72hr transit visa query

Question

Hello, Happy New Year :) I have a flight from London to Beijing PKX arriving on 25.March at 15:30 PKX. I then have another flight departing PKX on 28.March at 10:00 for Tokyo. Both flight are with China Southern Airlines. My question is, will this first flight be considered as layover, qualifying for the 72 hr transit visa or not? If it qualifies do I let them know at check in and get the transit visa on arrival in Beijing Daxing airport?My return is from Tokyo on 16.April via PKX to London with 18hrs layover in PKX. Also China Southern Airlines. I believe this qualifies for the transit visa, but I'm not sure of the first as I bought it in 2 separate flights to gain an extra day stay rather than in 1. All flights are with the same Airlines.

Borut · Answer

Both of your itineraries are eligible for visa free transit and you do not need any kind of visa.Your first flight will be eligible for 144 hour visa free transit because your stay in wider Beijing area will be longer than 24 hours. It is 144 and not 72 hours in Beijing. You will just announce in London at check-in that you will fly to Tokyo via Beijing using 144 visa free transit. You will present your flight tickets and that will be enough. You are advised to have your flight tickets in hard copy at hand. Upon arrival in Beijing you will approach 144 hour visa free transit where you will present your flight tickets and preferably your hotel booking confirmation for the first night (also as hard copy) and you will be allowed to exit the airport and to enjoy your time on your own.Your second flight will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit because your entire transit time will be shorter than 24 hours. In any case, no visa is needed. Again, you will approach transit counter upon your landing in Beijing where you will present your tickets in order to be allowed to exit the airport. Also, it is perfectly eligible to travel on separate tickets and with unrelated airlines. You will be fine.

72hr transit visa query

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