FAQs on 72-hour Visa-free
1. Q: What is Visa-free Transit?
A: Visa-free transit refers to the policy that foreign visitor go to the third country (region) through a country, and there is no need applying for visa of transit country and foreign visitor can have a short stay in transit country.
2. Q: What requirements are needed to apply for the 72-hour visa-free transit in Beijing and Shanghai airport?
A: Three requirements: 1. foreign visitors from 45 countries listed for 72-hour visa-free stay in China; 2. possessing a valid international travel documents and dated air tickets; 3. transiting through Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to the third country (region).
3. Q: Foreign visitors from which countries can apply for the 72-hour visa-free stay in China? Why these countries?
A: There are 45 countries(regions) listed for 72-hour visa-free stay in China, and they are Austria, Belgium, the Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. These 45 countries are on the list according to the numbers of foreign travelers visiting Beijing and Shanghai in recent years.
4. Q: How is the 72-hour counted?
A: The 72 hours will be counted from the time when the transit permit is proved, not from the time when the flight land at the airport.
5. Q: How does a qualified foreign visitor to apply for 72-hour visa-free stay in China?
A: Qualified foreign visitors apply for 72-hour visa-free stay in China from the airline that will take you to Beijing or Shanghai, and the airline will declare your application to Beijing or Shanghai Frontier Check Organ. You will be allowed to enjoy 72-hour visa-free stay in China with the approval.
6. Q: Whether foreign visitors could buy the plane ticket to the third country transiting China after entering into China?
A: It is not applicable for a qualified foreign visitor to transit China without a dated plane ticket.
7. Q: If a foreign visitor with a round-trip ticket from a country to China within 72hours, whether it is applicable?
A: The policy of 72-hour visa-free stay in China is aimed to the foreign visitors go to the third destination country (region) transiting China, so it is not applicable. For example, a traveler from New York transit Beijing and return to Los Angeles, and it is not workable.
8. Q: Whether a foreign visitor with 72-hour visa-free stay can leave Beijing or Shanghai to other cities in China? What if they do not depart China within 72 hours due to special reasons?
A: Foreign visitors with 72-hour visa-free stay could not leave Beijing or Shanghai, if they must leave due to special reasons, they should apply for a Chinese visa. Foreign visitors with 72-hour visa-free stay must depart China timely, if they stay overtime, they should apply for a Chinese visa, or you'll be warned, fined or detained for a few days depending on the circumstances.
9. Q: Foreign visitors apply for 72-hour visa-free stay in China transiting Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), whether they could apply to depart from Shanghai airport?
A: Foreign visitors apply for 72-hour visa-free stay in China transiting Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), and they could not depart from Shanghai airport.
10. Q: I arrive in China by train at Beijing west railway station, can I apply for 72-hour visa-free stay?
A: Currently, this policy is only applicable for those who arrive in Beijing or Shanghai by air, through Beijing Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).
11. Q: Whether 48-hour visa-free stay in China is still in use in Beijing and Shanghai port?
A: After the new policy of 72-hour visa-free stay carries out, the old policy is abolished.
12. Q: How do foreign visitors contact port inspection organs if any questions?
A: If any questions, foreign visitors can consult for Beijing or Shanghai port inspection organs, Phone to Beijing port inspection organ: 86-010-56095400; phone to Shanghai port inspection organ: 86-21-51105100; or leave message on the website of Ministry of Public Security: www.mps.gov.cn .
Enjoy a Visa-free Tour in China:
1 Day Great Wall Tour at Jinshanling Hiking Tour
1 Day Great Wall, Temple of Heaven & Olympic Tour
One Day Zhou Zhuang Water Village
