transit visa

Question

I am a UK citizen that is working in Hong Kong. I’m flying to Seoul and then I intend to stop off in Beijing for two days before I fly back to Hong Kong.So in short: Hong Kong – Seoul   Seoul-Beijing   Beijing-Hong KongWould this qualify me for the 72-144-hour VISA? And would I just fill in the necessary paperwork at the airport? In other words, there isn’t any paperwork that I need to prepare before my arrival in Beijing?I will take my passport, my Hong Kong ID card, my boarding passes and proof of temporary accommodation in Beijing to the airport, but is there anything else that I am missing here?One more question is would I still be eligible for the transit VISA if I booked a train back to Hong Kong from Beijing instead of getting a flight? And if so, do I need to arrive in Hong Kong within the trans VISA time limit? Or can I still be on the bullet train after the VISA time expires?

ZUPAN · Answer

Part one:Actually, your itinerary:Seoul - Beijing - Hong KongIs perfectly eligible for 144 hour visa free transit since 72 hour visa free transit has been discontinued a couple of years ago. You will need your valid UK passport, printout of your flight tickets and preferably an accommodation booking confirmation printout. You really don't need anything else. You will declare at check-in in Seoul that you will travel to Hong Kong via Beijing using 144 hour visa free transit. After a short inspection, you will be allowed to board the plane.Upon your arrival in Beijing, you will approach 144 hour visa free transit counter where you will fill out the blue form, beside the yellow form that you will fill out on board the plane between Seoul and Beijing. After that you will present your flight ticket and the forms to the authorities. After a short inspection, you will get a sticker in your passport for free and be allowed to exit the airport and to explore Beijing area.

ZUPAN · Answer

Part two:You are definitely allowed to take a train instead of a flight to reach Hong Kong. Anyway, it cannot be a high speed train, but a conventional one, overnight through train that departs from Beijing West railway station every other day and arrives at Hung Hom railway station in Hong Kong. Please, keep in mind that you are required to book this train in advance and to have an e-confirmation for the train in your hand already at check-in in Seoul. Also, as far as your question is concerned, when you board the train, you have de jure left mainland China, so if you leave Beijing on your sixth day, your are fine although the train will still be within mainland China even during your seventh day. Anyway, this is not a problem because as far as the Chinese immigration is concerned, you have already left the country at Beijing West railway station when you have boarded the train. Also, please, use correct terminology because it is 144 hours visa free (without visa) transit and not a transit visa because there is no visa at all!

Transit Visa

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