72 hour transit query

Question

My husband and I will be travelling from London UK, to Beijing and then on to Bangkok with Air China this summer, planning to stop off for around 3 days in Beijing.  I have seen conflicting info about the 72 hour rules in Beijing, so wondering if anyone here can help.  Is the start time of the 72 hours midnight in Beijing? Or is it on arrival in the country?  If it begins at midnight on the day of arrival we will be fine, as we arrive at 1.35pm on July 17th, and plan to leave at 7.30pm on 21st.  If the 72 hours begins on arrival, then obviously we need to look at other options as this is more than 72 hours.  Thank you in advance!

CattyB · Answer

Sorry, I meant to type 1.30pm on the 18th July!!!

Eddy · Answer

Hi friend, the 72 hours in Beijing counts when you arrive at the airport. So your layover time in Beijing will be more than 72 hours. You’d better apply for a transit G type or tourist L type in advance of your journey.

Ash · Answer

I am going to be in Beijing for 74 hours and I'm going in 3 weeks time hoping for a transit visa, I'll let you know what happens because I thought it was from midnight aswell but keep on getting mixed messages about all of this

CattyB · Answer

Thank you very much! Could I ask how recently you've done this? Some sites are saying that recently lots of airports have changed to the midnight rule! Thanks again. Cat

CattyB · Answer

Thanks Ash. It'll be a shame if you are made to pay for a tourist L type because of 2 hours! I have emailed the Chinese visa centre in London so hopefully might have a concrete answer by tomorrow! I will let you know! Cat

Ash · Answer

Hi Catty, yes I've been trying to sort this out for weeks now the embassy keeps on telling me to call border control in Beijing but they don't understand what I'm asking so I had someone from a Chinese visa centre in London call border control and they confirmed that it is from midnight also the timatic website and iata website  both say it's from midnight so it should be ok hopefully I'll let you know once I've been there fingers crossed

CattyB · Answer

Oh gosh.  I have also rang a million numbers and keep getting sent in different directions.  I just spoke to a guy from Air China on the phone, who said that it says on their website that it starts at midnight in Beijing.  Please do let me know how you get on.  I'm going to go ahead and book my 3 and a half day plan as we are worried prices will rise too much!  Worst case scenario.. we have to pay for a visa. Thanks again!

Ash · Answer

Hi Catty just to let you know I've been to Beijing and I didn't have any problems using the 72 hour transit visa even though I was there for 74 hours. I had to explain to the staff at Heathrow to check the timatic website and took some printouts with me about the 72 hours starting at midnight and they gave me a boarding pass. At Beijing airport it is really easy they don't count the hours as long as you leave within 3 days you will be fine so they just stamp your passport after checking your onward flight details and ask you if you're there for 3 days just say yes and that's it I hope this helps ...

CattyB · Answer

Thank you so much!  Hope you enjoyed your trip.  I will make sure to take printouts too!

72 Hour Transit Query

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