how often can one use the visa-free transit?

Question

We are flying through Shanghai (PVG) in February and hoping to use the 144-hour transit. Have not purchased the onward tickets yet (currently only return/roundtrip from the US - Shanghai) but likely would look something like this: PVG-SIN and one month later TPE-PVG to connect back to the US. Will we be eligible for the 72 hour, or perhaps even another 144 hour, on the way back? And if it matters, this would only apply to my wife...the rest of our family all has 10-year multiple entry visas for China. My wife, however, is a Macao PR and has a hometown pass which she normally uses to enter/exit PRC but we just noticed it is expiring and we did not have plans to return to Macao to get it renewed before this upcoming trip. Thanks!

John Doe · Answer

You can use the visa-free transit as often as you want, although if the rest of your family have 10-year visas then immigration will simply admit you on the visa instead to save some paperwork. Your wife, however, would not be eligible if not holding a valid US or Portuguese passport (HK/Macau SAR passport holders cannot clear immigration in Mainland China without the card-like Home Return Permit so she must either get a Chinese Travel Document from a Chinese consulate or go to HK/Macau to renew her current HRP).

Max · Answer

Thanks for your reply! I should have been clearer, my wife has a US passport so the visa-free transit question is relating to her and whether she will be able to receive it twice, approximately 5 weeks apart. So it sounds like that should be ok. In fact, she also has a Macau passport (we will need to check that it hasn't expired) so would she be able to use that instead of the visa-free transit?

John Doe · Answer

If she travels on a Macau SAR passport then she would need to renew her Home Return Permit in Hong Kong or Macau first before they can allow her into the country. HK/Macau SAR passport holders cannot use their passports to enter Mainland China as they are considered Chinese nationals. However if she has an US passport then she's good to go.BTW your wife may also hold Portuguese citizenship if she was born in Macau before 1981 or has a parent born in Macau before 1981. If that's the case then your kids are Portuguese as well.

Max · Answer

Hi thank you so much! No, she was born in 1983 so unfortunately she isn't eligible. I have looked into that before haha. And her parents were born in PRC.

Is there a limit on how often / how many times you can use this visa? Asked by Mike from United Kingdom \| Mar. 21, 2018 04:24	1 answer
Where I can get more information about the hotel in Transit Area of Pudong ... Asked by Amit from Republic of Korea \| Aug. 19, 2013 21:00	1 answer
How many times can I use this transit permit? Asked by Alba blesa from Spain \| Nov. 17, 2015 20:15	1 answer
How often may a traveler use the 72-hour or 144-hour free transit in any gi... Asked by Jim from USA \| Jun. 28, 2016 22:17	1 answer
Limit of how often the 72 hour visa waiver can be used? Asked by Mikael from Sweden \| Jan. 09, 2015 00:07	1 answer
Use twice in three months Asked by Zman from USA \| Feb. 23, 2018 09:34	1 answer

How often can one use the visa-free transit?