Question

Asked by PW from united states | Oct. 12, 2025 17:46

About:Visa on Arrival

240 hr transit visa

US citizen, will enter Shenzhen from Hongkong via 20:00 (8 PM) ferry, arrive Shekou port around 21:00 (9pm) , is the office open to process the 240 hr transit visa? have flight ticket booked to exit China from Shanghai direct to US.

On average how long does it take?

Thanks

Reply

Answers (4)

Answered by Borut | Oct. 13, 2025 05:36

0 0 Reply

Yes, the office is open at that time even if you have decided to take a later ferry. You have to be careful not to confuse yourself in order to cross Hong Kong immigration because if you do that you will not be able to use Skypier and the ferry route from HKIA Skypier to Shekou. You should have ready to present your Shanghai to US ticket, preferably as a printout or at least as a screenshot in order to expedite the whole process. Upon your arrival in Shekou you will fill out arrival card, perform fingerprinting and after that you will approach 24/240 hour visa free transit counter or approach immigration. The whole process until you have cleared all the formalities will take up to 60 minutes. OK, maybe some 15 minutes more if the ferry from HKIA is full of non Chinese citizens. In any case, it should not be more than 75 minutes after you have exited the ferry in Shekou. Between Shenzhen to Shanghai you can use any mode of transport. Please, be careful about one detail... You are not looking for Shenzhen 5 day visa on arrival because you will see some people applying for one, but for 240 hour visa free transit. Have a nice visit to China.

0 0 Reply

Answered by PW | Oct. 13, 2025 19:01

0 0 Reply

Thank you for the detailed answer.
Actually , I just looked our planned itinerary , we are taking the ferry from Hongkong island (Sheung wan) to Shekou on a Sunday evening in November, can I take the last ferry at 20:45 arrive Shekou port at 21:40 , do you think I will have enough time to get the 240 transit visa before the custom close at 22:30 (I find this time online)? I already have the flightticket from Shanghai to US booked. We are party of 4, only one person needs transit visa, the other 3 people have valid Chines visa.
Thank you very much for your help.

0 0 Reply

Answered by Borut | Oct. 14, 2025 15:21

0 0 Reply

PW, you will successfully accomplish your travel plan because it is perfectly fine to arrive at Shekou port at your planned time. This is something you should not worry about. They have carefully calculated the time in order to process all the arriving passengers including those who plan to travel within mainland China on 240 hour visa free transit. Just one detail here, please, use correct terminology and do not mention transit visa or similar because it is 240 hour visa free transit that you are looking for. There is no visa at all. By mentioning a phrase "transit visa" you can confuse the authorities because they could think that you are looking for something that does not exist there. Also, be very careful not to apply for a Shenzhen 5 day visa on arrival. This is something you do not need and you will not fill out a form for that visa. You will fill out arrival card. Everything will be fine, I guarantee and after a short check you will clear all the formalities. Again, have your flight ticket from Shanghai to US printed out or at least as a screenshot on your smartphone. This is very useful detail. Have a wonderful journey.

0 0 Reply

Answered by PW | Oct. 14, 2025 21:10

0 0 Reply

Thank you so much, very helpful.

0 0 Reply

See more answers...

Related Questions: