China 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit
Foreigners eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit can be exempt from border inspection procedures at the following 9 airports: Beijing Capital Airport, Beijing Daxing Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an Airport, Chengdu Tianfu Airport, and Xi’an Xianyang Airport.24-hour visa-free transit in China, also called the 24-hour transit without visa (24-hour TWOV for short), regulates that visa is not required for air, train, and cruise ship passengers transiting in mainland China for a stay of no more than 24 hours before heading for a third country or region.
Who are eligible for the 24-hour TWOV of China?
National of most countries are eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit, while there are exceptions in certain airports for some nationalities.
1. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Yemen passport holders transiting in Xiamen require a visa.
2. Syrian citizens transiting in Guangzhou are not eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit.
What are the port restrictions?
Citizens from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Turkey and Yemen are not eligible for 24-hour visa-free transit in Urumqi Diwopu International Airport.
If transiting in Guangzhou for less than 24 hours, you are able to apply for the 24-hour TWOV from Guangzhou Baiyun airport instead of its railway stations or other ports of entry. That is, only entering Guangzhou by air, you would be issued the 24h visa-free transit under qualified travel itinerary.
What is an eligible transit route?
 |
| 24-hour Direct Transit Rules |
An eligible transit route goes like Country A → China → Country C.
A and C are different countries. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can be regarded as A or C in this respect. For instance, if a passenger travels like USA – Beijing – Hong Kong, there is no doubt that this route qualifies for China 24 hour TWOV.
Generally speaking, the 24-hour visa-free transit allows aliens to have multiple stops in China as long as they leave the country within 24 hours, therefore the route USA - Beijing - Shanghai - South Korea also counts as eligible.
What are the requirements for TWOV?
Passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry Onward air, cruise or train ticket with confirmed seat and date Visa for a third country or region (if needed)
Can I get out of the airport during layover?
Passengers wishing to get out of the restricted transit area to claim luggage, take a connecting flight, or do some sightseeing in the city can apply for the 24-hour visa-free entry permit, which is a stamp or sticker on passport showing the permitted stay length.
Apply for 24-hour visa-free entry permit in 4 steps
Fill an Arrival/Departure Card at the border inspection counter Get the temporary entry permit stamp or sticker Claim the luggage (if needed) Go through the customs
How to count the stopover time?
Ending: scheduled departure time
Recommended Tours for Transit Passengers
Differences among 24/72/144-hour free transit
| 24-Hour TWOV | 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit | 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit |
|---|---|---|
| For almost all countries | For 54 countries | For 54 countries |
| Available in most Chinese cities | Available in major Chinese cities | Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Dalian, Shenyang, Chengdu, Wuhan, Qingdao, Kunming, Xiamen, Xi'an, Chongqing |
| By air, cruise, train | By air | By air, cruise, train |
| Counted from the landing time | Counted from 0:00 the day following the entry date (Scheduled landing time in Beijing) | Counted from 0:00 the day following the entry date |
| Multiple stops | Single stop | Multiple stops |
Note:Note that if 1) you lack any of the required documents listed above, 2) or your route does not qualify, 3) or you have the record of overstaying in a country or getting visa refusal before, your application for the 24-hour visa-free transit may be turned down. For fear of inconvenience caused by such case, please make sure that you are eligible or apply for a regular transit visa in advance.
- Last updated on Sep. 07, 2024 by Brenda Lian -
Questions & Answers on 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit
Asked by Trisha from PHILIPPINES | Nov. 03, 2024 01:45
Reply
ReplyEntry and exit in Shanghai different airport
Hello,
A Philippines passport holder here. I will be transiting in Shanghai and will enter in PVG airport for 23 hours before going to Taiwan on 30 Nov. My entry point will be PVG but my departure airport will be SHA. Will there be any problem about that?
Second question.
From Taiwan I will be transiting again in Shanghai on 3 Dec before my flight to South Korea but my entry point will be SHA airport and my departure airport will be PVG.
Will there be any problem applying a 24 hour temporary visa if I will be arriving and departing in different airports but still in the same city?
Thank you in advance 🙂
A Philippines passport holder here. I will be transiting in Shanghai and will enter in PVG airport for 23 hours before going to Taiwan on 30 Nov. My entry point will be PVG but my departure airport will be SHA. Will there be any problem about that?
Second question.
From Taiwan I will be transiting again in Shanghai on 3 Dec before my flight to South Korea but my entry point will be SHA airport and my departure airport will be PVG.
Will there be any problem applying a 24 hour temporary visa if I will be arriving and departing in different airports but still in the same city?
Thank you in advance 🙂
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Nov. 04, 2024 00:23
0
0Reply
00ReplyTrisha, there are no problems because using different airports is perfectly allowed, but your total transit time based on your scheduled arrival/departure is not allowed to be longer than 24 hours! If your total transit time is shorter than 24 hours, you will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit and you do not need any kind of visa.
The first thing you will do upon your landing in Shanghai (regardless which airport) is to approach 24/144 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and your hotel booking if your layover is during the night. This application is free of charge and I encourage you to print out the tickets and your hotel booking. After that you will head to the immigration and then to the city to spend your time on your own before taking your next flight. The same thing you will repeat on your second arrival in Shanghai. Have a nice journey both ways.
The first thing you will do upon your landing in Shanghai (regardless which airport) is to approach 24/144 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and your hotel booking if your layover is during the night. This application is free of charge and I encourage you to print out the tickets and your hotel booking. After that you will head to the immigration and then to the city to spend your time on your own before taking your next flight. The same thing you will repeat on your second arrival in Shanghai. Have a nice journey both ways.
Asked by Mark from PHILIPPINES | Nov. 02, 2024 09:04Reply
ReplyLess Than 24 Hour Transit in Guangzhou
Hello, Im a Philippine passport holder who's currently working in Vietnam. I'm travelling to Japan next and coming back to Vietnam for work I will have a 3 hour layover at Guangzhou Airport. Do I need to get a transit visa? I'm just staying at the airport until my next flight to Vietnam.
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Nov. 04, 2024 00:1700Reply
00ReplyMark, your journey will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit and you do not need any kind of visa. You will literally just walk from one to the other gate and you will not be a subject of immigration or customs control. Also, you do not need to fill out any forms or to perform any formality. There will be just a short security check between your two gates. Have a nice journey.
Asked by Gul from TURKEY | Nov. 02, 2024 08:33Reply
ReplyTurkish citizens eligible
Hi,
As I found out after already having booked non-refundable flights to China, Turkish citizens are not eligible for individual tourist visas. I had a 5 day stay in Beijing, but the only solution I can now think of is booking a flight to South Korea for 3 days in the middle, not staying in Beijing for longer than 24 hours. I will arrive at Capital airport, I'm thinking of either staying for only 4 hours and booking a flight from the same terminal to be safe, or to spend 12 hour in PEK but flying out from the PKX airport and visiting the city.
Do you know if they generally still grant the entry permit during 24 hours to Turkish citizens, or do I have to stay at the airport?
As I found out after already having booked non-refundable flights to China, Turkish citizens are not eligible for individual tourist visas. I had a 5 day stay in Beijing, but the only solution I can now think of is booking a flight to South Korea for 3 days in the middle, not staying in Beijing for longer than 24 hours. I will arrive at Capital airport, I'm thinking of either staying for only 4 hours and booking a flight from the same terminal to be safe, or to spend 12 hour in PEK but flying out from the PKX airport and visiting the city.
Do you know if they generally still grant the entry permit during 24 hours to Turkish citizens, or do I have to stay at the airport?
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Nov. 04, 2024 00:1400Reply
00ReplyI have to admit that I am really puzzled with your statement that Turkish citizens are not eligible for individual tourist visas. My knowledge was that they are eligible for any kind of visa, but they are required to make the application in their home country - Türkiye. If that is the case and I hope you have checked well with the embassy/consulate general and not from different unreliable sources, then you can proceed with your plan to buy an additional return ticket Beijing - Seoul - Beijing, but it should be definitely done from the different airport as you have already suggested.
By combining PEK and PKX airports, the airport authorities will simply have to issue a temporary entry permit because you have to formally enter China in order to accomplish your flight itinerary. I also advise you to try to maximize the amount of time you will spend in Beijing i.e. that your scheduled layover becomes as close as possible to 24 hours.
So, when you land in Beijing, the first thing you will do is to approach 24/144 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and hotel booking if your layover is during the night hours. I strongly advise you to print out your flight tickets and your hotel bookings. After a short check, you will proceed to the immigration and then to the city to enjoy the time on your own. The same thing is valid for your second arrival in Beijing.
What to tell you, but to have a pleasant, although in many aspects very specific journey.
By combining PEK and PKX airports, the airport authorities will simply have to issue a temporary entry permit because you have to formally enter China in order to accomplish your flight itinerary. I also advise you to try to maximize the amount of time you will spend in Beijing i.e. that your scheduled layover becomes as close as possible to 24 hours.
So, when you land in Beijing, the first thing you will do is to approach 24/144 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and hotel booking if your layover is during the night hours. I strongly advise you to print out your flight tickets and your hotel bookings. After a short check, you will proceed to the immigration and then to the city to enjoy the time on your own. The same thing is valid for your second arrival in Beijing.
What to tell you, but to have a pleasant, although in many aspects very specific journey.
Asked by Ram from UNITED KINGDOM | Nov. 02, 2024 05:35Reply
ReplyTransit in 2 airports in China, total transit over 24 hr, not going outside, transit Visa required?
Hi
Please help me here with appropriate advice. After reading Questions and answers in the page I still have confusions.
I am travelling with my family and parents in law from London to Kathmandu , Nepal.
My family have British passport and parents have Nepali passport.
We have confirmed air tickets with Air China.
Our iterinery is
London - Shanghai pudong- Chengdu Tianfu- Kathmandu.
Transit time in pudong 6hr
Transit time in Tianfu 21 hrs
The total transit time is over 24 hrs.
We are not going outside both the airports. Do we all need the transit visa?
Please help me here with appropriate advice. After reading Questions and answers in the page I still have confusions.
I am travelling with my family and parents in law from London to Kathmandu , Nepal.
My family have British passport and parents have Nepali passport.
We have confirmed air tickets with Air China.
Our iterinery is
London - Shanghai pudong- Chengdu Tianfu- Kathmandu.
Transit time in pudong 6hr
Transit time in Tianfu 21 hrs
The total transit time is over 24 hrs.
We are not going outside both the airports. Do we all need the transit visa?
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Nov. 03, 2024 23:5500Reply
00ReplyYes, unfortunately, you need a visa obtained in advance because your entire transit time is longer than 24 hours and you have more than one stop in China. This is valid for both UK and Nepali citizens. Saying that you are not leaving the airports is not valid because you will perform immigration formalities in Shanghai and your next flight will be a domestic one. In other words, you will formally enter China in full sense of that word.
I advise you to obtain Chinese transit (G) visas as soon as you can because they are the easiest to obtain since you have a proof that you will be really in a transit. I'm sorry for bringing you these not so convenient news, but obtaining the visas in your case is simply inevitable.
I advise you to obtain Chinese transit (G) visas as soon as you can because they are the easiest to obtain since you have a proof that you will be really in a transit. I'm sorry for bringing you these not so convenient news, but obtaining the visas in your case is simply inevitable.
Asked by Maria from DENMARK | Nov. 01, 2024 13:00Reply
ReplyLuggage claim with 24 hour visa
Hi. I have a layover during nighttime and need the 24-hour visa in order to go to a hotel to sleep. However I am not in need of my checked bagage during the layover, so I dont need to claim it. Is this possible or am i obligated to claim the luggage when leaving the airport. My flight is the next day at 1pm.
Answers (1)
Answered by Borut | Nov. 03, 2024 23:4900Reply
00ReplyMaria, you have offered so poor information about your flight itinerary. You did not mention the airport, airline, type of your ticket... OK, I will assume that you are traveling on a single (through) ticket via one of the Chinese airports where you have a longer layover during the night.
So, if you are traveling on a single (through) ticket, the first thing you will do upon your landing is to approach 24/144 hour visa free transit where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and your hotel booking. After a short check you will be granted a permit and then you will head to the immigration in order to exit the transit zone and to proceed to your hotel. Please, use correct terminology because this is not 24 hour visa, but you will travel covered by 24 hour visa free transit, so there is no visa of any kind.
If you are a Danish citizen and if you fly your itinerary starting from November 8, you will just fill out the arrival card on board the plane and head directly to the immigration. Also, your luggage will be tagged all the way to your final destination, but you are advised just to check that detail at the time of check-in in the country from where you will depart toward China. Have a nice journey.
So, if you are traveling on a single (through) ticket, the first thing you will do upon your landing is to approach 24/144 hour visa free transit where you will apply for a temporary entry permit by presenting your flight tickets and your hotel booking. After a short check you will be granted a permit and then you will head to the immigration in order to exit the transit zone and to proceed to your hotel. Please, use correct terminology because this is not 24 hour visa, but you will travel covered by 24 hour visa free transit, so there is no visa of any kind.
If you are a Danish citizen and if you fly your itinerary starting from November 8, you will just fill out the arrival card on board the plane and head directly to the immigration. Also, your luggage will be tagged all the way to your final destination, but you are advised just to check that detail at the time of check-in in the country from where you will depart toward China. Have a nice journey.