Question

Asked by BoBo from new zealand | Aug. 26, 2019 13:00

About:72-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Transit with UK Emergency Passport

I have flights booked from Auckland transit in Shanghai for 4.5 hours and on to my connecting flight to London. I will not leave the airport and my return flight is with Thai airways and transits in Bangkok. I'm travelling due to my dad being sick and I will be on an UK Emergency Passport / Emergency Travel Document. I have tried to find reference as to whether they qualify for any transit visa's, but it doesn't appear to be a direct answer on any site. I've rung the Chinese Embassy every day for a week to ask for confirmation, yet I only get a recorded message. I am very aware that to qualify, passports need to have 6 months left on them before they expire. I don't want to get to Shanghai and be sent home again, your advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Reply

Answers (5)

Answered by John Doe | Aug. 26, 2019 16:27

0 0 Reply

First of all document validity needs to be 3 months, not 6 months. Secondly if you don't meet the requirements you will be simply refused boarding in New Zealand, and based on some comments you will still be allowed to transit if you managed to board, as long as you do not pass through immigration (which as a rule of thumb only applies to Terminal 1, which only includes China Eastern and certain Skyteam partners, so if you are flying Air New Zealand and Air China then you are out of luck).

0 0 Reply

Answered by John Doe | Aug. 26, 2019 16:42

0 0 Reply

A further question: are you a dual British-New Zealand citizen? If so, you can use your NZ passport to transit Shanghai instead as long as it's valid for more than 3 months.

0 0 Reply

Answered by BoBo | Aug. 27, 2019 00:03

0 0 Reply

Hi John, I'm not currently an NZ Citizen or else I would have used that passport. I double checked with Air NZ today, I will not have to clear customs or collect my luggage so I won't require a visa & the British Embassy also checked and confirmed this for me. I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Thanks!

0 0 Reply

Answered by Juliet | Aug. 27, 2019 01:10

0 0 Reply

You may not have to clear customs but you may still face an immigration inspection.

0 0 Reply

Answered by John Doe | Aug. 28, 2019 19:36

0 0 Reply

Found a data point from this July claiming that Air China has finally opened a transfer desk in the sterile connection area so looks like luggage transfer and onward boarding passes are no longer issues. However that report did not include information on immigration clearance. Hope you made it to the UK okay.

0 0 Reply

See more answers...

Related Questions: