On July 26, the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection officially launched an international passenger transfer area at the Shekou Cruise Homeport, the first of its kind at a Chinese seaport. The cruise homeport is operated by China Merchants Group.
The initiative, which was approved by the National Immigration Administration, establishes Shenzhen as the first city in China to provide international cruise transit services.
The new facility at the Shekou Cruise Homeport is poised to revolutionize the transit experience for foreign passengers, especially visa-free travelers, to transit through Shenzhen. It is expected to cut the walking distance for border clearance by half and reduce processing time by 80 percent, promising a significantly enhanced journey for travelers passing through the city.
On the opening day, a group of ten foreign passengers experienced the new facility by transferring to an outbound international cruise via the transit area.
It is estimated that the implementation of this policy could bring Shekou Cruise Homeport’s annual transit volume to nearly 100,000 passengers, attracting more international cruise ships and enhancing the port’s role as a comprehensive global hub. The move will also support Shenzhen’s goal of becoming a global maritime center and advancing high-level opening-up.
Under the new policy, foreign passengers holding a through ticket and staying in the international transit area for less than 24 hours can apply for visa-free transit at Shekou Cruise Homeport. Cruise lines must submit information of the transit passengers, including their baggages and travel details to customs, immigration, and the port’s operations center at least 24 hours before arrival. Upon docking, port staff will guide transit passengers through embarkation and related procedures.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
