Question

Asked by Anna from uk | Aug. 28, 2019 08:49

About:24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Does a "technical stop" count as arrival?

I will fly from Singapore to Dalian (arrival time 17:20) via Xiamen (technical stop 13:10-14:20). The next day I will fly from Dalian (departure 9:05) via Beijing (departure and leaving China at 14:10) to London. First I thought the "arrival time" at Dalian airport at 17:20 counts and I would be within the 24 hours visa free transit, but now I am not sure whether the "technical stop" at Xiamen counts at arrival time? Then I would overstay... Could you give me some information on that, please.

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Answers (11)

Answered by AnnaF | Sep. 28, 2019 16:40

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So obviously your information was not correct. I cannot have multiple stops in China, although I am within 24 hours! It is not possible to fly Singapore-Shanghai-Dalian-Beijing-London. I am at Singapore airport now and they tell me that I need to get a visa for China! This means losing all my flights a d applying for a visa in Singapore tomorrow and hoping to get it...

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Answered by John Doe | Sep. 28, 2019 21:04

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Not sure what you mean: Zupan already said that your itinerary in this above-mentioned form will not allow traveling without a visa.

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Answered by Saul | Sep. 28, 2019 23:05

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You were absolutely given the correct information and advice by Zupan. Your problem arose because you did not count correctly. Your arrival in China was 13:10 and your departure was 14:10 the next day. That is 25 hours and not "within 24 hours" as you said.

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Answered by Juliet | Sep. 28, 2019 23:14

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So obviously you cannot understand plain English: "that requires a visa obtained in advance". The answer from Zupan couldn't have been much clearer.

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Answered by AnnaF | Sep. 28, 2019 23:14

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Sorry for the confusion, but I have rebooked and my arrival time in Shanghai would have been at 15:20 today and I would have left the country from Beijing at 14:10 the next day, which is less than 24 hours. The plan was to go Singapore-Shanghai-Dalian and then Dalian-Beijing-London, but I wasn't allowed to board in Singapore without a visa for China...

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Answered by AnnaF | Sep. 29, 2019 00:55

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Obviously, I cannot understand it, yes. I have meant to understand that I can transfer through China with multiple stops (a few airports excluded) as long as I am residing in China less than 24 hours. Based on this I have changed my schedule to fulfil this, which I do with entering at 15:10 in Shanghai and leaving in Beijing at 14:20 the next day. Still I was not allowed to board in Singapore and I don't unerstand the reason. However, I greatly appreciate your efforts and in general your website was very helpful so far...

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Answered by ZUPAN | Aug. 28, 2019 09:22

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Unfortunately, the stop in Xiamen counts and the entire time spent in transit is calculated from your first scheduled landing, in your case in Xiamen, until your last scheduled departure, in your case from Beijing. When we take all the mentioned into calculation, your entire transit in China is exactly 25 hours and that requires a visa obtained in advance.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Sep. 29, 2019 12:36

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Anna, your story is really unusual. Your itinerary, at least as you have presented it, was definitely eligible for 24 hour visa free transit.

Singapore - Shanghai - Dalian - Beijing - London

Also, if you say that everything would be accomplished within 24 hours, I can really hardly find any reason why did the Singaporean authorities prevented you from boarding the plane?

Maybe you had some additional landing within mainland China, before Shanghai or after Beijing? Maybe one of your tickets was on standby? Maybe your passport validity was less than 3 months before expiration date? Maybe you have not presented your itinerary in the proper way?

I would really like to know if there was at least a word of explanation why did the Singaporeans decided to deny you a boarding... I hope, you can tell us something more about the situation and the conversation at check-in in Singapore. Thanks.

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Answered by AnnaF | Sep. 30, 2019 04:31

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Thanks for your reply.
After your suggestions I have double checked everything and I thought it will be fine. My (austrian) passport is valid for long, I am not aware of any other stops (no itinerary indicated anything else), it is 23 hours transit time, I have printed the booling confirmations with itineraries of all the flights to show it to them etc.
In Singapore at the check-in counter I was not allowed to check-in, they said that I need a visa and have to apply for one the next day. They said that there is the 24 hours free transit, but only one stop is allowed, not multiple stops. I told them about this website and they just said that I should have called the chinese embassy directly. Anna

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Answered by ZUPAN | Sep. 30, 2019 13:32

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I really cannot understand the statement of the Singaporean authorities when they have claimed that only one stop is allowed under 24 hour visa free transit. They were so terribly wrong because the itinerary, as you have presented it, was perfectly eligible for 24 hour visa free transit. Maybe you were not prepared properly for a discussion and insisting that an official asks for an advice from his/her superior because the superior official would definitely allow you to board the plane and to travel according to your planned itinerary. All that I write here is written in Timatic, the most authoritative source for the subjects that we are here talking about. If I were you, I would be thinking about the legal action against the Singaporean immigration without any doubt because they have caused you a loss of money and your time.

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Answered by AnnaF | Oct. 03, 2019 05:29

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The lady at the check-in called a superior person, who confirmed that I cannot board. However, I am not exactly sure who that person was and was not insisting confident enough as I thought I might be wrong. Not sure whether this is the fault of the airline or of authorities at Singapore airport, but I will see if I can take any actions to get some compensation. Many thanks for your help!

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