Apr 7, 2013, 10:50 am
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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")
Jun 21, 2010, 10:54 pm
#31
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Danville, CA
Posts: 146
Thank you anacapamalibu, moondog and fsfguy for your replies. Hope there won't be any problem for my trip ... I called the visa office in San Francisco several times last week (1pm-3pm) but it was always busy.
Jun 30, 2010, 1:43 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
I transited through PVG yesterday and didn't have any problems (US passport).
Flights were CX from BKK-HKG-PVG, arrived Monday 5:30pm. Flight out was on JL/AA, PVG-NRT-ORD-RDU, departing Tuesday 9:00am.
As advised here, I had a copy of my eticket/receipt showing ticket #'s, fare, and credit card info. A supervisor came over and made a copy of my itinerary, but that was really the only extra step involved.
Also, immigration didn't ask or seem to care where I was coming from, only that I had an onward ticket...they didn't check to make sure my next flight was to a different country than where I was arriving from, etc. I'd agree with the comments above that you'd have to get the wrong agent on the wrong day for them to get overly technical on you.
Finally, this has been mentioned before, but to anyone considering this I'd definitely recommend having a printout of the Chinese Embassy page documenting the 48hr. PVG transit rule. The CX check-in agent in BKK asked for a Chinese visa and looked puzzled when I said I was transiting. After showing her the embassy printout I was happily on my way.
Flights were CX from BKK-HKG-PVG, arrived Monday 5:30pm. Flight out was on JL/AA, PVG-NRT-ORD-RDU, departing Tuesday 9:00am.
As advised here, I had a copy of my eticket/receipt showing ticket #'s, fare, and credit card info. A supervisor came over and made a copy of my itinerary, but that was really the only extra step involved.
Also, immigration didn't ask or seem to care where I was coming from, only that I had an onward ticket...they didn't check to make sure my next flight was to a different country than where I was arriving from, etc. I'd agree with the comments above that you'd have to get the wrong agent on the wrong day for them to get overly technical on you.
Finally, this has been mentioned before, but to anyone considering this I'd definitely recommend having a printout of the Chinese Embassy page documenting the 48hr. PVG transit rule. The CX check-in agent in BKK asked for a Chinese visa and looked puzzled when I said I was transiting. After showing her the embassy printout I was happily on my way.
Jul 1, 2010, 10:54 am
#33
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,314
Also, immigration didn't ask or seem to care where I was coming from, only that I had an onward ticket...they didn't check to make sure my next flight was to a different country than where I was arriving from, etc. I'd agree with the comments above that you'd have to get the wrong agent on the wrong day for them to get overly technical on you.
Jul 2, 2010, 7:19 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Chapel Hill, NC - UA Nobody (sigh)/0.925MM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 3,510
I transited through PVG yesterday and didn't have any problems (US passport).
As advised here, I had a copy of my eticket/receipt showing ticket #'s, fare, and credit card info. A supervisor came over and made a copy of my itinerary, but that was really the only extra step involved.
As advised here, I had a copy of my eticket/receipt showing ticket #'s, fare, and credit card info. A supervisor came over and made a copy of my itinerary, but that was really the only extra step involved.
We're flying UA SFO-PVG, so I'll probably have to ask this on the UA board, but if anyone has any experience, are the UA gate agents at SFO aware of the no visa situation on transit?
Jul 3, 2010, 5:10 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 47
Yes, you go through the same immigration queues with everyone else.
Also, you can save a little time and grab an arrival / departure card from the desk at the point you turn off the airline concourse into the immigration queues. You don't need the arrival card, but the departure card is what they stamp in oder to authorize your in-transit visa. Don't lose it.
Also, you can save a little time and grab an arrival / departure card from the desk at the point you turn off the airline concourse into the immigration queues. You don't need the arrival card, but the departure card is what they stamp in oder to authorize your in-transit visa. Don't lose it.
Jul 10, 2010, 3:32 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: UA-1K, AA-Gold, H GP-LIfeTime Diamond
Posts: 819
So if I am reading this correctly in below China embassy website, I guess I can't do HKG-PVG and then PVG-HKG 47 hours later. Any success story on US passport not having a 3rd country and return to the origin?
Visas are not required of passport holders of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland.
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84242.htm
Visas are not required of passport holders of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland.
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84242.htm
Jul 10, 2010, 7:16 am
#37
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
So if I am reading this correctly in below China embassy website, I guess I can't do HKG-PVG and then PVG-HKG 47 hours later. Any success story on US passport not having a 3rd country and return to the origin?
Visas are not required of passport holders of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland.
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84242.htm
Visas are not required of passport holders of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland.
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84242.htm
Jul 10, 2010, 7:50 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1P, AA, DL, BA, LH
Posts: 293
So if I am reading this correctly in below China embassy website, I guess I can't do HKG-PVG and then PVG-HKG 47 hours later. Any success story on US passport not having a 3rd country and return to the origin?
Visas are not required of passport holders of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland.
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84242.htm
Visas are not required of passport holders of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland.
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84242.htm
Jul 10, 2010, 8:21 pm
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
Nope. Means country's A, B, and C should be different. If I were to try a HKG-PVG-HKG trip (without a visa), I would certainly go to the trouble of making a PVG-OTHERCOUNTRYTHANHK booking on Expedia and print out a receipt.
Jul 13, 2010, 5:14 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 47
Also, your exit VISA is the departure card with your flight listed. (They stamp it, give it back to you, and tell you not to lose it.) You might get into trouble when you go through immigration if they compare your boarding card to your departure card.
Jul 13, 2010, 12:08 pm
#41
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
This will probably NOT work. You need an actual receipt of payment - not just a reservation. When I accidently brought a copy of my itinerary, they placed me off to the side for almost an hour while they confirmed with the airline that I actually had a confirmed flight out.
Also, your exit VISA is the departure card with your flight listed. (They stamp it, give it back to you, and tell you not to lose it.) You might get into trouble when you go through immigration if they compare your boarding card to your departure card.
Also, your exit VISA is the departure card with your flight listed. (They stamp it, give it back to you, and tell you not to lose it.) You might get into trouble when you go through immigration if they compare your boarding card to your departure card.
Aug 4, 2010, 4:21 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: UA-1K, AA-Gold, H GP-LIfeTime Diamond
Posts: 819
Our trip recap.....
Wrote China embassy in US and never got a reply.....
Well, we (US passports) tried to chance it and used miles for 3 one way tickets for HKG-PVG, PVG-TPE via HKG and TPE-HKG.
Printed China embassy website so was allowed to board HKG-PVG without visa. Upon arrival, we were sent to supervisor and because transit means A-B-C and not A-B-(A)-C to them, wife and kids were denied even when I have a 2 years business visa. They made copies of their passports and boarding pass and it is their plan to fine airline. I asked if we can apply China visa and there is no facility at PVG to do that. I asked if this will impact family's future China Visa application and was told "No impact". Airline staff and 2 police escorted us back to the counter to get our new boarding pass. We have C-seats and airline staff asked if we can take 2nd flight out so they can load food for us, but was rejected. They escorted us all the way to the jetway and that is when wife and kids got their passport back.
TIC - This is China!
Happy and safe travel to all.....
Well, we (US passports) tried to chance it and used miles for 3 one way tickets for HKG-PVG, PVG-TPE via HKG and TPE-HKG.
Printed China embassy website so was allowed to board HKG-PVG without visa. Upon arrival, we were sent to supervisor and because transit means A-B-C and not A-B-(A)-C to them, wife and kids were denied even when I have a 2 years business visa. They made copies of their passports and boarding pass and it is their plan to fine airline. I asked if we can apply China visa and there is no facility at PVG to do that. I asked if this will impact family's future China Visa application and was told "No impact". Airline staff and 2 police escorted us back to the counter to get our new boarding pass. We have C-seats and airline staff asked if we can take 2nd flight out so they can load food for us, but was rejected. They escorted us all the way to the jetway and that is when wife and kids got their passport back.
TIC - This is China!
Happy and safe travel to all.....
Aug 4, 2010, 3:43 pm
#43
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To get technical, I wonder if for these purposes HKG, Maccao and Taiwan are considered separate countries or part of China? (I realize that none require visas for US citizens.)
Aug 4, 2010, 10:46 pm
#44
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
deleted
Last edited by jiejie; Aug 4, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Aug 4, 2010, 10:55 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Wrote China embassy in US and never got a reply.....
Well, we (US passports) tried to chance it and used miles for 3 one way tickets for HKG-PVG, PVG-TPE via HKG and TPE-HKG.
Printed China embassy website so was allowed to board HKG-PVG without visa. Upon arrival, we were sent to supervisor and because transit means A-B-C and not A-B-(A)-C to them, wife and kids were denied even when I have a 2 years business visa. They made copies of their passports and boarding pass and it is their plan to fine airline. I asked if we can apply China visa and there is no facility at PVG to do that. I asked if this will impact family's future China Visa application and was told "No impact". Airline staff and 2 police escorted us back to the counter to get our new boarding pass. We have C-seats and airline staff asked if we can take 2nd flight out so they can load food for us, but was rejected. They escorted us all the way to the jetway and that is when wife and kids got their passport back.
TIC - This is China!
Happy and safe travel to all.....
Well, we (US passports) tried to chance it and used miles for 3 one way tickets for HKG-PVG, PVG-TPE via HKG and TPE-HKG.
Printed China embassy website so was allowed to board HKG-PVG without visa. Upon arrival, we were sent to supervisor and because transit means A-B-C and not A-B-(A)-C to them, wife and kids were denied even when I have a 2 years business visa. They made copies of their passports and boarding pass and it is their plan to fine airline. I asked if we can apply China visa and there is no facility at PVG to do that. I asked if this will impact family's future China Visa application and was told "No impact". Airline staff and 2 police escorted us back to the counter to get our new boarding pass. We have C-seats and airline staff asked if we can take 2nd flight out so they can load food for us, but was rejected. They escorted us all the way to the jetway and that is when wife and kids got their passport back.
TIC - This is China!
Happy and safe travel to all.....
Yes it is, and China usually enforces its stated rules, particularly at immigration checkpoints.Treated for immigration purposes as separate countries, absolutely.
Last edited by jiejie; Aug 4, 2010 at 11:02 pm