Apr 7, 2013, 10:50 am
Last edit by: JDiver
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TWOV (Transit Without Visa) - UNDER 24 HOURS: Visa required, except for Holders of confirmed onward tickets for a max. transit [[TIRULES/R32]] time of 24 hours. Transit incl. two stops, with a total transit time of 24 hours, within China (People's Rep.) is permitted.
For other China visa information: China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
From IATA / TIMATIC: "CHINA (PEOPLE'S REP.): (under) 72-HOUR VISA-FREE TRANSIT AT BEIJING, SHANGHAI, GUANGZHOU, AND CHENGDU (ONLY)
In order to avail of 72 hour TWOV, persons must remain in one of these 4 regions, and arrive/depart via air. In other words, flying into Beijing and out of Shanghai is fine for <24 hour transits, but is prohibited for 24-72 hour transits. (moondog, 9/10/2013)
CA175/6 (PEK<->PVG<->SYD), CA177/8 (PEK<->PVG<->MEL), CA155/6 (PEK<->PVG<->SDJ), CA153/4 (PEK<->DLC<->HIJ), CA951/2 (PEK<->DLC<->NRT), CA953/4 (PEK<->DLC<->FUK), CA977/8 (PEK<->XMN<->CGK), CA945/6 (PEK<->CTU<->KHI) and CA905/6 (PEK<->KMG<->RGN) are not non-stop international flights from Beijing; therefore passengers taking these flights do not qualify for the 72-hour visa-free policy in Beijing because the point of entry/exit into China is the intermediate stop, not PEK. Transiting China with these flights is OK without a visa as long as you enter and exit China - intermediate stops included - within 24 hours. If your time in China is over 24 hours, a visa is necessary. (kaimanawa, Jan 2014)
Effective from 1 January 2013, nationals of 45 countries transiting through Beijing (PEK) and Shanghai (PVG and SHA) to a third country (includes Hong Kong or Macau SARs) and holding confirmed onward tickets are permitted to enter China (People's Rep.) without a visa, for max. 72 hours. Passengers must arrive in and depart from the same city. This facility is available for nationals of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Fed., Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and holders of British Citizen passports.+ - 28 Jan 2013, c/o drewguy
"Nationals of USA holding confirmed onward tickets for a max. transit time of 72 hours at Beijing (PEK), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) or Shanghai Pudong (PVG), provided arriving in and departing from the same city. " (c/o Akiestar)
China Embassy website: "3. Visitors are not allowed to leave Beijing or Shanghai to other cities during the 72-hour visa-free period. They can only depart Beijing from Capital International Airport (PEK) or Pudong International Airport (PVG) as well as Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)." (c/o anacapamalibu) (You are expected to remain generally within the Port of Entry municipality and to depart from the same POE within 72 hours.)
These are merely advisory summaries and not meant to be comprehensive; please read the thread, with TIMATIC: <star alliance link>; skyteam link> (easier to read), etc.
See China visa FAQ post here
and be aware: China visa requirements and procedures are due to change 1 July 2013.
Note that there's a separate and much shorter thread here in the China forum devoted to TWOV at PVG/Shanghai. It has some details of the airport setup for TWOV at PVG, especially the new 72 hour rule.
Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan are considered 3rd countries for the purpose of TWOV.
This is what constitutes "transit" in the eyes of Chinese officials:
1) You must FLY in from one country and out to a different country NONSTOP
*Cruise ship passengers are reportedly going to get TWOV privileges soon
2) The Chinese only care about the segments that touch PRC soil
-this means that it's totally fine to go to China from the US and back as long as you connect in a third country in one direction
3) For 72 hour TWOV you must arrive and depart from the same Chinese city
4) For 24 hour TWOV, you can arrive and depart from anywhere by plane (e.g. into Guangzhou and out from Wulumuqi is fine)
moondog, 2/2/2014
TWOV (Transit Without Visa) - UNDER 24 HOURS: Visa required, except for Holders of confirmed onward tickets for a max. transit [[TIRULES/R32]] time of 24 hours. Transit incl. two stops, with a total transit time of 24 hours, within China (People's Rep.) is permitted.
For other China visa information: China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
From IATA / TIMATIC: "CHINA (PEOPLE'S REP.): (under) 72-HOUR VISA-FREE TRANSIT AT BEIJING, SHANGHAI, GUANGZHOU, AND CHENGDU (ONLY)
In order to avail of 72 hour TWOV, persons must remain in one of these 4 regions, and arrive/depart via air. In other words, flying into Beijing and out of Shanghai is fine for <24 hour transits, but is prohibited for 24-72 hour transits. (moondog, 9/10/2013)
CA175/6 (PEK<->PVG<->SYD), CA177/8 (PEK<->PVG<->MEL), CA155/6 (PEK<->PVG<->SDJ), CA153/4 (PEK<->DLC<->HIJ), CA951/2 (PEK<->DLC<->NRT), CA953/4 (PEK<->DLC<->FUK), CA977/8 (PEK<->XMN<->CGK), CA945/6 (PEK<->CTU<->KHI) and CA905/6 (PEK<->KMG<->RGN) are not non-stop international flights from Beijing; therefore passengers taking these flights do not qualify for the 72-hour visa-free policy in Beijing because the point of entry/exit into China is the intermediate stop, not PEK. Transiting China with these flights is OK without a visa as long as you enter and exit China - intermediate stops included - within 24 hours. If your time in China is over 24 hours, a visa is necessary. (kaimanawa, Jan 2014)
Effective from 1 January 2013, nationals of 45 countries transiting through Beijing (PEK) and Shanghai (PVG and SHA) to a third country (includes Hong Kong or Macau SARs) and holding confirmed onward tickets are permitted to enter China (People's Rep.) without a visa, for max. 72 hours. Passengers must arrive in and depart from the same city. This facility is available for nationals of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Fed., Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and holders of British Citizen passports.+ - 28 Jan 2013, c/o drewguy
"Nationals of USA holding confirmed onward tickets for a max. transit time of 72 hours at Beijing (PEK), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) or Shanghai Pudong (PVG), provided arriving in and departing from the same city. " (c/o Akiestar)
China Embassy website: "3. Visitors are not allowed to leave Beijing or Shanghai to other cities during the 72-hour visa-free period. They can only depart Beijing from Capital International Airport (PEK) or Pudong International Airport (PVG) as well as Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)." (c/o anacapamalibu) (You are expected to remain generally within the Port of Entry municipality and to depart from the same POE within 72 hours.)
These are merely advisory summaries and not meant to be comprehensive; please read the thread, with TIMATIC: <star alliance link>; skyteam link> (easier to read), etc.
See China visa FAQ post here
and be aware: China visa requirements and procedures are due to change 1 July 2013.
Note that there's a separate and much shorter thread here in the China forum devoted to TWOV at PVG/Shanghai. It has some details of the airport setup for TWOV at PVG, especially the new 72 hour rule.
Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan are considered 3rd countries for the purpose of TWOV.
This is what constitutes "transit" in the eyes of Chinese officials:
1) You must FLY in from one country and out to a different country NONSTOP
*Cruise ship passengers are reportedly going to get TWOV privileges soon
2) The Chinese only care about the segments that touch PRC soil
-this means that it's totally fine to go to China from the US and back as long as you connect in a third country in one direction
3) For 72 hour TWOV you must arrive and depart from the same Chinese city
4) For 24 hour TWOV, you can arrive and depart from anywhere by plane (e.g. into Guangzhou and out from Wulumuqi is fine)
moondog, 2/2/2014
FAQ: PRC Visa-Free Transit (AKA Transit Without Visa or "TWOV")
Dec 8, 2012, 12:04 pm
#541
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
The only issue--non-Chinese-immigration--would be making sure the air ticket you plan to procure has a free (or nominal cost) stopover privilege, since of course this stint via PEK would move from connection to true stopover category. Hopefully this will be widely publicized quickly, so that boarding a flight with this PEK stopover on visa-less status won't be challenged by the airlines, with boarding denied....which is the main potential fly-in-ointment that I see. It took quite a while for the airlines to deal with the 24 hour TWOV idea, and some of them still don't "get it."
Dec 8, 2012, 12:42 pm
#542
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
Could do open jaw
USA-PEK (3days)
PEK-HKG (however long you want)
HKG-PVG (2 days)
PVG-USA
could experience China without visa.
USA-PEK (3days)
PEK-HKG (however long you want)
HKG-PVG (2 days)
PVG-USA
could experience China without visa.
Dec 8, 2012, 6:37 pm
#543
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,907
Read the report on LA's World Journal about the 72-hour thing. A point was made that only CA will benefit significantly on this while CI and BR cannot by themselves sell you a stopover.
What the Chinese government has gotten over the years is the US "reciprocity profit" (it costs the USG $140 to process a visa, but it doesn't costs the PRCG anywhere near this much). Now they want to move on from visa profit to CA (airline) profit.
What the Chinese government has gotten over the years is the US "reciprocity profit" (it costs the USG $140 to process a visa, but it doesn't costs the PRCG anywhere near this much). Now they want to move on from visa profit to CA (airline) profit.
Dec 8, 2012, 8:01 pm
#544
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
6 x 20K USD per day = 120KUSD/day
x 260 work days = 31.2 M USD/year
cost~1 M USD
net profit 30.2M
Not Bad.^
Dec 8, 2012, 9:24 pm
#545
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,966
Read the report on LA's World Journal about the 72-hour thing. A point was made that only CA will benefit significantly on this while CI and BR cannot by themselves sell you a stopover.
What the Chinese government has gotten over the years is the US "reciprocity profit" (it costs the USG $140 to process a visa, but it doesn't costs the PRCG anywhere near this much). Now they want to move on from visa profit to CA (airline) profit.
What the Chinese government has gotten over the years is the US "reciprocity profit" (it costs the USG $140 to process a visa, but it doesn't costs the PRCG anywhere near this much). Now they want to move on from visa profit to CA (airline) profit.
Dec 8, 2012, 11:11 pm
#546
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Sample: LAX-ICN-PEK and return on OZ. PEK-BKK-PEK on TG. Or as anacapa suggested above, PEK in one direction and PVG the other (though I think Beijing still needs more than a single 72 hours (minus unuseable time, likely one would get 2 full days out of the 72 hours which isn't a lot for BJ.)
Dec 9, 2012, 12:01 am
#547
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,966
In addition to the Chinese airlines, restaurants, hotels, and tour operators also benefit from TWOV, but it was the airlines that pushed to get it started in the first place. CA, CZ, and MU are all active on the Kangaroo Route these days, and would not be able to do so were it not for TWOV.
Dec 9, 2012, 12:46 am
#548
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,907
And now with longer and longer TWOV time limit and the obvious/explicit intention of promoting tourism and the increased potentials for savings on visa fees, maybe CA/CZ and start changing for stopovers, which they haven't been doing.
Dec 9, 2012, 3:59 am
#549
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,966
While this might be in their interests, it isn't in the interest of other parties, most importantly the PRC government. If you need a case study, check out Japan.
Dec 9, 2012, 4:52 am
#550
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,446
The current idea, that you can take 48-72hrs in China without the hassle of a Visa, spending some money in China, is pretty smart. China certainly knows how to do business, I'm actually surprised they haven't started even earlier to extend the "Transit Visa" thingy on more expanded time.
If they realise how much money they can make by allowing people to visit China/spending money that otherwise went a Visa-free place, they might put more and more countries on the Singapore/Japan 14 day Visa-on-arrival policy, despite how hard the other countries are making it for Chinese citizens to visit their places.
In the end, China will win. Both from Chinese who decide foreign countries don't want them/their money by putting extreme high walls to get tourist visas, and from foreigners who spend their money in China that would otherwise have gone to another place.
I suspect in 30 years all that's left of Europe will be a cheap production place for Chinese companies, plus the mountain area will be one gigantic "Welcoming Chinese money/tourists" place
Dec 9, 2012, 10:41 am
#551
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
For the full China experience visa free
Beijing Hong Kong Macau Taiwan Shanghai
USA-PEK-HKG-TPE-PVG/SHA-USA
Lots of variety of food to try....
Beijing Hong Kong Macau Taiwan Shanghai
USA-PEK-HKG-TPE-PVG/SHA-USA
Lots of variety of food to try....
Dec 9, 2012, 11:24 am
#552
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
If they realise how much money they can make by allowing people to visit China/spending money that otherwise went a Visa-free place, they might put more and more countries on the Singapore/Japan 14 day Visa-on-arrival policy, despite how hard the other countries are making it for Chinese citizens to visit their places.
D
They might have to order some super jumbos for CA and MU with wider seats to carry the US travelers for that 999usd including airfare, hotel, meals 10 day trip to China.
Dec 10, 2012, 12:29 am
#553
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,907
PVG/SHA is getting 72 hours too
http://inews.mingpao.com/htm/inews/2...0/ca10830k.htm
Article above is from Hong Kong's Ming Pao quoting Renminwang. Shanghai is getting 72 hours as of January 1 for 45 countries.
Article above is from Hong Kong's Ming Pao quoting Renminwang. Shanghai is getting 72 hours as of January 1 for 45 countries.
Dec 10, 2012, 12:33 am
#554
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,501
http://inews.mingpao.com/htm/inews/2...0/ca10830k.htm
Article above is from Hong Kong's Ming Pao quoting Renminwang. Shanghai is getting 72 hours as of January 1 for 45 countries.
Article above is from Hong Kong's Ming Pao quoting Renminwang. Shanghai is getting 72 hours as of January 1 for 45 countries.
Dec 10, 2012, 1:11 am
#555
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
Next maybe CAN 72 hrs no requirement to exit by air to third country.
