China without a visa

[revatron]

Hello,

Does anyone know if a return ticket within 72 hours would count for visa free entry to China, specifically Shanghai? The info I’m reading on various Chinese visa websies makes mention of “interline onward travel” or variations of such. Does a return ticket (or a standalone one-way PVG-XXX ticket) count?

[The real Swiss Tony]

As I understand, it has to be to a third country. So LON-PVG-LON doesn’t qualify. LON-PVG-TYO does.

And past experience for me has been that a LON-PVG then a stand alone PVG-HKG ticket was fine as well.

[revatron]

Thanks for your input. If I go it would be FRA-PVG one way, then PVG-UK or somewhere else (DXB to UK) or such like. Separate tickets. I wouldn’t be returning to Germany.

[The real Swiss Tony]

That should be fine. The issue I had on both occasions was the check in desk agents in the UK (once BA, once ANA) not understanding the arrangement. There was an issue with TIMATIC where I think you had to query it as a stopover not a transit (or the other way around) to get the correct result. Took us an hour to resolve with ANA at LHR…

Also it looks like Shanghai is now 144 hours stopover for what it’s worth.

[strickers]

There’s a lot more detail on FT:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china/2147840-china-24-72-144-hour-transit-without-visa-twov-2024-onwards.html

But having done TWOV in Shanghai what you are proposing is acceptable I think.

[TJones]

I’ve flown MAN-AMS-SHA-CDG-MAN under the transit without visa (TWOV) scheme. It’s seen as Netherlands to France with a transit in China. Separate tickets are fine. For Timatic, it’s vital that China is entered as the transit point and not the destination. So in my example, France is the destination and China the transit. You can try this on the Emirates website, for example. You get a lot of verbiage as the output, including details of every valid airport, sea port, train station and highway. You could print it out and highlight the part relevant to your itinerary if you’re worried about incompetent check-in agents.

[The real Swiss Tony]

TJones wrote:

You could print it out and highlight the part relevant to your itinerary if you’re worried about incompetent check-in agents.

The problem with this is the (incompetent) check in agents – in my experience – will only ever use TIMATIC as their source of truth. So knowing how to drive that to get the right outcome is what they need.

Note the EK site is a very sanitised version of TIMATIC. You probably want to use https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/passport-visa-health-travel-document-requirements.htm which is linked from this page on the BA site https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/passports-visas-and-api to get a better feel of how it works.

[revatron]

Thanks to both, I had a browse of the FT thread before posting but thought I’d ask here too.
Shanghai may not happen but I’m trying to have a flight on the LH Retro 747 and Shanghai is one of the 747-8 routes. I’ll be flying non-rev so can basically go wherever that particular frame is going and just book on once I find out, probably the day before. Nearly all the 747-8 routes are visa free or eVisa/ESTA etc but Shanghai and Bengaluru are the potential hiccups for visa requirements. BLR for sure is probably out as India e-visa site says need to apply 4 days in advance.

[TJones]

Just to be sure, a confirmed onward ticket is required for China TWOV. Standby isn’t allowed.

[TJones]

The real Swiss Tony wrote:

TJones wrote:

You could print it out and highlight the part relevant to your itinerary if you’re worried about incompetent check-in agents.

The problem with this is the (incompetent) check in agents – in my experience – will only ever use TIMATIC as their source of truth. So knowing how to drive that to get the right outcome is what they need.

American Airlines website also has a link. Agreed, the Emirates version is simplified and requires fewer inputs, but the output seems to be identical at least for China.

[revatron]

TJones wrote:

Just to be sure, a confirmed onward ticket is required for China TWOV. Standby isn’t allowed.

Ahh ok, this could be a roadblock for sure. I think LH tickets confirm at -24hrs for non-rev but can’t quite remember. In any case that’s not going to be long enough.
I didn’t see anything about standby tickets on the China visa page but probably missed it.

[TJones]

revatron wrote:

TJones wrote:

Just to be sure, a confirmed onward ticket is required for China TWOV. Standby isn’t allowed.

Ahh ok, this could be a roadblock for sure. I think LH tickets confirm at -24hrs for non-rev but can’t quite remember. In any case that’s not going to be long enough.
I didn’t see anything about standby tickets on the China visa page but probably missed it.

It doesn’t mention “standby” in Timatic but the wording is “confirmed onward ticket” and this definitely rules out standby. You need to show this confirmed ticket when you check in for your flight to China.

We should also have asked which passport you have. More than 20 EU countries (including Ireland) can now visit China without a visa.

[revatron]

Thanks all, I guess this rules out Shanghai.

[LD27]

TJones wrote:

revatron wrote:

TJones wrote:

Just to be sure, a confirmed onward ticket is required for China TWOV. Standby isn’t allowed.

Ahh ok, this could be a roadblock for sure. I think LH tickets confirm at -24hrs for non-rev but can’t quite remember. In any case that’s not going to be long enough.
I didn’t see anything about standby tickets on the China visa page but probably missed it.

It doesn’t mention “standby” in Timatic but the wording is “confirmed onward ticket” and this definitely rules out standby. You need to show this confirmed ticket when you check in for your flight to China.

We should also have asked which passport you have. More than 20 EU countries (including Ireland) can now visit China without a visa.

Could you not just buy the cheapest ticket out of China to somewhere LH flies from back to Europe? You would then get one way on the 747 you wish to travel on.

[TGLoyalty]

TJones wrote:

revatron wrote:

TJones wrote:

Just to be sure, a confirmed onward ticket is required for China TWOV. Standby isn’t allowed.

Ahh ok, this could be a roadblock for sure. I think LH tickets confirm at -24hrs for non-rev but can’t quite remember. In any case that’s not going to be long enough.
I didn’t see anything about standby tickets on the China visa page but probably missed it.

It doesn’t mention “standby” in Timatic but the wording is “confirmed onward ticket” and this definitely rules out standby. You need to show this confirmed ticket when you check in for your flight to China.

We should also have asked which passport you have. More than 20 EU countries (including Ireland) can now visit China without a visa.

Thank god for Brexit.

What about flying to a 3rd visa free country and then return from there to U.K.?

[JDB]

@TGLoyalty – it has nothing to do with Brexit. Not all EU countries are visa exempted. These visa exemptions are also only for 15 days, quite a short time to spend in a country larger than Europe. The UK doesn’t currently have an exemption for somewhat evident reasons. Even prior to the exemption for certain countries, there were remarkably few British visitors vs those from other European countries which was another consideration.

[Vit]

Hello and Merry Christmas, not expecting any replies today but here goes. 🙂

Hoping to spend 144hrs (6 days) in Shanghai next year with HEL-PVG (using avios) then a separate cash/point ticket from PVG-BKK/PNH (TBD). Questions:

1. With British passport, I understand that I am qualified for the TWOV but various websites keep mentioning about “an interline ticket (connecting ticket) with the confirmed departure date and seat number leaving for a third country or region within 144 hours”. From further researches, I understand that complete separate tickets is totally fine. But would like to hear the confirmations from the HfPers if possible.

2. How does 144 hrs are counted, is it counted from the arrival time formally printed on the ticket? (i.e. if your flight arrives at 7pm on Day 0, your departure shall also departs before 7pm)?

Many thanks.

[Flyer78]

Merry Christmas.

Can confirm separate tickets is fine. Transited without visa through Shanghai two day ago with LHR – PVG on BA and then PVG – BKK with Thai on a separate booking. Stamped in for 24 hours, but the 144 hours was also an option.

First BA check in conversation didn’t align to this at bag drop desks at T5, but no problems at manned check in counters.

Hope this helps.

[strickers]

Merry Christmas. I think we are at 10 days now so you will be fine. I flew in last year on BA and out using Vietnam airlines on separate tickets. There’s a long thread on FlyerTalk with much more detail.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china/2147840-china-24-72-144-hour-transit-without-visa-twov-2024-onwards.html

[Michael C]

Can also confirm:
LHR-PKX (BA) / PEK-SIN (SQ)

However, we DID have problems at BA check-in. Neither
the agent nor, more disturbingly, her supervisor had any
idea of the 144-hour rule, and simply said we did not have
visas to go to China. It took them half an hour to confirm it
by telephone with the internal LHR passport office.

We were asked for printed copies of our onward tickets on arrival in China.

[Vit]

Thanks very much everyone for all the very useful tips and info. That’s our main concerns as well — dealing with the uninformed (or even worse, refuse to be corrected). I guess there is nothing much we can do except be prepared and arrive early (4-5 hours before departure).

[strickers]

@Vit Have a look here:

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com

it’s a little complicated but make sure you list China as a transit country. This uses a system called Timatic which BA also use, making some assumptions (UK passport holder, transiting to Japan with an onward ticket) the text that comes out states:

Visa required.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):
Passengers with a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to a third country within 24 hours. They can obtain an entry permit on arrival and they must have documents required for the next destination. Passengers with multiple transit stops within China (People’s Rep.) must have a total transit time not more than 24 hours.

This TWOV facility does not apply at Fuzhou (FOC), Huangshan (TXN), Mudanjiang (MDG) and Urumqi (URC).

Passengers with a British passport with nationality “British Citizen” with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country within 240 hours, starting from 00:01 on the following day. They must enter at one of the following entry points:
Anhui Province – Hefei Airport (HFE), Huangshan Airport (TXN);
Beijing – Beijing Airport (PEK), Daxing Airport (PKX);
Chongqing Province – Chongqing Airport (CKG);
Fujian Province – Fuzhou Airport (FOC), Quanzhou Airport (JJN), Xiamen Airport (XMN), Xiamen Port, Wuyishan Airport (WUS);
Guangdong Province – Guangzhou Airport (CAN), Jieyang Airport (SWA), Nansha Port, Shekou Port, Shenzhen Airport (SZX);
Guangxi Province – Beihai Airport (BHY), Beihai Port, Guilin Airport (KWL), Nanning Airport (NNG);
Guizhou Province – Guiyang Airport (KWE);
Hainan Province – Haikou Airport (HAK), Sanya Airport (SYX);
Hebei Province – Qinhuangdao Port, Shijiazhuang Airport (SJW);
Heilongjiang Province – Harbin Airport (HRB);
Henan Province – Zhengzhou Airport (CGO);
Hubei Province – Wuhan Airport (WUH);
Hunan Province – Changsha Airport (CSX), Zhangjiajie Airport (DYG);
Jiangsu Province – Lianyungang Port, Nanjing Airport (NKG), Wuxi Airport (WUX), Yangzhou Airport (YTY);
Jiangxi Province – Nanchang Airport (KHN);
Liaoning Province – Dalian Airport (DLC), Dalian Port, Shenyang Airport (SHE);
Shandong Province – Jinan Airport (TNA), Qingdao Airport (TAO), Qingdao Port, Weihai Airport (WEH), Yantai Airport (YNT);
Shanghai – Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA), Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG), Shanghai Port;
Shaanxi Province – Xi’an Airport (XIY);
Shanxi Province – Taiyuan Airport (TYN);
Sichuan Province – Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU), Chengdu Tianfu Airport (TFU);
Tianjin – Tianjin Airport (TSN), Tianjin Port;
Yunnan Province – Kunming Airport (KMG), Lijiang Airport (LJG), Mohan Railway Port;
Zhejiang Province – Hangzhou Airport (HGH), Ningbo Airport (NGB), Wenzhou Airport (WNZ), Wenzhou Port, Yiwu Airport (YIW), Zhoushan Port.

They must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. They can make cross-province and cross-city visits in the above areas.

[Olly]

Does Taiwan count as a third country for the purposes of TWOV?

[TJones]

Olly wrote:

Does Taiwan count as a third country for the purposes of TWOV?

Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau all count as third countries.

[can2]

Olly wrote:

Does Taiwan count as a third country for the purposes of TWOV?

Ironic isn’t it?
I benefited from this opportunity during a trip to Taipei, too.