Question

Asked by Barry Taylor from England | Jul. 26, 2016 06:31

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

cruise from shangai

We arrive into Shangai on the 6th October from the UK, we then leave on the 7th on a cruise to Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and then ending in Singapore to fly back to the UK.

We will be in Shangai from 4pm to 4pm the following day would this be ok to use this excemption?

I have contacted Emirates who hadn't heard about it and state i would need a full visa at £180 each, i contacted the cruise line who also say i would need the entry permit.

Regards
barry

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Answers (11)

Answered by Brandon Prescott from Gibraltar | Jul. 26, 2016 08:06

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Barry, I am on the same cruise as you and was faced with the same problem of no one quite knowing what the situation was. I decided to bite the bullet and applied and got the 2 year entry permit.

Regards
Brandon.

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Answered by susan harley from United Kingdom | Jul. 26, 2016 09:14

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if you read all the information re 72hr free transit then you will find that you do not need to apply for a 2year entry permit! You are eligible for a 72 hr free transit. We are going to Shanghai for 3 nights prior to a cruise on Celebrity and we have been told that we don't need one. We will get a 144hr free transit when we arrive in Shanghai. There are dedicated desks for this. This has been the case since January 2016. Of course , companies acquiring entry permits are always going to advise that you err on the right side and apply for an entry permit but there really is no need according to all the information I have read. Hope this helps

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Answered by Barry from Uk | Jul. 27, 2016 01:26

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That is true but check with your airline it's down to them, I spoke to Emirates who said without a valid visa they wouldn't let me board the flight out if the UK.

It's crazy the Chinese have given this exemption but the airlines won't allow it.

I have wrote to Emirates to lodge an official complaint.

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Answered by Barry from Uk | Jul. 27, 2016 02:07

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Who are you flying with Susan and when?

Please check with your airline and let us know what they say.

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Answered by susan harley from United Kingdom | Jul. 27, 2016 08:23

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Thank you for that Barry. This morning I emailed Virgin and asked the question. As soon as I get a response I will be in touch.
As you rightly say, why is there this confusion when the Chinese are allowing transit G type etc in an attempt to make PRC more accessible and why would they be going to the trouble of having kiosks where application can be made?
Some friends of ours were on a stop over in Beijing for 7 hours and they had a trouble free transit that enabled them to see Tianamen Sq. etc and then fly onwards to the UK

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Answered by Barry from United Kingdom | Jul. 29, 2016 02:46

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I got the following email from Emirates
Dear Mr. Taylor,
Thank you for contacting us.
I understand that you'd like clarification with the visa procedures for your travel.

I've checked the link provided and with our support team. It appears that the 144 hour free transit still needs to be “applied for and authorised” by the Chinese government upon check-in. Therefore this is still subject to scrutiny and possible refusal.

The rules are subject to immigration approval and are not in direct relation with Emirates. Thus, I recommend to travel with a pre-approved visa.

As per the rules and conditions given to us by the embassy, a pre-approved visa is required.

Also if the you wish to apply for the 144 hour free transit; you need to travel in and out of Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing Lukou or Shanghai Hongqiao ports and not any other International Cruise Port.

I hope this clarifies.
Let me know if you've any other questions.

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Answered by barry from United Kingdom | Aug. 01, 2016 05:46

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Even the UK government website states a full travel VISA is not required.
But Emirates insist it is !!!
Did Virgin reply Susan?

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Answered by barry from United Kingdom | Aug. 01, 2016 05:54

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Did you get a reply Susan,
Even the UK Gov confirm the VISA
cruise from shangai

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Answered by barry from United Kingdom | Aug. 02, 2016 07:52

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Well at last Emirates say its fine to travel and use teh 144hr Free Transit Via programme.
Took long enough to ge them to say yes.
Baz

Dear Barry,
Thanks for writing to us.
I have checked with our airport team in Shanghai. The 144 hours TWOV (Transit without Visa) can also be applied to seaports in Shanghai.

You will be "Ok to Board", provided all of you hold confirmed cruise vouchers/tickets. Although we shall let you board, I’d like to clarify that this will be at the discretion of the immigration officials in China.

If any other questions arise, please feel free to write back at any time.

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Answered by Barry from United Kingdom | Sep. 14, 2016 03:52

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Hi Gill,

I contacted them via email from the website

Hope this helps, a friend contacted them via phone who got a phone confirmation that all would be ok, i wanted it in writing, so kept pursuing the email route and eventually got the email i posted above.

Regards

Barry

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Answered by GILLIAN1411 | Sep. 13, 2016 15:16

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Hi Barry
We are going to be in the same situation shortly, could you let me know what the email address is?
I would like to get confirmation we can board too.
Thanks
Gill

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