Visa On Arrival (HKG --> Shenzhen) - no flights included
Dec 5, 2018, 7:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 28
Visa On Arrival (HKG --> Shenzhen) - no flights included
Dear all,
planing to visit Shenzhen during our stay in HKG for one or two days and use the Visa on Arrival - we have german passports with stamps from Turkey inside. I read that the stamps from Turkey might be a problem. Tried to get help from the Chinese Embassy in Germany but they have no clues about VOAs.
During my research i only found infos about denied VOAs (with Turkey stamps) at the Luohu immigration and some successfull ones as well. For Huanggang Immigration i only found positive infos.
THX
planing to visit Shenzhen during our stay in HKG for one or two days and use the Visa on Arrival - we have german passports with stamps from Turkey inside. I read that the stamps from Turkey might be a problem. Tried to get help from the Chinese Embassy in Germany but they have no clues about VOAs.
During my research i only found infos about denied VOAs (with Turkey stamps) at the Luohu immigration and some successfull ones as well. For Huanggang Immigration i only found positive infos.
- Could it be that Hunaggang Immigration is more relaxed and therefore the "easier" transfer point?
- Without Chinese skills ist it easy to use the Hunaggang Immigration point?
- Any recommendations?
Huanggang Port (皇岗口岸) is popular with locals, but unless you are familiar with the bus options or wish to use taxis, it is best to use one of the others, as there is no Shenzhen metro there. However, it is the only one open 24 hours a day.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Dec 6, 2018 at 12:30 am Reason: Removed color tags to try and remove post from mod queue
Dec 6, 2018, 2:41 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,106
Head through Luohu. It's not so much language, but the mechanics of getting there and getting out are far easier than at Huanggang, at least for a first-time traveller.
The Turkish stamp problem seems very hit or miss. I was questioned once (with a visa already) and let in, but haven't been questioned again.
The Turkish stamp problem seems very hit or miss. I was questioned once (with a visa already) and let in, but haven't been questioned again.
Dec 8, 2018, 7:40 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 28
As we flying from Europe via PEK to HKG (4 hours transfer in PEK): Does it make sense to get the 72hour Visa on Arrival in PEK (even if we don't need it) in order to show Chinese immigration at the HKG-border that a Visa had been approved before?
Dec 8, 2018, 9:23 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,106
There's no 72-hour option at Beijing, and with just a four-hour layover you'll probably get turned back if you try for a 24-hour stamp without good reason. Besides, I see no advantage in your case to getting the stamp. The land border with HK is usually more relaxed than at airports in any event.
Dec 8, 2018, 1:41 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 28
There's no 72-hour option at Beijing, and with just a four-hour layover you'll probably get turned back if you try for a 24-hour stamp without good reason. Besides, I see no advantage in your case to getting the stamp. The land border with HK is usually more relaxed than at airports in any event.
OK, PEK is 144 hours instead of 72 but at the end no difference for us:
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/emb...a/free-72hour/
Nothing about min. hours to stay - so thought this might be a creative option...
Dec 8, 2018, 2:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,106
You will not get a 144-hour transit pass with a four-hour stopover. If they gave you a pass at all, it would be the 24-hour pass.
Turkish stamps can raise questions anywhere: at any border or consulate/embassy. The problem seems to come and go. If you have a lot of Turkish stamps or have Turkish ancestry maybe a different issue, I'm not sure. The Chinese government doesn't issue any notices about this, so all we have are a few data points from travellers.
Turkish stamps can raise questions anywhere: at any border or consulate/embassy. The problem seems to come and go. If you have a lot of Turkish stamps or have Turkish ancestry maybe a different issue, I'm not sure. The Chinese government doesn't issue any notices about this, so all we have are a few data points from travellers.
Dec 8, 2018, 2:22 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,136
Dec 9, 2018, 1:01 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 353
btw. as a german why didn't you use your ID card to enter Turkey to avoid the stamp?
Dec 9, 2018, 2:42 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 28
You will not get a 144-hour transit pass with a four-hour stopover. If they gave you a pass at all, it would be the 24-hour pass.
Turkish stamps can raise questions anywhere: at any border or consulate/embassy. The problem seems to come and go. If you have a lot of Turkish stamps or have Turkish ancestry maybe a different issue, I'm not sure. The Chinese government doesn't issue any notices about this, so all we have are a few data points from travellers.
Turkish stamps can raise questions anywhere: at any border or consulate/embassy. The problem seems to come and go. If you have a lot of Turkish stamps or have Turkish ancestry maybe a different issue, I'm not sure. The Chinese government doesn't issue any notices about this, so all we have are a few data points from travellers.
Just trying to minimize the risk getting rejected at the immigration not able to cancel the hotel reservation in Shenzhen an being forced to search for a new one...
Last edited by Skydiver78; Dec 9, 2018 at 2:48 am