Jun 4, 2013, 2:02 pm
Last edit by: mnbp
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Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
(lower right wiki corner).Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Main source: Visa Page - Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America (external website)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
Jan 18, 2018, 6:46 pm
#1651
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Sorry to hear about your partner. I assume that you may be on your way to China and might not be accessing FT, but if you are, when you get to China, first get a medical opinion on recovery timing and when your partner will be able to travel. Or if the need for medivac is present, how long it will take to make the arrangements. It's good to know that you could use TWOV, but this is one of those situations where with some documentation backup on partner's condition, you might be able to go to the Entry/Exit Department of the Public Security Bureau in Shanghai (I assume that's where partner is now), and request and get special dispensation to extend your stay or even convert to a limited visa. This would be extraordinary but your situation is uncommon. Your hand will be stronger if you are married rather than some other status.
Jan 18, 2018, 8:10 pm
#1652
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,097
And if that doesn't work out and you need to spend longer in Shanghai, then fly down to HK, where Americans can usually get 10-year multiple-entry visas with 60-day stays per entry, even if not resident in HK. Spring Airlines usually has the cheapest fares on that route,.
Jan 21, 2018, 12:04 pm
#1653
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LCY
Programs: Mucci des Ancients Matelots
Posts: 769
Hi, been seeing a few things about problems getting a Chinese visa (looking to get an L) if you've been to Turkey. Is this true or just a one off thing last year? For reference, I'm a UK citizen and had a weekend in Istanbul just before Christmas.
Jan 21, 2018, 1:46 pm
#1654
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
This may still be an issue. As of late last 2017 (November) there are reports that passengers attempting TWOV who have Turkey visa stamps have been denied TWOV, so it could extend to L visas. These are pax on otherwise eligible European/Australian passports with no other remarkable distinctions (ie don't have Turkish names).
Jan 21, 2018, 5:53 pm
#1655
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,097
You can sometimes satisfy them with a statement that you were just in Turkey for a short period as a tourist, but you will probably be asked about your travel to Turkey.
As recently as last week, immigration on entry to China asked about travel to Turkey when they spotted a Turkish entry stamp, so the concern is ongoing. Again, it's not an absolute ban, but you need to satisfy them somehow.
As recently as last week, immigration on entry to China asked about travel to Turkey when they spotted a Turkish entry stamp, so the concern is ongoing. Again, it's not an absolute ban, but you need to satisfy them somehow.
Jan 22, 2018, 3:55 pm
#1657
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 60
You can sometimes satisfy them with a statement that you were just in Turkey for a short period as a tourist, but you will probably be asked about your travel to Turkey.
As recently as last week, immigration on entry to China asked about travel to Turkey when they spotted a Turkish entry stamp, so the concern is ongoing. Again, it's not an absolute ban, but you need to satisfy them somehow.
As recently as last week, immigration on entry to China asked about travel to Turkey when they spotted a Turkish entry stamp, so the concern is ongoing. Again, it's not an absolute ban, but you need to satisfy them somehow.
I'm planning a trip to the Caucasus overland from Europe via Turkey now that the US-Turkey visa spat is apparently smoothed over, but I'm now reconsidering with a view to the effect such a trip might have on future visits to China. I may now go back to the plan I put together during the visa difficulties and fly straight to GYD or TBS instead. (I'm a US passport holder with a current valid Chinese 10 year multiple-entry L visa.)
I already have some Turkish entry and exit stamps in the same passport as the Chinese L visa and its associated entry and exit stamps, but the Turkish stamps are more recent. On the one hand the next time I enter China they may ask me about those stamps anyway so I should go to Turkey again regardless, but on the other hand maybe it'll go easier for me entering China if I don't collect more Turkish stamps I have to explain? My previous visits to Turkey on this passport were stopovers in Istanbul for less than 4 days each.
This is a bit of a concern because I also have a plan to visit friends in the Pearl River Delta later this year and want to be able to cross back and forth to Hong Kong and Macao without delays at entry to explain myself every time. (Or worse, being refused entry on one of those side trips.)
Any thoughts on whether I should avoid getting any more Turkish stamps on this passport? Perhaps six stamps are as a bad as four as far as the Chinese authorities are concerned. Or whether having to explain a tourist trip across Turkey from Bulgaria to Georgia will be more of a problem than just having a couple of extended stopovers at IST?
It's all a shame because I really do enjoy visiting both China and Turkey and have been to both countries multiple times.
Jan 22, 2018, 5:12 pm
#1658
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,097
All I can say is that a fairly recent Turkish stamp was not spotted on several entries until last week. There was some consternation, and a couple of questions in Chinese about the time spent in Turkey and the purpose of the visit. Not really a big deal, but nonetheless a really big surprise to be asked at all about the Turkish stamps when entering China. (There were two immigration officers in what seemed to be a trainee-trainer situation, and it was the trainer who spotted the Turkish stamp.)
Jan 23, 2018, 11:12 am
#1660
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
Sanya Landing Visa?
Trying to find info about Sanya Landing Visa for UK passport. Timatic seems to indicate an invitation is needed for Sanya airport, but not Haikou. But elsewhere people say they have gotten Landing Visa in Sanya. Does anyone have experience with this?
Jan 23, 2018, 1:40 pm
#1661
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
- Passengers with a British passport with nationality of
British Citizen shown on the bio-data page arriving at
Sanya (SYX) and traveling on an organized tour to Hainan
province in a tourist group of 5 or more people for a
maximum of 30 days. Tours must be organized by a travel
agent registered in Hainan province and approved by the
National Tourism Administration of China.
- Passengers with a British passport with nationality of
British Citizen shown on the bio-data page arriving at
Haikou (HAK) and traveling on an organized tour to Hainan
province in a tourist group of 5 or more people for a
maximum of 15 days. Tours must be organized by a travel
agent registered in Hainan province and approved by the
National Tourism Administration of China.
British Citizen shown on the bio-data page arriving at
Sanya (SYX) and traveling on an organized tour to Hainan
province in a tourist group of 5 or more people for a
maximum of 30 days. Tours must be organized by a travel
agent registered in Hainan province and approved by the
National Tourism Administration of China.
- Passengers with a British passport with nationality of
British Citizen shown on the bio-data page arriving at
Haikou (HAK) and traveling on an organized tour to Hainan
province in a tourist group of 5 or more people for a
maximum of 15 days. Tours must be organized by a travel
agent registered in Hainan province and approved by the
National Tourism Administration of China.
Jan 23, 2018, 6:17 pm
#1662
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
From what I can see in the full version of TIMATIC the wording is similar for both Sanya and Haikou, the difference being the former is 30 days and the latter 15:
This was copied from the TIAMTIC extract posted by KVS in the wiki of the China TWOV thread here on FT.
This was copied from the TIAMTIC extract posted by KVS in the wiki of the China TWOV thread here on FT.
Code:
Visa Issuance: - Passengers with a British passport with nationality of British Citizen shown on the bio-data page can obtain a visa on arrival at Sanya (SYX) for a maximum stay of 30 days. They must have: - a passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival; and - 2 passport photos; and - a hotel reservation; and - an invitation letter from Tourist Agency or other corporations/organizers/sponsors; and - contact information from a local person; and - documents that prove the purpose of visit. Payable in cash only. Local currency or US dollar are accepted.
Jan 24, 2018, 1:32 am
#1663
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
There are two rules for SYX.. groups of 5 (visa-free) and the 'landing visa'.
Though from tripadvisor some people have gotten visa just with hotel/flight info. Just wondering if airline (American) would let me checkin in USA if I don't have an invitation
Code:
Visa Issuance: - Passengers with a British passport with nationality of British Citizen shown on the bio-data page can obtain a visa on arrival at Sanya (SYX) for a maximum stay of 30 days. They must have: - a passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival; and - 2 passport photos; and - a hotel reservation; and - an invitation letter from Tourist Agency or other corporations/organizers/sponsors; and - contact information from a local person; and - documents that prove the purpose of visit. Payable in cash only. Local currency or US dollar are accepted.
Data points from the TWOV thread suggest AA can be overly cautious when interpreting TIMATIC. It would be safest to assume that AA could (possibly quite likely) refuse boarding unless you satisfy, to the letter, the requirements in TIMATIC.
If that needs an invitation it would be best to secure one.
Feb 1, 2018, 5:03 pm
#1664
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite (Lifetime Platinum), HHonors Gold
Posts: 241
Do I need to leave passport with consulate while processing visa?
Searched the thread without finding the answer... I'm looking to get a Chinese L tourist visa at the consulate in Los Angeles. The website says about four days' processing time, after which you can "pick up your visa". Although I travel internationally quite a bit, it's usually to countries for which I don't need a visa as a US citizen. My only experience with getting a visa is a work visa for India.
So my question is this: To get the L visa, do I need to leave my passport with the consulate as my visa is being processed? I don't see anything about this in the Chinese embassy's FAQs, and the wording on the website ("pick up your visa", not "pick up your passport") makes me wonder. The reason I ask is because I do have a very important trip to India coming up in just three weeks (and I wouldn't have time to get the Chinese visa afterward), so I don't want to risk anything going wrong with the visa process and not getting my passport back in time.
Thanks
So my question is this: To get the L visa, do I need to leave my passport with the consulate as my visa is being processed? I don't see anything about this in the Chinese embassy's FAQs, and the wording on the website ("pick up your visa", not "pick up your passport") makes me wonder. The reason I ask is because I do have a very important trip to India coming up in just three weeks (and I wouldn't have time to get the Chinese visa afterward), so I don't want to risk anything going wrong with the visa process and not getting my passport back in time.
Thanks