Question

Asked by Rosalina Doty from usa | Sep. 16, 2019 18:35

About:How to Travel to China without a Visa

15 day visa free policy for cruise

My husband and I are taking a cruise embarking in Shanghai and disembarking in Hong Kong. The cruise is 15 days. We are flying to Shanghai 1 day prior to the embarkation day from Manila, Philippines and flying out of Hong Kong to San Francisco. We are spending 3 nites in Hong Kong when we disembarked in Hong Kong. Do we fall under the 15 day Free policy for cruise or are we required to obtain visas?

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Answers (4)

Answered by Rosalina Doty | Sep. 18, 2019 04:58

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Thank you for your quick response. I read the 24/144 visa transit exemption. I believe we can qualify under the rules. We start our trip in Nov 2019 flying from SFO to the Philippines (visiting places around the Philippines and other SE countries). Manila will be our home base. On Feb 28, 2020 we are flying to Shanghai (Pudong airport) for our cruise that embarks In Shanghai international terminal port.....destination Japan, Taiwan, Manila & Hong Kong. Flying back to SFO from Hong Kong after 3 days.

The cruise company rep that I talked to was not certain if we can qualify under the 24/144 hours rules because we are flying to Shanghai not direct from the US.

If we can’t qualify, can we obtain our visas in Manila, because if we obtain our visas prior to our departure from the US in Nov, our visas will expire prior to our arrival in Shanghai in Feb 2020? I understand that visas are only good for 90 days from the issue date. Visa processing companies were not able to provide me the answer.

Your response is greatly appreciated.

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Answered by Rosalina Doty | Sep. 18, 2019 19:02

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Again, thank you for the best information I received so far.

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Answered by CDKING | Sep. 17, 2019 08:53

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15 day cruise exemption is only for those arriving in Shanghai by boat and leaving china on the same boat. Whether you need a visa will depend on the cruise itinerary.

If you are on the boat that leaves Shanghai and next port is in Japan then you can do 24/144 visa free hour transit in Shanghai.

Hong Kong doesn't need a visa so no need to worry about that stop you can stay 90 days without a visa on USA passport

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Answered by CDKING | Sep. 18, 2019 06:59

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Ok, that is the cruise I thought you were going to be on. Manila > Shanghai > Japan is the portion that is relevant to Chinese immigration. Its eligible for the 24/144 hour visa free transit. Your cruise doesn't visit any other mainland Chinese cities so no visa will be required.

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