Question

Asked by David B from united states | Aug. 25, 2025 08:21

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Do I need a Visa for a business trip from the US to Shenzhen (China) that lasts 7 days?

I am flying from Atlanta (US) to Shenzhen (China) in October. We depart Atlanta on 10/11 and arrive at ICN airport in South Korea on 10/13. After a 4-hour layover, we then we fly from ICN to Shenzhen (China), arriving on 10/13. After attending a multi-day meeting with other colleagues from my company, we depart Shenzhen airport on 10/18 to return home. We fly from Shenzhen to ICN (South Korea), and then fly to Atlanta on 10/18.

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Answers (1)

Answered by Borut | Aug. 25, 2025 23:32

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David, it is not that business nature of your trip is problematic because it is not, but the main issue here is the fact that your itinerary is not eligible for any kind of visa free transit, 240 hour visa free transit included. The basic rule of 240 hour visa free transit requires that the immediate points before and after your visit to mainland China have to be in two different countries or eligible territories (eligible territories are Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau). As you can see, both of your immediate points are located in just one country - South Korea. This is considered as a round trip and not a transit. In other words, if you want to retain your current itinerary you will have to obtain a Chinese visa in advance. Alternatively, you could approach to the subject in a more creative way if your current itinerary is flexible and to create an itinerary that will be eligible for 240 hour visa free transit. For example something like: US - Seoul - Hong Kong - Shenzhen (to Shekou port by ferry directly from Hong Kong International Airport) - Seoul - US. If you only can do something like this, that would be ideal because you would be spared from a visa obtaining procedure.

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