Question

Asked by Caroline from philippines | Oct. 06, 2019 21:47

About:24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Philippine passport holder, do i need a transit visa?

Hi, I will be travelling to San Francisco, USA from Manila, Philippines via China.
Below is my itinerary

Manila - Guanzhou - Wuhan - San Francisco
San Francisco - Wuhan - Guanzhou - Manila

I have a connecting flight Guangzhou - San Francisco (and Vice versa) for 4HRS. with a 2HR technical stop in Wuhan. Per trip my I should be able to stay in China for 6hrs.

Do I need a transit visa?
I know that it is possible to apply a 24HR transit visa in Guangzhou, but for my trip back going to the Manila, my first stop would be Wuhan, can we apply for a 24 HR transit visa there?

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Answers (6)

Answered by Caroline | Oct. 07, 2019 18:53

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I was thinking the same thing. It's just that I looked it up in the Chinese embassy site it didnt say no visa is required for connecting passengers that would be staying in China for under 24hrs. But it didn't state if it can be multiple layovers. And I emailed them, and they said I'd better get a transit visa.

So, I'm confused to be honest

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Answered by Caroline | Oct. 08, 2019 05:05

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I was about to book the flight with China Southern. There is a notice that pops up:

1、Guangzhou Transit 24-Hour Temporary Entry Permit Notice For foreign nationals needing to enter China (for transit accommodation or stopping over in Guangzhou on an international flight), or who hold a valid China visa before transiting: If you cannot provide a valid visa, you will likely be refused entry

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Answered by ZUPAN | Oct. 07, 2019 10:04

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Caroline, you are definitely eligible for 24 hour visa free transit in case if your entire transit time through China, calculated from your first scheduled landing in China, until your last scheduled departure from China is less than 24 hours. So, if your entire transit time from your scheduled landing in Guangzhou until your scheduled departure from Wuhan is less than 24 hours and the same thing for your return flight, but in reverse order, you will enjoy 24 hour visa free transit both ways and you don't need any kind of visa.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Oct. 08, 2019 01:32

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You are allowed to have a multiple layovers during your 24 hour visa free transit under the condition that your entire transit time is less than 24 hours. This is for certain. You should just print out your tickets and have that printouts with you. By the way, calling the embassies and airline customer services is useless because they will always reply exactly as it happen in your case. Anyway, your right is to enjoy 24 hour visa free transit and now everything is up to you.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Oct. 09, 2019 09:12

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Caroline, if you read what is really written in the above statement, you will realize that it is all about a temporary entry permit, i.e. about the permit to exit the airport while on transit through China. It is not about the eligibility to perform a transit. In other words, if you fly an itinerary of this kind:

Manila - Guangzhou - Seoul

You will not be allowed to exit the airport regardless of your accommodation booking or a wish to enjoy the sightseeing. Anyway, you will be perfectly allowed to perform your 24 hour visa free transit. Yes, it means that you will have to spend your time in transit inside the transit area of the airport.

Quite the contrary, if you travel your itinerary:

Manila - Guangzhou - Wuhan - San Francisco

You will be definitely allowed both, to perform your 24 hour visa free transit and you will be also granted a temporary entry permit because your flight from Guangzhou to Wuhan will be a domestic one or at least a domestic section of an international flight.

I hope, I have been clear on this matter. It also means that you can book your China Southern tickets :)

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Answered by Cang | Nov. 28, 2019 15:20

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Hi Caroline,
did you get to go on this trip already? how was it? did they require you the Chinese transit visa upon arrival at your stopovers?

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