does a short transit count as 3rd country?

Question

Wondering if the following scenario would qualify for a 144 hour Free transit?Flying from Singapore (we live here but have a European passport hence do require a visa unlike Singaporeans) via a Hong Kong transit (same airline / booking, ~2 hr transit to different flight, but will not be leaving the airport) to Shanghai and on the way back fly from Shanghai directly to Singapore.Effectively the incoming flight would be from Hong Kong and the outgoing flight to Singapore hence this might qualify...?

Geraldine · Answer

Do you mean you will travel like Singapore-Hong Kong-Shanghai-Singapore? If yes, you can use the 144 hr free transit in Shanghai as long as you are in the list of 53 qualified countries.

Sebastian · Answer

Yes, but by booking a flight Singapore to Shanghai that has a 2hr stop over in Hong Kong so we wont really be visiting Hong Kong, its just the second leg of the flight. Thanks!

John Doe · Answer

You'll be fine if your PVG-SIN flight is nonstop. HK is considered a third country for immigration purposes.

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Does a short transit count as 3rd country?