Vancouver to Shanghai (2 hours transit at Xiamen) and after go to Tokyo. Visa needed?

That needs a visa, because two stops in China automatically limits you to 24 hours transit without visa.

Andrew, I know you have directed your question to Serena, but I can also offer you an answer.

Unfortunately, when you have two stops in China in a row, you are automatically limited to 24 hour visa free transit regardless of the nature of your stop. It really does not matter whether you will just remain inside airport or even in the plane, this is considered to be a stop and consequently disables you to enjoy anything longer than 24 hour visa free transit.

In other words, if you want to retain an itinerary as you have presented it, you will have to obtain a Chinese visa in advance.

Hi Zupan and Saul,

Thank you very much for your answer

So.. If I travel from Vancouver to Xieman (Feb 29th 5:10 am arrived), then transfer plane to go Shanghai and arrived at 9 am sameday. I am allow to walk around Shanghai until 5:10 am the next day (March 1st) right?

So if I have a flight from Shanghai to Osaka at 1:00 am March 1st. I am totally fine and no visa needed?

Thanks guys

Exactly!

Hi Zupan,

Thank you for your answer.

So I bought ticket from Vancouver - Xiamen - Shanghai is from Xiamen Airline and I bought ticket from Shanghai to Japan is from Peach airline. (2 differents websites i bought it from)

This shouldn't be a problem at all right? Since I will be able to show the custom agent the departure ticket and also hotel booked for the flight within 24 hours arriving in China?

Thank you very much for your answer

Yes, you are definitely eligible with separate tickets because your entire itinerary will be less than 24 hours. You will print out your tickets and have those printouts with you. Also, you will declare at check-in in Vancouver that you will travel to Japan via China using 24 hour visa free transit.

Upon your arrival in Xaimen, you will approach 24 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit. This will allow you to travel through the next segment that will be a domestic flight.

Basically, this is it. It is not so complicated :)

Hi Zupan,

Thank you very very much for your answer. Its so so helpful. All I need to do now is just move my flight to Japan to within 24 hours of arriving China and the problem will be solved.

I was initially gonna stay at Shanghai for 1.5 days but it required Visa haha.

With all your help, I found a perfect solution now.

And one more question if you don't mind Zupan. I will arrive at Hongqiao but my flight to Japan is at Pudong. It shouldn't be any problem due to its still within Shanghai right?

Thanks Zupan. Thanks a lot for your help

It is definitely allowed to use both, Hongqiao and Pudong airports within the single 24 hour visa free transit itinerary :)

Hi Zupan,

Thank you very much for you help

It has been a wonderful help from you and I literally can't ask for more.

Now I am worry free for my travel. Be I call up a few travel centre at my city to ask for the same situation, if I need a visa. Some of them say no, some say yes so I m confused. Prob I thìnk those said yes just want me to spend money with them to make a Visa.

I am pretty sure the answer from you is correct Zupan as you guys are organizing trips and super knowledgeable

Thanks Zupan

Your itinerary:

Vancouver - Xiamen - Shanghai - Tokyo

Your total stay in China, counting from your first scheduled arrival, in your case in Xiamen, until your last scheduled departure, in your case from Shanghai, is less than 24 hours...

Verdict:

You are perfectly eligible for 24 hour visa free transit in China and you don't need any kind of visa. You will see by yourself. Your itinerary is the alphabet of visa free transit policy and not something that we should discuss about. Just be relaxed, print out your flight tickets, have those printouts with you and declare at check-in in Vancouver that you will travel to Japan via China using 24 hour visa free transit.

You will see that you will do it. Guaranteed!

Please, just return to this website after your successful trip and write here a sentence or two to tell us that we were right :)

Hi Zupan,

You have been a wonderful help buddy!

I really appreciate your time and your knowledge :)

I wish you have a wonderful Xmas coming up!

Hi Zupan

I hope you are doing well.

I have a other the question if you don't mind me asking.

So as I am transit through Xiamen (2 hour layover) then flying to Shanghai. Which city do I obtain the 24hr visa-free permit from? (Xiamen or Shanghai?). I want to walk around Shanghai and also transferring airports from Pudong to Hongqiao to flight to Tokyo.

Thank you very much Zupan.

Andrew, glad to hear from you :)

Your question is very logical and the answer will be very easy.

As we have already mentioned in our first posts, you will have the printouts of your flight tickets with you and you will declare at check-in in Vancouver that you will travel to Japan via China using 24 hour visa free transit. You will be allowed to board the plane, of course.

Here, one very important detail. Since you are flying by XiamenAir all the way to Shanghai, you will have to inform yourself at check-in in Vancouver about your luggage. It is possible that your luggage will be tagged all the way to Shanghai, but it is also possible that you will have to collect it in Xiamen and after that make a recheck for your flight to Shanghai. I have taken a look and have realized that your flight from Xiamen to Shanghai, if you will fly on MF8501, lands at Hongqiao and not Pudong airport. This is not a problem at all, but you have to know that you will have to take your Peach flight from another airport and that is Pudong airport.

Now, listen. Upon your arrival in Xiamen, the very first thing what will you do is to approach 24 hour visa free transit counter. At his counter you will apply for a temporary entry permit. It is this permit that allows you a continuation of your journey because your next flight will be a domestic one and also this permit will allow you to explore Shanghai as you wish. This permit is that thing that travelers wrongly call 24 hour visa free. In reality, your journey through China will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit, but to be allowed to exit the airport, you need a temporary entry permit and you will obtain one in Xiamen.

If you need some additional clarifications, just don't hesitate to ask. Of course, I wish a blessed Christmas to you and also to your entire family :)

Hello Zupan,

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend!

This is so so nice of you with a very detail reply and I can surely feel that you have put so much heart and care into your reply. I really appreciate it and thank you Zupan!

You are correct, I will take the MF8501 from Xiamen to Shanghai and land on Hongqiao. Then I will use the 24 Hr Visa to get out and see the city then come back to Pudong to take Peach to Tokyo

If you don't mind, Can I listed out what I have understand below and see if I am correct?

1) At Vancouver airport, show the airticket from ShangHai to Tokyo to the counter

2) Tell the counter that I will be travelling to Japan through China using the 24-hour Visa Free Transit (Do I have to inform Vancouver counter that I will be applying for the Temporary Entry Permit as well?)

3) Ask the counter if my luggage will be tagged all the way to Shanghai or I have to re-checkin at Xiamen

4) Upon arrived to Xiamen airport, immediately go to 24-hour Visa centre to apply for Temporary Entry Permit (To allow me to explore the city)

5) After gets the permit, go back to the Gate to board to Shanghai and I can get out of Shanghai using Temporary Entry Permit

6) Take transit to go back Pudong to board for Peach to Tokyo

--

Thank you very much Zupan

I wish you and your family having a wonderful Xmas and a prosperous New Year coming up!

Sincerely,

Andrew, thank you for your kind words :)

Here are the answers to your questions:

1. Exactly.
2. You will tell exactly that, but you don't need to mention the fact about the temporary entry permit because everything that interests Canadian authorities is whether your entire transit time through China is less than 24 hours long.
3. Exactly.
4. Exactly.
5. Exactly. This permit will allow you to literally enter China and to do a small exploration of Shanghai.
6. Exactly.

I wish all the best and all the blessings to you and to your family too :)

Hello Zupan,

Thank you very very much for all your time and your help.

I am having so much more clarity after your explanation and I really really appreciate your time and your knowledge

I wish you and your family to have a wonderful New Year coming up!

Happy New Year and for sure it will be a prosperous one!

Sincerely,