Question

Asked by Muhammad from pakistan | Nov. 08, 2025 04:53

About:24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Layover in Guangzhou 23 hours

I am planning to fly from Melbourne to Islamabad on Pakistani Passport through China Southern Airline. The flight has a layover in Guangzhou for 23 hours. Will I be granted 24 hours visa free entry into the city so I can rest with family? Is there a risk that my entry will be denied as I will be travelling with children and 23 hour layover inside the airport will be difficult.

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Answers (3)

Answered by Borut | Nov. 09, 2025 23:41

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Muhammad, the main and the most important detail is that you do not need any kind of visa to perform your flight itinerary because you will be covered by 24 hour visa free transit. As far as your exit from the airport is concerned, since you have children with you, is not guaranteed, but is practically certain, I would say with 99% certainty. It is essential to understand the the exit from the airport is not a passenger right, but a bonus that is granted to those with long layovers (as it is yours), with those traveling with small children (as you do) and to disabled persons. Even in these cases, the issuing of temporary entry permit is done on a case by case basis. Again, your chances are really 99% and to even increase them, a strong recommendation is to book an overnight in a hotel before your landing in Guangzhou. Here is what will you do upon landing in Guangzhou:

- When you land in Guangzhou you will fill out arrival card (you will find it at the airport) and you will tick the box - transit on it.
- You will after that proceed to fingerprinting machine where you will perform fingerprinting.
- You will approach 24/240 hour visa free transit counter where you will apply for a temporary entry permit (this is not a visa, but just a permit that allows you to exit the airport (transit area) during your transit time). Here you will present your flight tickets (have them as printouts), arrival card, fingerprinting receipt and your hotel booking.
- After a short check, you will be granted a temporary entry permit and you will head to the immigration and then to the city to enjoy your time on your own.

I hope you will be successful and I wish you a wonderful journey.

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Answered by MQ | Nov. 10, 2025 04:46

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Hi Mohammad,
I believe I’m the right person to share my experience regarding Pakistani passport holders trying to exit the airport during a transit in China. The answer is no, you cannot exit. I had a 9-hour layover and did all the research beforehand. I even emailed Beijing Capital Airport to confirm whether I needed a visa, and they replied that I did not. Based on that, I booked and paid for a hotel.
However, when I tried to exit the airport, immigration did not allow me to leave. The immigration officers did not speak English, so they couldn’t explain why. I showed them the confirmation email, but they still refused. Online information also suggests that you can exit, but in my experience, this is not possible.
This was my experience from October 2025.

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Answered by Borut | Nov. 11, 2025 03:39

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MQ, as I have already explained, the exit from the airport is not a passenger right and nobody has to explain why you were denied a temporary entry permit. Also, I explained that this scheme is treated on case by case basis at 24/240 hour visa free transit counter and not at the immigration section! Another important detail is that Mohammad has 23 hour long layover and he travels with children. If the hotel accommodation is booked, the chances to exit the airport are excellent, although not guaranteed. This is something that I have written as well. In other words, when somebody travels on 24 hour visa free transit the right is to travel via China visa free, but not to exit the airport. The right to exit the airport when traveling on 24 hour visa free transit is more or less an urban legend. Yes, when certain criteria are met, the chances to be allowed to exit the airport are better than when such criteria do not exist. Again, 24 hour travel without visa does not imply the right to exit the airport! This is something everybody should be aware of. The possibility exits, but nobody can guarantee that.

As you can see, you emailed Beijing airport asking whether you need a visa and they replied that you do not. An really, you travelled your journey visa free. No visa is needed. However, Beijing airport did not tell you that you can exit the airport because this is not your right. OK, I hope you have understood everything so far.

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