Question

Asked by Geoff Rees from uk | Oct. 29, 2019 05:25

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Does the 144 hour Visa Waiver apply for cruises?

Hi, I am planing to embark on a cruise that departs and returns to Shanghai but does not dock at any other mainland China port. It does dock in Hong Kong but I understand that this is allowed?
I plan to fly in/out of Shanghai airport and from the information above I understand that if the 144 hour waiver is applicable for me then I need to visit the visa free counter in the airport. Will the cruise ticket/itinerary be applicable as evidence of visits to a third country?

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Answers (2)

Answered by ZUPAN | Oct. 29, 2019 13:25

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Part one:

Geoff, you have informed yourself in a very efficient way. Indeed, you are allowed to enjoy 144 hour visa free transit during both of your stops in Shanghai. Also, a stop in Hong Kong has nothing to do with this entire story because Hong Kong is considered as a third country for visa free transit purposes or in other words in the same way as it is considered Bangkok or Tokyo. I will present you several conditions that your entire itinerary has to fulfill to be 100% eligible for this visa free transit option:

- Your flight to Shanghai from, I assume, UK should not have any additional landing within mainland China and in the country where your cruise will have its first port of call, immediately after Shanghai
- Your cruise is not allowed to have its first port of call, immediately after Shanghai, in mainland China port - this is obviously resolved
- Your cruise is not allowed to have its last port of call, immediately before Shanghai, in mainland China port - this is obviously resolved
- Your flight from Shanghai to, I assume UK should not have any additional landing within mainland China and in the country where your cruise will have its last port of call, immediately before Shanghai.

If the above mentioned conditions are fulfilled and you should check for them, then you will be definitely eligible for 144 hour visa free transit during your both stops in Shanghai.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Oct. 29, 2019 13:26

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Part two:

Also, you will print out your flight and cruise tickets and have those printouts with you. Also, you will declare at check-in in UK that you will travel to (here you will mention the country that comes as the first one immediately after Shanghai) via Shanghai using 144 hour visa free transit.

Upon your arrival in Shanghai you will approach 144 hour visa free transit counter, fill out the blue form and after a couple of minutes, you will get a sticker in your passport and be allowed to exit the airport and to spend your time as you wish until your cruise departure.

Please, have in mind that in case that your transit time in Shanghai, from your scheduled arrival, until your scheduled departure, is less than 24 hours, in that case you will be eligible for 24 hour visa free transit. So, if your transit time will be less than 24 hours, you will decalre that you will travel on 24 hour visa free transit and if your transit time is longer for just a minute than 24 hours, then you will travel on 144 hour visa free transit. The same thing is valid for your second stop in Shanghai. In any case, you will be eligible for visa free transit being it 24 or 144 hour visa free transit and you don't need any kind of visa.

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