines offers a free city tour, hotel room, or access to the transfer passenger lounge for layovers of 2-6 hours or more. These options can provide a more comfortable and enjoyable experience during your extended stay in Xiamen.
Additionally, there are hotels located close to the airport that can be accessed via taxi. These hotels may provide a more relaxing environment compared to spending the night within the airport. However, it is important to be mindful of potential language barriers when communicating with taxi drivers and ensure you have the correct address and name of your hotel in Chinese.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Xiamen has a 240-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens of 54 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. This means you can leave the airport and enter Xiamen without a visa, as long as you have a passport, a valid connecting ticket, and a reservation record for a flight leaving China within 240 hours.
You will need to show your passport, a print-out of your connecting flight, and your hotel booking. You will be given a 24-hour transit visa sticker and a Temporary Entry Permit will be placed in your passport.
You can take an airport shuttle, a local bus, or a taxi to your hotel. A taxi ride will cost around 15 Chinese yuan, and you will need to pay in the local currency.
You can exchange money at the airport, but this can be expensive. It may be easier to use a card from the Bank of China or China Construction Bank, as their ATMs accept international cards.
Xiamen is known for its World Cultural Heritage, Gulangyu Island, and its beautiful seaside scenery. You can take a morning ferry to the island, visit Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University, and shop in Zhongshan Road.
