Question

Asked by zs from malaysia | Mar. 30, 2026 08:32

About:24-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Transiting through Urumqi

My colleague (Singaporean) and I (Malaysian) will be transiting in China with China Southern Airlines under the following itinerary (we do not intend to leave the airport or transit area):

From Singapore to Georgia
Singapore (SIN) 03:55 to Guangzhou (CAN) 08:15
Guangzhou (CAN) 10:00 to Urumqi (URC) 15:10
Urumqi (URC) 20:05 to Georgia (TBS) 21:20

From Georgia to Singapore
Georgia (TBS) 22:50 to Urumqi (URC) 07:25
Urumqi (URC) 10:45 to Guangzhou (CAN) 16:00
Guangzhou (CAN) 23:00 to Singapore (SIN) 03:05

We would appreciate your clarification on the following:
1. Is the 24-hour visa-free transit (TWOV) applicable to us?
2. Are we required to apply for a transit visa (G visa)?
3. As Singaporean and Malaysian citizens are eligible for 30-day visa-free entry to China, do we still need a visa for transit?
4. Is the transit time in Guangzhou and Urumqi sufficient, considering our citizenship and visa requirements?
5. What will the transit procedure look like upon arrival in China from Singapore and Georgia? Will we need to recheck our baggage or pass through customs?

Thank you.

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Answers (4)

Answered by Borut | Mar. 31, 2026 06:55

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1. The citizens of Malaysia and Singapore do not need a visa to enter, stay and explore China for up to 30 days. You can enter China absolutely visa free. The details like 24, 240 visa free transit, temporary entry permit or similar are not related to you at all. So, TWOV is not applicable to you because you enter China visa free.
2. No, you do not need a visa at all. You enter China absolutely visa free.
3. No, you do not need any kind of visa
4. You will perform your immigration formalities in Guangzhou during your first segment and in Urumqi during your second segment. You have enough time in both cases. Here is the order of the formalities:
- Upon landing in Guangzhou (or in Urumqi on your second segment) you will fill out arrival cards. You can also fill out arrival cards online ahead of your travel through the official site of National Immigration Administration.
- After that fingerprinting at automatic fingerprinting machines.
- After that you will approach immigration and formally enter China because your next flight will be a domestic one.
- Upon arrival in Urumqi (or Guangzhou on your segment segment) you will cross the exit immigration for your flight out of China.
5. The procedure is exactly the same as I have explained it above. Your time in both Guangzhou and Urumqi is sufficient. As far as your last question is concerned, this is something impossible for me to answer, but if you have bought your tickets as a single booking (through ticket, for example through China Southern) the highest chance is that you will not have to bother with baggage handling, but it will be done by transit airports. Hope this helps.

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Answered by zs | May. 04, 2026 15:28

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Hi, thank you for your reply—it was really helpful. My colleague and I have now booked tickets to Georgia, transiting via China, with layovers of around 2 hours in Shenzhen and Urumqi. We hope this will be fine, as our original flight routes were cancelled and rescheduled several times.

By the way, since we are transiting in China, do we need to complete the “Filing Accommodation Registration for Foreigners”?

Thank you for your response.

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Answered by Bruce | May. 05, 2026 18:12

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No, since you just transit here, there is no need “Filing Accommodation Registration for Foreigners”. But you really need to fill in the "Arrival Card", before or uopon your arrival.

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Answered by zs | May. 06, 2026 05:01

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Thank you for all your response and help!

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