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Question: Asked by Luggi from germany | Apr. 10, 2013 03:35

About:72-Hour Visa-Free Transit FAQ

free transit policy

Following problem: My parents booked a flight in July 2013 to visit me in Shanghai. As in my parents case they will continue their travel to Thailand (with a different Airline) and only stay 3 days in Shanghai, this policy should therefore be valid. In some posts I read about that the airline needs to apply this "transit permit", is this necessary? If it is not necessary, will the airline at the airport in Germany know about this policy and let them board the plane without visa? Furthermore I contacted our embassy in China and they told me that this might not be a "transit" case (because of different tickets and airlines and not necessary to come to shanghai in order to fly to thailand). Another thing is that the initial plan was to arrive in Shanghai on Friday 14.45 pm and leave Shanghai on Monday 14.50pm, which would exceed the 72 hours by 5 minutes if the time is counted by official arrival/departure times. What would you advise?

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Answers (3): Answered by Sammy | Apr. 10, 2013 04:08

1 0 Reply

Hi, a transit in Shanghai with tickets of different airlines is ok, but if the stopover is longer than 72 hours, they should better apply for transit visas in advance in Germany. The airport in germany should know this as the policy was effective from Jan.1st, 2013. But I am afraid the airline may not allow them to board plane if they found out that the scheduled landing and departure is longer than 72 hours.
Anyway, you can contact the Shanghai airport directly for further confirmation: +86-21-51105100

1 0 Reply; Answered by Luggi | Apr. 10, 2013 04:39

0 0 Reply

They might count the time from official arrival/departure times if I understand that correctly. So I do not have to apply for that "transit permit" NOW, they will just confirm that on the airport at departure in Germany?

0 0 Reply; Answered by Sammy | Apr. 10, 2013 04:47

1 0 Reply

No, the free transit permit should be done after landing at Shanghai airport. You can not do it now. Here I suggest they should apply for transit G Visas in advance if their stopover is longer than 72 hours. You can confirm this requirement with Shanghai airport transit service center and also the airlines you will take to Shanghai.

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free transit policy