72-Hour Visa-Free Transit FAQ
Passport holders of following the 54 countries can enjoy 72-hours visa-free Transit via Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, and airports of cities including Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, Xi'an, Guilin, Kunming, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Tianjin, Qingdao, Nanjing, Changsha, and Xiamen:
Schengen Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Other European Countries: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland, Macedonia, Monaco, Republic of Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, UK, Ukraine
America: US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
Asia: Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar
Note:
Passengers holding passports of the above countries, if transiting in Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Xi'an, Chongqing, Liaoning, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xiamen, Qingdao or Kunming can enjoy a free stay of 144 hours.
Passengers transiting in Guangdong can enter from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an Airport, or Jieyang Chaoshan Airport, and leave from any port in Guangdong.
Passengers transiting in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang can enter and exit from Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, Nanjing Lukou Airport, Ningbo Lishe Airport or any port in Shanghai.
Those who transit in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei can enter and exit from Capital International Airport, Beijing West Railway Station, Binhai International Airport, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port, Zhengding International Airport or Qinhuangdao Beidaihe International Airport.
Those who transit in Liaoning can enter and exit from Shenyang Taoxian International Airport or Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport.
Those who transit in Chengdu, Wuhan, Kunming can only enter and exit from Shuangliu International Airport, Tianhe International Airport, or Changshui International Airport.
Those who transit in Xiamen or Qingdao can enter and exit from Gaoqi International Airport or Liuting International Airport and their sea ports.
See more about 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy.
For the most frequently asked questions about this policy concerned, we try to make a sweeping generalization here, and hope this is helpful.
FAQ about 72-hour Visa-free Transit:
1. What documents are required for passengers from the above countries to benefit from this policy and apply for permits to go out of the airport?
Passengers are qualified to transit in those cities without visa only if they have valid passport or travel documents, as well as the confirmed flight ticket onward to the third country or region and valid visa (if required).
2. How and where can I apply for a transit permit if I plan to go out of the airport during my stopover?
You can put forward your request for transit to your airline in advance, so that the airline can declare this to the Immigration Inspection prior to your visit. You will be granted a transit permit at the airport if you meet all requirements. NOTE: Beijing Capital International Airport has now changed this procedure, passengers can apply directly for 72 hour free transit permit after arrival at the airport.
3. I plan to enter Shanghai first and then buy ticket to another country within 72 hours. Am I allowed entry and transit without visa?
According to the requirements, you must provide confirmed ticket to the third country or region when apply for the free transit permit. Otherwise, you can not enjoy this policy.
4. I have a flight ticket from New York to Shanghai, and a separate ticket back to Los Angles. May I use this 72 hour free transit?
The answer is NO. The place of departure and destination should not be in the same country or region. If you fly from New York to a third country via Shanghai, then you apply to this policy.
5. If I can not depart within 3 days, what should I do?
If you cannot depart from the transit city within the 3 days allowed, then you should apply for a Chinese visa from local Public Security Bureau.
6. I plan to take a flight to Beijing for 3 days, and then take Trans-Siberian train from there to Ulan Bator in Mongolia. Am I eligible for this trip?
Visa is required if you visit China this way. 72 hour free transit policy is for air passengers only. That is to say, you have to leave by air from the same airport. For passengers who plan to enter or leave China by train or cruise, they should apply for either Chinese transit (G type) or tourist (L type) in advance.
7. If the arrival and departure of flights is more than 72 hours, is it permissible remain in the airport for some of the time and go to the city for the 72 hours or is the timing form the flight times?
If it is only several hours more than the requirements, you can apply to enjoy this policy without waiting. According to the latest information from the airports, the 72 hours are calculated from 00:00 the following day of the entry date to the scheduled departure time in almost all the airports. However, if you happen to transfer in Beijing, you had better consult the airport in advance by dialing 0086-10-56095400, just in case that the 72-hour period counts from the scheduled arrival time to the departure time.
8. If I understood correctly, even with this free transit policy for 72 hours, a transit permit has to be done at the airport when arriving? And this transit permit has to be then registered in a police station in the 24 next hours? What happens if my stay there is only of 20 hours? Can I save myself this registration which is probably time-consuming?
Yes, you are right, the transit permit should be done at the airport on arrival. But the registration will be done when you check into a hotel. It is not necessary to register yourself personally at the local police station.
Anyway, if you still have questions on 72 hour visa-free transit, please contact the Immigration Office or airport for more information.
Beijing Airport Immigration Inspection | 0086-10-56095400 |
Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection | 0086-21-51105100 |
Guangzhou Airport Immigration Inspection | 0086-20-36066950 |
Chengdu Airport | 0086-28-85205555 |
Chongqing Airport | 0086-23-966666 |
Shenyang Airport | 0086-24-96833 |
Dalian Airport | 0086-411-96600 |
Harbin Airport | 0086-451-82894220 |
Xi'an Airport | 0086-29-88796997 |
Guilin Airport | 0086-773-2845359 |
Kunming Airport | 0086-871-96566 |
Hangzhou Airport | 0086-571-96299 |
Wuhan Airport Immigration Inspection | 0086-27-85333600 |
Tianjin Airport Immigration Inspection | 0086-22-24905908 |
Qingdao Airport | 0086-532-96567 |
Nanjing Airport | 0086-25-968890 |
Changsha Airport | 0086-731-96777 |
Xiamen Airport Immigration Inspection | 0086-592-5706805 |
Further Reading:
China Visa-free Policy
How to Travel to China without a Visa
I am would like to visit the Hunan province via Changsha with the 72 hour visa free entry. I read somewhere else that you could not go from a territory (Hong Kong) first before going to main land China, but from other sources that doesn't seem to be true and I just want to be sure before I make plans. This is the rough trip I was thinking of: US - Shanghai (3 days) - Hong Kong - Changsha (3 days) - Taiwan - US. Does this work?
Just to inform you that in Changsha it is really 72 hour visa free transit policy and you are allowed to move within the entire Hunan province and in Shanghai it is 144 hour visa policy, so your stay there can be even longer. This is something you will decide about. Have a nice journey.
UK - Shanghai - Taiwan
And you do not have any other landing (stop) of any kind within this segment beside the presented you are definitely eligible for 144 hour visa free transit in wider Shanghai area and you do not need any kind of visa. Please, just use correct terminology because this is not 144 hour visa, but 144 hour visa free transit.
Upon your landing in Shanghai you will approach 24/144 hour visa free transit where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight itinerary and your accommodation booking for at least the first overnight. Your permit will be granted and you will exit Shanghai to spend your time on your own. Have a nice journey.
During your second transit in Shanghai you will be covered by 144 hour visa free transit and not 72 because 72 does not exist in Shanghai already for years. So, immediately upon landing you will approach 24/144 hour visa free transit where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight itinerary and your accommodation bookings. After a short check, your permit will be granted and you will then cross the immigration in order to enjoy your time in wider Shanghai area.
Turkey stamp is not a problem/issue and this subject seems to becoming a false legend. There is no a single problem as far as the Turkish stamp is concerned. You are definitely good to go.