Question

Asked by Karen Johnson from united kingdom | Oct. 27, 2025 10:42

About:240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

UK-Beijing-Shanghai-Cruise-Shanghai-UK - Visa requirements

Hi. The only confusion I have regarding this is whether taking a cruise from Shanghai to Jeju, Japan and back to Shanghai resets the 10 day period? For clarity this would be our itinerary.

12/4/2026 - Fly UK- Beijing
13/4/2026 - 16/4/2026 Hotel Beijing
16/4/2026 - Hotel Shanghai
18/4/2026 - Cruise. Depart Shanghai Cruise Port
20/4/2026 - Stop South Korea
21/4/2026 - 24/4/2026 Stop in Japan
26/4/2026 - Cruise. Arrive Shanghai - Hotel
27/4/2026 - Depart Shanghai to UK

We would like to know whether returning cruise passengers are routinely processed as new arrivals at Baoshan/Shanghai for visa-free admission. In essence, would we be granted a 240 hour visa free transit up to the point of the cruise and another on our return to Shanghai?

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Answers (3)

Answered by Borut | Oct. 28, 2025 01:17

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Your entire itinerary is definitely and without any doubt eligible for 2 x 240 hour visa free transit.

It is important to understand that 240 hour visa free transit works in the same way with cruise departures/arrivals in the same way as it does with flights. Basically, the essential detail is that the immediate points before and after your mainland China visit are located in two different countries or eligible territories (eligible territories are Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau). As you can see, your first itinerary (in the eyes of the Chinese immigration authorities) is UK - China - South Korea (Jeju). Here this scheme resets and you can use another one. Another one will be: Japan - China - UK. Again, perfectly eligible.

Here just one detail to inform you more precisely. If your stay in Shanghai after your arrival from Japan is shorter than 24 hours (counting from your scheduled arrival in Shanghai by cruise, until your scheduled departure to UK by plan) you will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit, but if it is longer for at least a minute, you will be covered by 240 hour visa free transit. For you it is perfectly the same, but I just wanted to inform you in order to avoid any possible confusion that may arise by this 24 or 240 hour visa free transit terminology. So, you do not need any kind of visa and I wish you a wonderful journey.

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Answered by Karen Johnson | Oct. 29, 2025 03:42

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Thank you for taking the time to reply, very much appreciated. That has now set my mind at rest. We will be taking a flight home the day following the cruise in case of any delays so will need the second 240 hour visa. Thanks again

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Answered by Borut | Oct. 29, 2025 23:48

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You're welcome :)

You should not worry at all. Your itinerary is a textbook example on how to use 240 hour visa free transit scheme in an excellent way. When we talk about your return overnight in Shanghai, I would like to inform you that only the scheduled times (your scheduled docking time by cruise and your scheduled departure time by plane) are relevant in determining whether you will be assigned 24 or 240 hour visa free transit. In both cases this is the same for you and you should not worry about that even if your flight is delayed. This is all very flexible. Again, this is just for your information and to bother you with some formalities. You will have a wonderful time and the most important detail is that you will travel absolutely visa free :)

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