Question

Asked by Stephen Chung from united kingdom | Oct. 09, 2025 07:36

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

HK airport TWOV into china.

Hi, a family of British passport holders here, with a question about the 240 hours TWOV.

First part of my journey is to fly from the UK to Hong Kong, then to fly to Bangkok for a week.

Then my question to you.

I am planning on flying from Bangkok to Hong Kong then to use the Skyferry service at Hong Kong airport to directly catch a ferry from the airport to Nansha port in Guangzhou- to not enter Hong Kong immigration at the airport. I would then like to exit Shenzhen to Hong Kong 7 days later via a scheduled train from Futian to Hong Kong West Kowloon (with booked seats). I would then fly from HK to the UK a few days later.

Is the above allowed under the 240 hour TWOV ?

Since I will not enter HK immigration when I land from Bangkok, and since I will enter China it will be via the approved Nansha ferry port and also I will exit via train to Hong Kong via approved Futian train station in Shenzhen.

Have I got this correct?

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Answers (3)

Answered by Borut | Oct. 10, 2025 00:14

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Unfortunately, your intention is not eligible under 240 hour visa free transit. The reason is simple. In the eyes of the mainland Chinese immigration authorities your immediate points, before and after mainland China are located in one eligible territory - Hong Kong. It really does not matter that you will not cross Hong Kong immigration because you will be de facto arriving from Hong Kong where the Skypier is located. As far as you know, 240 hour visa free transit requires that the immediate points (regardless what kind of stop you had there) before and after mainland China are located in two different countries or eligible territories. This is not the case in your itinerary. However, you can make some tiny changes and make your itinerary eligible by introducing Macau into equation. So, you can take a ferry from Skypier upon your landing, visit mainland China and then exit toward Macau by ferry from Shekou (in Shenzhen). As soon as you have arrived in Macau, you will just change for a ferry to Hong Kong. Also, another option is that you take a bus from HKIA to Macau upon your landing and then to take a ferry from Macau to Shekou (in Shenzhen). After that you can really return to Hong Kong by train. As you can see, these tiny changes are essential to make your itinerary an eligible one. It is important to understand that you will have to buy your exit tickets (being they by train or be ferry) from mainland China in advance, even before you depart toward mainland China from Hong Kong or Macau. I wish you a nice visit to China.

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Answered by Stephen Chung | Oct. 10, 2025 21:42

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Thank you for the update.

So if I amend my itinerary to this, will it work ok for 240 TWOV?

UK - HK - MACAU - Mainland China - HK

If I land into HK then clear immigration and board a bus to Macau from HK airport. Stay the morning in MACAU then catch the ferry to Shenzhen - it is ok that I will have spent only a few hours in MACAU?

I would then spend 9 days in Mainland China before catching a train from Futian Shenzhen to West Kowloon (will have the ticket booked in advance of entering the mainland).

On a separate note, inset TWOV an I allocated to catch a train from Guangzhou to Sanya?

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Answered by Borut | Oct. 13, 2025 00:10

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Yes, your amended itinerary is definitely eligible for 240 hour visa free transit. There is no doubt about it. When you land in HK you can really take a bus to Macau and from Macau you can immediately take a ferry to Shekou port in Shenzhen. You should take care about the fact that from Macau (Outer Harbour) there are daily 4 departures spread throughout the day and one additional during weekend days, so plan accordingly. You can check the sailing schedules on TurboJet ferries website. It is definitely irrelevant how long will you stay in Macau. So, before you departb from Macau you will buy your ferry ticket from Shekou to Hong Kong or train ticket if you think that the train option is more convenient and if you ask me, I will confirm that. Taking a train as a mean of exit from mainland China toward Hong Kong is eligible. It is not eligible in the opposite direction. Also, the answer to your last question is, yes, you can do that. There is no doubt about it. You are allowed to cross the provincial boundaries and beside taking a train you can also fly on domestic routes. Just be careful to use exactly that ticket to exit the mainland China as you have bought and presented as your exit option from mainland China. Have a wonderful journey.

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