Question

Asked by Kevin from australia | Aug. 16, 2019 20:31

About:Visa on Arrival

Cairns, Australia (CNS) to Shenzhen (SZX) - onward to Hong Kong

Hi,

I am an Australian Passport holder (plus HK ID card only) and plan to go from Cairns to HK via SZX. I would like to go straight from SZX airport to Hong Kong as soon as I arrive at 1545, by either ferry, bus or train.

What will be the process for me to get through customs? Do I need a visa/what is the cost? Is the TWOV only valid if you leave Shenzhen after 24 hours? What if I want to cross by train/MTR and there is no scheduled tickets?

Thanks,

Kevin

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Answers (2)

Answered by ZUPAN | Aug. 17, 2019 02:00

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Part one:

Kevin, you are not allowed to exit to Hong Kong or Macau if you have landed in SZ airport within a period less than 24 hours. Simply speaking, Bao'an airport allows 24 hour visa free transit for travels to any third country/territory, but not to Hong Kong and Macau. You have to stay in SZ or the rest of Guangdong province for at least 24 hours and 1 minute to be eligible for 144 hour visa free transit. Also, you need to book your ticket for a train or ferry that will take you across the border to Hong Kong in advance. This ticket will be required from Australian authorities at your check-in in Cairns. Since your flight from Cairns arrives at 15:55 or 16:10 hours (it depends on the day when you plan to travel), you are allowed to book a ferry from Shekou port for tomorrow at 16:45. Also, you will have to book a ferry through CKS - Chu Kong Passenger Transport company website. You will receive an e-confirmation on your email, you will print it out and you will use it as a proof for your real transit intentions. This e-confirmation will allow you to collect your real ferry ticket at Shekou ferry terminal.

Theoretically speaking, taking a bus would be also eligible, but in reality it is impossible since you are unable to book a bus ticket online in advance. Also, Luohu (Lo Wu) border crossing is out of the question because this is not an eligible port of entry/exit for visa free transit purposes.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Aug. 17, 2019 02:00

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Part two:

Alternatively, you could rely on VOA that is not expensive for Australian citizens since the price is 168 CNY. Anyway, you should be warned that the authorities in Cairns could be reluctant to allow you to travel in this way. Maybe, if you really don't want to stay in SZ during the night, you could try to board the plane by telling that you will apply for a VOA upon your landing in SZ, but you should also have a ferry ticket for the day after in case that you are rejected by Cairns airport authorities. Anyway, they shouldn't reject you if they only know the basics of Shenzhen visa on arrival. In that case, you will use your backup in that case and travel on 144 hour visa free transit.

I know that this is probably not the happiest answer you were supposed to receive, but the above described are your best options.

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