China 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit
Foreigners eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit can be exempt from border inspection procedures at the following 9 airports: Beijing Capital Airport, Beijing Daxing Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an Airport, Chengdu Tianfu Airport, and Xi’an Xianyang Airport.24-hour visa-free transit in China, also called the 24-hour transit without visa (24-hour TWOV for short), regulates that visa is not required for air, train, and cruise ship passengers from all over the world transiting in mainland China for a stay of no more than 24 hours before heading for a third country or region.
What is an eligible transit route?
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| 24-hour Direct Transit Rules |
An eligible transit route goes like Country A → China → Country C.
A and C are different countries. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can be regarded as A or C in this respect. For instance, if a passenger travels like USA – Beijing – Hong Kong, there is no doubt that this route qualifies for China 24 hour TWOV.
Generally speaking, the 24-hour visa-free transit allows aliens to have multiple stops in China as long as they leave the country within 24 hours, therefore the route USA - Beijing - Shanghai - South Korea also counts as eligible.
What are the requirements for TWOV?
Passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry Onward air, cruise or train ticket with confirmed seat and date Visa for a third country or region (if needed)
Can I get out of the airport during layover?
Passengers wishing to get out of the restricted transit area to claim luggage, take a connecting flight, or do some sightseeing in the city can apply for the 24-hour visa-free entry permit, which is a stamp or sticker on passport showing the permitted stay length.
Apply for 24-hour visa-free entry permit in 4 steps
Fill an Arrival/Departure Card at the border inspection counter Get the temporary entry permit stamp or sticker Claim the luggage (if needed) Go through the customs
How to count the stopover time?
Ending: scheduled departure time
Recommended Tours for Transit Passengers
Differences among 24/240-hour free transit
| 24-Hour TWOV | 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit |
|---|---|
| For almost all countries | For 54 countries |
| Available in most Chinese cities | Available in 24 provinces, regions and municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, 11 cities in Sichuan, Yunnan, Hainan, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Guangxi, Shandong, Fujian, Anhui, Hubei, Henan, Hunan, Harbin of Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Guizhou, Anhui, Chongqing |
| By air, cruise, train | By air, cruise, train (Mohan Railway Port) |
| Counted from the landing time | Counted from 00:00 the day following the entry date |
| Multiple stops | Multiple stops |
Note:Note that if 1) you lack any of the required documents listed above, 2) or your route does not qualify, 3) or you have the record of overstaying in a country or getting visa refusal before, your application for the 24-hour visa-free transit may be turned down. For fear of inconvenience caused by such case, please make sure that you are eligible or apply for a regular transit visa in advance.
- Last updated on Dec. 18, 2024 by Gabby Li -
Questions & Answers on 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit
Asked by Denise from PHILIPPINES | Dec. 19, 2024 09:15
Reply
Replyare hotels needed?
hello we have a 22 hrs layover on guangzhou going to hanoi. i read that it is needed that there is a hotel booked? do we really need it because our connecting flight is very early and it’s new years so we want to stay up and we plan to just nap at the airport. will we get denied?
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Dec. 19, 2024 23:37
0
0Reply
00ReplyDenise, you do not need any kind of visa because your journey will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit. If you plan to stay at the airport for the entire time of your transit you do not have to perform any single formality nor to fill out any kind of form. You will just walk from one to the other gate and you will not be a subject of immigration and customs inspection. You will just have to find some amusement in the transit area for 22 hours of your layover.
In case if you plan to exit the airport, the first thing you will do upon landing in Guangzhou will be to approach transit counter where you will formally apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets. You do not need a hotel reservation, but you will tell the officials that you plan to stay in the city for just a short time, during the daylight time and definitely not during the night. You have to highlight the latter detail because if you say that you will stay in the city during the night and without a hotel, you will be denied a permit. After a short check you will be granted a permit and you will head to the immigration and then outside of the airport to enjoy your time on your own.
Whatever of the two options you decide to enjoy, I wish you a nice journey.
In case if you plan to exit the airport, the first thing you will do upon landing in Guangzhou will be to approach transit counter where you will formally apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets. You do not need a hotel reservation, but you will tell the officials that you plan to stay in the city for just a short time, during the daylight time and definitely not during the night. You have to highlight the latter detail because if you say that you will stay in the city during the night and without a hotel, you will be denied a permit. After a short check you will be granted a permit and you will head to the immigration and then outside of the airport to enjoy your time on your own.
Whatever of the two options you decide to enjoy, I wish you a nice journey.
Asked by Dyah from INDONESIA | Dec. 19, 2024 05:44Reply
ReplyFree 24hours transit visa for Indonesian passport holders
Hi I’m Indonesian., i have 17 hours transit in Beijing international capital airport, flight from Tokyo to Jakarta. I want to go out of the Beijing capital airport and explore before my next flight, am I eligible to apply for 24 hours free visa?
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Dec. 19, 2024 23:3200Reply
00ReplyDyah, you do not need any kind of visa because your journey will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit. Since you plan to exit the airport, the first thing you will do upon landing in Beijing will be to approach the transit counter where you will formally apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and your accommodation confirmation if you plan to have a good rest in the hotel. After a short check you will be granted a permit and you will head to the immigration and then outside of the airport to enjoy your time on your own. Have a nice journey.
Asked by Bell from PHILIPPINES | Dec. 19, 2024 05:37Reply
ReplyTransit to Japan
I am travelling from the Philippines to Japan. I have an 18 hour layover in Guangzhou. Do I have to get a transit visa?
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Dec. 19, 2024 23:2900Reply
00ReplyBell, you do not need any kind of visa because your journey will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit. If you plan to stay at the airport for the entire time of your transit you do not have to perform any single formality nor to fill out any kind of form. You will just walk from one to the other gate and you will not be a subject of immigration and customs inspection. You will just have to find some amusement in the transit area for 18 hours of your layover.
In case if you plan to exit the airport, the first thing you will do upon landing in Guangzhou will be to approach transit counter where you will formally apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and your accommodation confirmation if you plan to have a nice rest in the hotel. After a short check you will be granted a permit and you will head to the immigration and then outside of the airport to enjoy your time on your own.
Whatever of the two options you decide to enjoy, I wish you a nice journey.
In case if you plan to exit the airport, the first thing you will do upon landing in Guangzhou will be to approach transit counter where you will formally apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and your accommodation confirmation if you plan to have a nice rest in the hotel. After a short check you will be granted a permit and you will head to the immigration and then outside of the airport to enjoy your time on your own.
Whatever of the two options you decide to enjoy, I wish you a nice journey.
Asked by Aron from PHILIPPINES | Dec. 19, 2024 00:24Reply
ReplyTWOV Question
Hi, I'm holding a Philippine passport and next week, we plan to transit to Shanghai from Dubai via Emirates and travel onwards Jeju, South Korea via Juneyao Air. We land in Shanghai at 3pm on the 23rd and travel to Jeju at 6pm same day via Juneyao Air. Will we eligible for TWOV to claim our baggage? Also, if we change the departure to the next day at 6pm, will we then be eligible for the 24 hours TWOV? Thank you!
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Dec. 19, 2024 14:5700Reply
00ReplyYes, you would be eligible for 24 hour visa free transit in the first case because your layover will be shorter than 24 hours. However, you would not be eligible in the second case because your total transit time will be longer than 24 hours.
In any case, having a layover of 3 hours for a self-transfer is relatively risky because you have to be aware that you might lose your onward flight to Jeju. In other words, during your check-in in Dubai you will declare that you will fly to Jeju with a transit in Shanghai that will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit. Here you will present your confirmed ticket on Shanghai to Jeju route. After a short check, you will be allowed to board the plane.
Upon landing the very first thing you should do is to approach visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting that same flight to Jeju. Again, after a short check you will be granted a permit and then you will head to the immigration in order to formally enter China. After that you need to collect your luggage and to head right to check-in for your flight to Jeju. After that a security and exit immigration and then quickly to the gate for your flight to Jeju.
As you can see, it is doable in 3 hours, but it is also quite tight. It has to be your decision, but I would suggest you to find an option with at least 4 hours of layover.
In any case, having a layover of 3 hours for a self-transfer is relatively risky because you have to be aware that you might lose your onward flight to Jeju. In other words, during your check-in in Dubai you will declare that you will fly to Jeju with a transit in Shanghai that will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit. Here you will present your confirmed ticket on Shanghai to Jeju route. After a short check, you will be allowed to board the plane.
Upon landing the very first thing you should do is to approach visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting that same flight to Jeju. Again, after a short check you will be granted a permit and then you will head to the immigration in order to formally enter China. After that you need to collect your luggage and to head right to check-in for your flight to Jeju. After that a security and exit immigration and then quickly to the gate for your flight to Jeju.
As you can see, it is doable in 3 hours, but it is also quite tight. It has to be your decision, but I would suggest you to find an option with at least 4 hours of layover.
Asked by Ingrid from USA | Dec. 18, 2024 16:07Reply
Reply24 hour visa free transit to 72 hour visa
Hello, I am a US citizen with US passport.
Can the following itinerary qualify for visa free?
1) Laos to Shanghai ( 1 international ticket, without exiting airport and departing for domestic connecting flight in less than 24 hours )
2) Shanghai to Guilin ( 1 domestic ticket)
3) Stay in Guilin for less than 72 hours for Visa free requirements
4) Flight Guilin to Beijing (1 domestic ticket, without exiting airport and departing for domestic connecting flight in less than 24 hours )
5. Beijing to San Francisco ( 1 international ticket to fly home)
Does this qualify for Visa free entry for Guilin 72 hours visa? Put another way, are domestic connections allowed if you don't leave the airport and transfer via separate ticket within 24 hours?
Can the following itinerary qualify for visa free?
1) Laos to Shanghai ( 1 international ticket, without exiting airport and departing for domestic connecting flight in less than 24 hours )
2) Shanghai to Guilin ( 1 domestic ticket)
3) Stay in Guilin for less than 72 hours for Visa free requirements
4) Flight Guilin to Beijing (1 domestic ticket, without exiting airport and departing for domestic connecting flight in less than 24 hours )
5. Beijing to San Francisco ( 1 international ticket to fly home)
Does this qualify for Visa free entry for Guilin 72 hours visa? Put another way, are domestic connections allowed if you don't leave the airport and transfer via separate ticket within 24 hours?
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Dec. 18, 2024 23:5700Reply
00ReplyActually, it is not 72, but it is brand new (started from December 17th) 240 hours visa free transit that you are eligible for. So, you can do that under 240 hour visa free transit without any visa and without any problem.
Here I have to inform you about one important detail. Upon your landing in Shanghai that will be your first stop in China, the first that you will do is to approach a transit counter where you will formally apply for a temporary entry permit for 240 hours visa free transit. This is done always at the first point of your entry into China. So, here you will present your flight tickets and your rough itinerary. After a short check, you will be granted a permit and you will head to the immigration where you will formally enter China because your next flight (to Guilin) will be a domestic one. This application is free from any charge.
I just wanted to inform you about that formality in Shanghai so that you know what will you have to do there. Also, just forget about 72 or 144 hour visa free transit because from December 17 it is 240 hour visa free transit. Have a nice journey.
Here I have to inform you about one important detail. Upon your landing in Shanghai that will be your first stop in China, the first that you will do is to approach a transit counter where you will formally apply for a temporary entry permit for 240 hours visa free transit. This is done always at the first point of your entry into China. So, here you will present your flight tickets and your rough itinerary. After a short check, you will be granted a permit and you will head to the immigration where you will formally enter China because your next flight (to Guilin) will be a domestic one. This application is free from any charge.
I just wanted to inform you about that formality in Shanghai so that you know what will you have to do there. Also, just forget about 72 or 144 hour visa free transit because from December 17 it is 240 hour visa free transit. Have a nice journey.