Question

Asked by Nahum from united kingdom | Sep. 21, 2019 03:59

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

I was refused to fly and want to clarify if they did so wrongly or I missinterpreted the information

I wanted to fly from UK to Bali and spend a few nights in China using either the 72hr or 144hr free visa. I had 2 separate flight bookings. LHR - PVG return and PVG - LHR return. My course would be as follows: LHR to PVG with a short transit via SYX (I was of the understanding that I would be exempt from needing any visa as I would not be leaving the airport and would bypass customs to transfer) I would then take advantage of the free transit visa in Shanghai. I would then fly from PVG to DPS. I would then have a return flight to PVG before flying to LHR again (once again bypassing customs as I would not be leaving the airport boundaries) The flight of PVG to LHR has a short transit in CAN which I once again understood that I would bypass customs as I wouldn't be leaving the airport boundaries. Having since reading all the information I can on here and on the official china embassy website I still don't understand why I wasn't allowed to leave LHR. Please can you clarify my misunderstanding. Thanks.

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Answers (8)

Answered by Cdking | Sep. 21, 2019 04:48

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You cannot have any extra landings in China. Must be non-stop flight to third country. Flight between Sanya and Shanghai is a domestic flight. You are required to go through immigration at Sanya you dont have a choice as it's the entry port into China

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Answered by Cdking | Sep. 21, 2019 04:54

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Same problem with the return flight as well. Shanghai > Guangzhou is a domestic flight and that is not allowed on 72/ 144 hour transit. You would only be eligible for the 24 hour direct transit

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Answered by John Doe | Sep. 21, 2019 08:41

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"I was of the understanding that I would be exempt from needing any visa as I would not be leaving the airport and would bypass customs to transfer"

Not really sure why you would have such an impression in the first place. In most countries (and the entire Schengen zone) you are required to clear immigration at the first port of entry.

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Answered by Saul | Sep. 21, 2019 13:01

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Two stops in different transit zones immediately limits you to 24 hours transit without visa in China. You were correctly denied boarding and you have no recourse.

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Answered by Nahum | Oct. 01, 2019 05:27

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I mean it's the way it's worded on the official embassy website and I have never had to go through customs on a transit flight from the same airport. A quick Google search will confirm this being the case too. Plus during my visit through China I've literally seen someone waiting right before customs to assist passengers on transit so they can bypass. I accept I've made a technical error but there's no need to belittle me.

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Answered by Nahum | Oct. 01, 2019 05:35

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Just to clarify that response was intended for John. Can someone confirm whether or not my flight path home is legal or not. I fly from Bali to Shanghai on the 10th and land in Shanghai at 14:30, I fly from Shanghai at 21:30 to London (on a different ticket than the Bali one). The flight transits through Guangzhou, it lands 00:30 on the 11th and leaves at 9:30 to take me to London. My time in China will be under 24 hours so is this ok for me to do even though the Shanghai to Guangzhou flight will be domestic. Thanks for your help.

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Answered by John Doe | Oct. 01, 2019 12:29

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Mate, stating that you don't understand how it works isn't belittlement but merely a statement of fact.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Oct. 01, 2019 13:18

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Your itinerary:

Bali - Shanghai - Guangzhou - London

With timings that you have presented is definitely eligible for 24 hour visa free transit in China. You should print out your flight e-tickets and you will tell at check-in counter in Bali that you will travel to London via China using 24 hour visa free transit.

You will be fine with your itinerary.

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