Travelling to Hainan as a tourist. Flight on the way stops via Shanghai then to Hainan. Return flight from Hainan to Wuhan back to Europe. Only in the mainland China airports for a couple of hours. Do I need a full China entry permit or can I take advantage of the 72 hour free transit? And can I just pay the Hainan visa on arrival?

You need a visa before arrival. Hainan is under Mainland Chinese immigration's jurisdiction and all flights to and from there are domestic if you are traveling from Mainland China.

If I fly in via Hong Kong to Hainan I can just pay for the Hainan voa? I'm only visiting Hainan.If I fly home via Shanghai I can take advantage of free transit?

HK-Hainan is OK and leaving from other parts of Mainland China is fine after you have obtained the VOA. OTOH if your inbound HK-Hainan flight has a stop anywhere else in Mainland China, then you need a visa prior to arrival as you are not clearing immigration in Hainan. FYI, getting a VOA in Sanya now requires an invitation from a tourist agency while getting one in Haikou does not.

UK passport holder to Hainan

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Question: Asked by Chris from United Kingdom | Oct. 28, 2018 11:54

About:72-Hour Visa-Free Transit

UK passport holder to Hainan

Travelling to Hainan as a tourist. Flight on the way stops via Shanghai then to Hainan.
Return flight from Hainan to Wuhan back to Europe.
Only in the mainland China airports for a couple of hours.
Do I need a full China entry permit or can I take advantage of the 72 hour free transit?
And can I just pay the Hainan visa on arrival?

Reply

Answers (3): Answered by John Doe | Oct. 28, 2018 15:57

00Reply

You need a visa before arrival. Hainan is under Mainland Chinese immigration's jurisdiction and all flights to and from there are domestic if you are traveling from Mainland China.

00Reply; Answered by Chris from United Kingdom | Oct. 29, 2018 00:56

00Reply

If I fly in via Hong Kong to Hainan I can just pay for the Hainan voa? I'm only visiting Hainan.
If I fly home via Shanghai I can take advantage of free transit?

00Reply; Answered by John Doe | Oct. 29, 2018 09:03

00Reply

HK-Hainan is OK and leaving from other parts of Mainland China is fine after you have obtained the VOA. OTOH if your inbound HK-Hainan flight has a stop anywhere else in Mainland China, then you need a visa prior to arrival as you are not clearing immigration in Hainan.

FYI, getting a VOA in Sanya now requires an invitation from a tourist agency while getting one in Haikou does not.

00Reply

UK passport holder to Hainan

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