Question

Asked by Ethel Alinghawa from philippines | Jul. 05, 2019 03:26

About:How to Travel to China without a Visa

Cruise ship from Shanghai to Sydney

Hello do I need a visa to enter China even if I am catching a cruise from Shanghai, China to Sydney, Australia?
I am a Filipino and this is my second cruise.

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Answers (7)

Answered by Ethel Alinghawa | Jul. 08, 2019 06:16

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Oh I thought I would avail the 144hour visa exemption since I will fly from Philippines to Shanghai 4 days before the cruise departs. I also read in an article that any passenger who will catch a cruise that departs from Shanghai to another port outside China can avail the 144hour visa.

I am confused.

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Answered by Ethel | Jul. 08, 2019 22:13

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Oh.
What about a Filipino who is in Dubai and will meet us in Shanghai to catch the majestic princess cruise?
Would he also needs Chinese visa and how? He is an engineer working in Dubai.
Thank you again for the answer

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Answered by ZUPAN | Jul. 05, 2019 05:21

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If you are a Philippine citizen, you don't need a visa if your stay in Shanghai, counting from your scheduled arrival in Shanghai by plane and to your scheduled departure by cruise, is less than 24 hours. In this case, you are definitely covered by 24 hours visa free transit. In case that the mentioned period is longer than 24 hours, you need a visa obtained in advance.

Keep in mind that it is not allowed for visa free transit purposes that your first port call, immediately after Shanghai, is in mainland China. Also, your flight to Shanghai should not have any additional landing within mainland China.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Jul. 08, 2019 10:53

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Unfortunately, you as a Philippine citizen are not eligible for 144 hour visa free transit. You are allowed for 24 hour visa free transit only. Only 53 countries are eligible for 144 hour visa free scheme, and the Philippines are not among them. Obviously, you will have to obtain a Chinese visa in advance :(

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Answered by ZUPAN | Jul. 09, 2019 00:08

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Yes, he will need a Chinese visa too. Every stay in China longer than 24 hours for Philippine citizens has to be covered by a Chinese visa obtained in advance. Chinese authorities are focused on citizenship only, regardless of actual place of living or the status one might have in any country.

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Answered by MELISSA LORENA | Jul. 09, 2019 06:27

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I'm sorry but please don't confused Filipinos about this 24 hour visa free transit. I just arrived from a 24hr layover from Philippines to Guangzhou going to Dubai via china southern airlines. I've been looking forward to have a day tour in Guangzhou but when we got to the airport I was told that the 24 hour visa free transit is not applicable for Filipino Passport Holder even a resident of UAE or a green card holder! The lady whom we talked there showed us that Filipinos are not included in 53 countries who are allowed to get a visa free transit visa. I paid already for my hotel accommodation and a day tour and its all non refundable.We end up stuck in the airport for 24 hrs. They just dont care. If Philippines is really allowed to get one, why not post all the allowed countries instead of saying most countries are eligible to get a 24 hour free transit visa? Its disappointing. For more details feel free to email me @ betsymelle@gmail.com

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Answered by ZUPAN | Jul. 09, 2019 12:48

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Melissa Lorena,

I can see that you really don't understand the real meaning of 24 hour visa free transit. Look at your example. You were traveling from Philippines to Dubai via Guangzhou and you didn't need a visa. Literally any kind of visa. Right? This is the real meaning of 24 hour visa free transit. I also realize that you think that 24 hour free entry permit that was denied to you was 24 hour visa free transit. Anyway, you are wrong. You enjoyed 24 hour visa free transit and you were denied 24 hour free entry permit. This entry permit is not a passenger's right, but a sovereign decision of Chinese immigration whether they will grant it or not. So, please, don't confuse others with your wrong conclusions.

By the way, you were traveling on a through ticket, so you didn't need to accomplish any formalities because your luggage was checked all the way to Dubai. In case that you had separate tickets, you would be granted 24 hour free entry permit to accomplish all the formalities and in that process, so you would be able to make a stroll in the city and to enjoy the hotel you have bought. In the case of a transfer from a flight to a cruise, 24 hour free entry permit will be definitely granted.

I understand that you are disappointed by decision of Chinese immigration not to grant you an entry permit, but they didn't do anything wrong. You should be better informed about your rights and an entry permit is not among them.

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