72 hour transit

Question

I am a British citizen/ passport holder. I am due to fly from Hong Kong to Shanghai (arriving in Shanghai 10.10am on Monday 19th February), spend some time in Shanghai, then fly back to London via Hong Kong again (leaving Shanghai at 8.40am on Wednesday 21st February), then onward flight to London later that day. As I will technically be both entering and exiting Shanghai from Hong Kong, does this mean I am not eligible for the 72 hours visa free transit?

Frank · Answer

Your understanding is right. Since you fly from and to HK, the visa-free transit is not available. You can either change your itinerary or obtain a Chinese visa in advance.

Borut · Answer

Anyway, you can easily make your journey eligible for 144 hour visa free transit (72 hour visa free transit was replaces by more generous 144 hour visa free transit in Shanghai years ago). In other words, you can just change one of your Shanghai flight segments to start or terminate in Macau, for example:Macau - Shanghai - Hong Kong - LondonorHong Kong - Shanghai - Macau - Hong Kong (by ferry) - LondonWith just a bit of creativity, you will have a visa free eligible itinerary.

Emma · Answer

Thanks! Presumably if I changed my return flight to go direct to London (so HK to Shanghai to London) then I would be eligible too?

Frank · Answer

Yes, there is no problem of this new itinerary.

72 hour transit

Related Questions: