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 3, 2012, 5:20 pm
#496
Join Date: Oct 2010
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Flying BLR-CTU-PEK-SFO in a few weeks. The CTU-PEK flight appears to be domestic from what I can tell.
US citizen. Do I need a visa?
US citizen. Do I need a visa?
Dec 3, 2012, 9:47 pm
#497
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
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If arrival in CTU to departure from PEK (including the domestic leg) is total under 24 hours, then no, you don't need a visa. Double stop for US citizens is allowed through this combination of Chinese airports. If you're traveling on CA, they should know this. But if they outsource staff in BLR, you might have a bit of trouble convincing them of the Transit Without Visa rules. Get to check in early and have them look up in Timatic database if you get flak.
Dec 5, 2012, 1:05 am
#498
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
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Update on Extension of TWOV to 72 hours at PEK
Starting to get more credible reports from multiple places that as of January 1, 2013, certain nationalities will get an expanded 72 hours to Transit Without Visa at PEK, and of course leaving the airport will be allowed. If this is true, we should start hearing of some field-tested successes in several weeks, and will be able to verify directly with front-lines Immigration at PEK. Once confirmed that people are achieving the 72 hours, we'll update relevant Stickys.
In the meantime, this particular report lays out the relevant nationalities quite clearly:
http://www.wcarn.com/cache/news/22/22734.html
Other requirements of the TWOV (international to international itinerary) still apply. And nationalities not on this favored list still get 24 hours to transit without visa. It is assumed that if a double-stop transit inside China is planned where PEK is the first or second stop, that rules currently applicable (24 hour total limit inside China) will still apply.
In the meantime, this particular report lays out the relevant nationalities quite clearly:
http://www.wcarn.com/cache/news/22/22734.html
Other requirements of the TWOV (international to international itinerary) still apply. And nationalities not on this favored list still get 24 hours to transit without visa. It is assumed that if a double-stop transit inside China is planned where PEK is the first or second stop, that rules currently applicable (24 hour total limit inside China) will still apply.
Dec 5, 2012, 1:47 am
#499
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,454
Excellent news, but why exactly is Singapore on that list? As much I know, they get 14-days Visa on arrival anyway..
Dec 5, 2012, 10:36 am
#500
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
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Posts: 3,008
- You cannot travel outside Beijing during the 72 hours, must leave the country through Beijing.
北京市公安局出入境管理总队副总队长高华达 .. 同时强调，72小时过境免签的外国人只能在免签准许的时间内在北京停留，不能够中途离开北京。同时，其还必 须从北京口岸离境。如遇不可抗力等原因需要在北京停留超过72小时或离开北京的，需要向北京市公安局出入境 管理部门申请办理签证。
北京市公安局出入境管理总队副总队长高华达 .. 同时强调，72小时过境免签的外国人只能在免签准许的时间内在北京停留，不能够中途离开北京。同时，其还必 须从北京口岸离境。如遇不可抗力等原因需要在北京停留超过72小时或离开北京的，需要向北京市公安局出入境 管理部门申请办理签证。
Dec 5, 2012, 2:03 pm
#501
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
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"Those traveling to other provinces and cities, even to neighboring cities like Tianjin, will face punishment," if they travel without the required documentation, said Gao Huada, deputy director of the exit-entry administration under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau
Dec 5, 2012, 4:08 pm
#502
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Aren't parts of The Great Wall outside Beijing city limits?
"Those traveling to other provinces and cities, even to neighboring cities like Tianjin, will face punishment," if they travel without the required documentation, said Gao Huada, deputy director of the exit-entry administration under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau
"Those traveling to other provinces and cities, even to neighboring cities like Tianjin, will face punishment," if they travel without the required documentation, said Gao Huada, deputy director of the exit-entry administration under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau
I suspect the prohibition on traveling outside Beijing municipality for a daytrip is next to unenforceable, as train, bus or car to Tianjin (as an example) does not involve a visa check, only passport ID page if taking the train. Checking into a hotel outside the municipality probably could be restricted if hotel owners outside Beijing are made aware of the transit rules and upon seeing the transit stamp (which differs from the regular entry stamp), refuse to register the guest (or report same to the local PSB).
That said, there is so much to do in Beijing itself that 72 hours is barely enough to scratch the surface. Not really much need to venture for overnights elsewhere if one is a bona fide tourist, or businessperson just in for a quick meeting.
Last edited by jiejie; Dec 5, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Dec 5, 2012, 4:41 pm
#503
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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If this is indeed going to pass, will have to look to transit again and spend a little more time this time @:-)
EmailKid
Dec 5, 2012, 5:02 pm
#504
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
So now PVG will be LESS generous than PEK?
I'm going to PVG in early January and would really like to stay 49 hours. Instead, I'm taking a redeye in to get under the 48 hour limit.
I'm going to PVG in early January and would really like to stay 49 hours. Instead, I'm taking a redeye in to get under the 48 hour limit.
Dec 5, 2012, 5:42 pm
#505
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
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Let's hope it spurs PVG to match. It always seemed they were doing it to encourage short tourist stop-overs/make PVG a more appealing transit point than PEK. Now that PEK is going to 72 hours you could see the local officials at least wanting to match it.
Dec 5, 2012, 5:50 pm
#506
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then. Maybe now it might.
Dec 5, 2012, 9:15 pm
#507
Ambassador: China
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Off limits for TWOV travelers...you might be punished...
Dec 5, 2012, 9:27 pm
#508
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Anyone have info on whether this works for a nonrev ticket? I was thinking of going to Shanghai for a day then returning to the US and was just curious if this counted. I'm going to assume not seeing that it's not guaranteed. If not I'll just get a visa, no big deal. Figured it was worth asking.
Dec 5, 2012, 9:50 pm
#509
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Anyone have info on whether this works for a nonrev ticket? I was thinking of going to Shanghai for a day then returning to the US and was just curious if this counted. I'm going to assume not seeing that it's not guaranteed. If not I'll just get a visa, no big deal. Figured it was worth asking.
What matters is you must depart to a 3rd country.
ie: PVG-NRT-USA
no... USA-PVG-USA
Dec 5, 2012, 10:52 pm
#510
Join Date: Oct 2007
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