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Recently I asked about the 144 hour free visa for a Canadian arriving by cruise ship to Shanghai then moving on to Tianjin before cruising to another port; the reply received stated you need a regular visa I did further research after that, and anything I found (including this site) said I was eligible for the free visa, so are you sure about the response you gave me?The free visa was introduced as an encouragement for visitors to come, if, in addition, you need a regular visa, what would be the point of the free visa?

Rob · Answer

You already asked this twice, and you were given the correct answer both times. There is no such thing as a 144 hour free visa. There is 144 hours transit WITHOUT visa, which allows transit in the Shanghai area OR the Beijing area, but NOT both. So you cannot go from Shanghai to Tianjin without a visa. It even says that clearly on this very page under What is an eligible transit route?. You have clearly misunderstood what you have read.

CALGARYTOCALGARY · Answer

Well pardon me, perhaps I asked twice because I was still unsure.In regards to there is no such thing as a 144 hour free visa, why at the top of this very page does it say:144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in China  ?Yes, I am still confused, we are not all brilliant at discerning things, particularly when there is a wealth of contradictory information out there, and judging by this site and others, there are a lot of confused cruisers on this issue.

Paul · Answer

It means Visa free as in no visa required for up to 144 hours (its a visa waiver) but you need to meet all of the qualifications listed above. If you enter in Shanghai you cannot travel to Tianjin or Beijing using this program. You need a Tourist (L) Visa.

Paul · Answer

Its addressed in the following section:What is an eligible transit route?……B refers to only ONE of the following three areas in China, and you CANNOT have a cross-area visa-free tour among the three:1. Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang2. Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei3. Liaoning

CALGARYTOCALGARY · Answer

Thanks Paul, appreciate your clarification.

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