Beijing 144 Hours Free Visa Transit

169 thoughts on “Beijing 144 Hours Free Visa Transit”

1. Hello Hanna,

   The free-visa transit stay policy clearly says that if you arrive either in Beijing or Shanghai, then fly to a third country, you will enjoy free-visa stay either in Beijing or Shanghai. But you cannot enjoy free-visa transit stay for the two cities on the same flight routes.

   You cannot fly from Beijing to Shanghai or from Shanghai to Beijing; you must fly to a third country, so that you can enjoy the free-visa stay either in Beijing or Shanghai.

   In short, in your case, you are eligible for free-visa stay either in Beijing or Shanghai – just one city, not put them together. Hope you understand what I mean. Have a good layoer either in Beijing or in Shanghai.

   Helsinki – Beijing – Singapore ( OK )

   Or Helsinki – Shanghai – Singapore (OK)

   Not Helsinki – Shanghai – Beijing – Singapore ( NO way!)

2. if my flight arrives at 9:30pm, Jan 30, 2014 and we had booked for a 3-day tour, when will the 72 hr visa free stay starts. I’m booking a flight out of Beijing Feb, 2 at around 8pm. Will I be within the 72 hr visa free stay. Shall I just lounge at the airport overnight and asked to be picked up by the tour driver the next morning?

3. If i arrive at Beijing airport at 9:30 pm of jan 30, 2014 and had booked for a 3 day Beijing visa free tour, when will the 72 hour limit starts? Will I have to lounge at the airport overnight and be picked up by the tour the next day. If I depart for the Philippines on the night of Feb 2, 2014, am I within the 72 hour window frame. Please advise,.Thanks

4. Hello Maria,

   Your 72-hour transit stay in Beijing Starts with the time when you have your passort and boarding card stamped when you go through the customs. You must be back to the airpirt within 72 hours.

5. Hello,

   I am planning to go to Philippines. I’m from Vancouver, not resident yet under Philippine passport and my itinerary flight will have stopover via Beijing for 10 hours as well as my return flight. I have no plan to go anywhere but to stay in the airport and wait for my next flight. Do I need transit visa for this itinerary and vice versa?

   Vancouver – Beijing (layover) – Philippines
   Philippines – Beijing (layover) Vancouver

   Thanks and appreciated.

   sincerely,
   thea

6. Hello Thea,

   If you remain inside Beijing airport for the 10-hour layover, you don’t need a transit visa. Please reconfirm it with your airline that brings you from Vancouver to Beijing.

7. My father will have a 15 hr layover in Beijing on July 16, 2014 from United States to the Philippines. He is interested in a layover day tour of Beijing city highlights from the airport. From your information he is eligible for 72 hour visa free stay but it seems a lot of work; i.e. registering with police? Is this necessary and how can he do this?

   thank you for any information.

8. Hi,

   I am a resident of the United States and in March I am going to New Zealand and Australia. On the way back from Australia, I have a layover in Beijing and then returning home to the US. Will I be eligible for the 72 hour transit free visa? Also, are private tours customizable? Thank you.

9. Hello Christine,

   Happy Chinese New Year! Yes, sure you are eligible for the 72-hours free-visa transit stay in Beijing. We have pre-arranged Beijing layover tours that could be tailor-made tour per your need. See the links below:

   http://www.tour-beijing.com/short-tours

10. Hello Grace Blount,

    Happy Chinese New Year! Very easy, no need for registering with police! Just getting the free-visa stay when he goes through the customs. Of course, he needs to fill up some necessary personal information.

11. Hi. I’ll be having a 15 hour layover in Beijing next week. I will be flying from the US to the Philippines. I am currently a US permanent resident. Will I be eligible for the 72 hour visa-free stay?

12. … I am a US permanent resident holding a Philippine passport, if that helps at all. Thank you!!!!

13. Hello Anica,

    As far as I know, this 72-hour free visa transit policy is designed for the citizens in the 45 designated countries including the USA. But you are not a US citizen, so you are not entiltled to the policy. You need a China visa. Have a good time in China.

14. Hello Anica,

    Sorry, you are not eligible for the visa-free stay simply because you are not a US citizen.

15. I’m wondering if i can fly into Beijing from the US, spend 72 hours there then fly to HK for 5 days, then fly back to beijing for another 24 hour stay before returning to the US? Or do I have to stay in the airport upon my return from HK to Beijing?

16. Hello Sasha,

    You can enjoy two visa free transit stay in Beijing on your the States-Beijing-Hk-Beijing-the States trip. So you don’t have to stay in the airport upon your return from Hk to Beijing. Have a good layover in Beijing!

17. hi, gud morning! im currently at beijing right now, im here with a F visa, and my duration of stay will only last for 14 days, i already applied for the extension of my visa, they gave me a application reciept which i could use to travel here in china, can i use this receipt to have a flight from beijing to zhejiang? do i have to present other documents aside from this. thank u

18. Hello Maryjhane,

    As far as I know, for domestic flights within China, the airport securities only check your passport instead of your visa. But it is safe to carry your application receipt on hand just in case. Have a good time in China!

19. thanks for the answer, my passport is in the municipal office right now nd it will be released on monday, however i have to fly to zhejiang on sunday, they told me that i could use the reciept, im just kinda hesitant that they will not allow me to go zhejiang withour my passport, but they say that the receipt will serve as my temporary passport, should i also bring the photocopy of my passport? thanks once again

20. Hello Maryjhane,

    As far as I know, you just do a they tell you to do simply because they work for the government. The receipt should serve as the official travel document. Your photocopy is not authoritative. One of our friends once lost his Chinese ID card, he later got a piece of paper ( similar to yours ) and went without any problem. Hopefully you are ok with the paper.

21. Hello Maryjhane,

    As far as I know, you just do a they tell you to do simply because they work for the government. The receipt should serve as the official travel document. Your photocopy is not authoritative. One of our friends once lost his Chinese ID card, he later got a piece of paper ( similar to yours ) and went without any problem. Hopefully you are ok with the paper.

22. ok thanks, i hope and pray that everything will gonna be just fine. thanks alot!

    is Daniel is your english name sir? are you Mr. Dai Honghai? thanks

23. Hello Maryjhane,

    Hopefully you have a great time in Zhejiang! Yes, Daniel is My English name. Hangzhou is the capital city of Zhejiang,worth your exploring for 1-2 day if you have time.

24. Hi! I am a US citizen and will be traveling to Hong Kong. I would like to visit the Great Wall, then back to Hong Kong. Do I qualify for 72 hour Visa

25. Hello Abe A.,

    If you fly from the States to Hong Kong via Beijing, you are eligible for up to 72 hours free-visa stay in Beijing. When you arrive at Beijing airport, you just fill up the form and get the permit for the free-visa stay on the sport. Have a good time in Beijing!

26. Hello!
    I’m travelling to Australia through Beijing and I do understand that I’m entitled of a 72h free-visa. My only question regards to “Contact Phone Number in Beijing, Address in Beijing, Reception Unit or Person, Reception Unit Phone Number”… I don’t know anyone in Beijing… I just want to visit the city while I wait the connection flight to Sydney! What information should I give?
    Thank you!

27. Cecilia CP,

    As far as I know, when you arrive at Beijing airport, you go through a special counter designed for 72 hour passengers who are required to fill up the form and get the permit to enter Beijing.

    I don’t know why you need to provide such information as you have mentioned – Contact Phone Number in Beijing, Address in Beijing, Reception Unit or Person, Reception Unit Phone Number.

    Actually you travel independently, why need such information? A little puzzled. Who has asked you for the information above?

28. Hello Cecilia CP,

    Just a follow up to my previous reply.

    I’ve just checked that you don’t have to provide Address and contact person in Beijing if you don’t stay in Beijing and have nobody to take you around the city.

    But this is just my personal reply, not an official confirmation and I don’t hold any responsibility for possible inability to enter Beijing.

    Have a good luck!

29. I am a filipino citizen but permanently resides in the united states and a green card holder, i purchased a ticket from houston texas going to philippines and i have a 15 hrs layover in beijing, do i stilll need to get a visa to exit beijing airport? Me and my wife wants to tour beijing during our layover. Thank you.

30. Hello Laura garcia,

    yes, you still need to apply for a China visa. American citizens are eligible for the visa-free 72 hours, not residents.

31. Hi Daniel

    I’m travelling to Beijing for 2 nights, then Shanghai for 3 nights and then Hong Kong. Will I be entitled to the free visa.

32. Hello Sharon,

    No, you must fly for a third country via Beijing or Shanghai for a transit 72 hour visa free stay either in Beijing or Shanghai. If you fly from Beijing to Shanghai, you are not eligible for the 72 hours. Beijing or Shanghai, not both.

33. Hello. We fly to shanghai from Seoul, stay there 65 hours and then fly to Taipei. Do we need a visa? Thanks

34. Hello Manuel,

    Basically you are entitled to the visa-free transit stay in Shanghai and don’t need to apply for a visa in advance. Suggest you reconfirm it with your international airlines. Have a good layover in Shanghai!

35. Hello,

    I am planning to fly from Taipei to Guilin (direct), stay in Guilin for 72 hours with the visa-free transit stay, and then depart for USA. The problem is I have a layover in Beijing on the way to the USA. Does that disqualify me?

36. Hello Nina,

    You should fly from Guilin to the USA directly in ordert to enjoy the 72 hours in Guilin. If you fly to Beijing from Guilin, then to the States, it seems you are not entitled to the 72 hours in Guilin.

37. Im a US resident and I wil be travelling to the Philippines with a 15 hrs. layover in Beijing, will I be able to go out of the airport ,do some sightseeing before I continue on my flight? If there is a visa required what will it be and how will I be able to apply for one?

38. Hello Gina，

    If you are a US resident with a US passport, you are eligible for up to 72 hours visa free-stay in Beijing. After getting off from your plane, follow other passengers to the hall for security and custom check; on your way near the hall, you will see a signboard “72 Hour Visa Free Transit”. Just follow the direction and some staffers there will help you fill up the form and get the permit for visa-free visit in Beijing. Have a good time in Beijing!

39. Hi Daniel,

    If I am traveling to Beijing from the US and caught a connecting flight in another country before returning to the US, would I still be eligible for the 72 hour visa free stay? How long do you have to stay in the third country in order for it to count for the visa-free 72 hour policy?

40. Hello Gina Louise,

    1) No specific request for the time a transit passenger has to stay in the third country. A transit passenger is only required to have a connecting ticket to a third country.

    2) I think you are eligible for the 72 hours visa free stay in Beijing because you are an American citizen and you have a ticket for a third country, so you are a transit passenger.

    Have a good time in Beijing!

41. hi there,

    I am from new zealand. I fly from Sydney, Australia to Hong Kong. Spend a day in Hong Kong (arrive early morning and depart in the evening) then fly to Beijing. I want to do a day tour before flying to Johannesburg, Africa. Am I eligible for the 72 hour visa?

42. Hello Rheez,

    Yes, you are eligible for the 72-hour visa free policy. Have a good time in Beijing!

43. Hi! I am currently a Philippine passport holder doing my studies in Madrid, Spain. I am travelling from Munich to Japan with a 9-hour stopvover on the way back. My flight would be like Osaka-Beijing-Munich. I would like to go on a transit tour while i am in Beijing. Does this require me to obtain a visa? how easy or difficult is it for just the transit tour?

    I am currently residing in Madrid. Where may I apply for the transit visa?

    Thank you!

44. Hi Maria Paulina,

    Places to apply for a visa

    Chinese Embassy in Spain
    ss: C/Arturo Soria, 113, 28043 Madrid
    Tel: 0034-91-5194242
    Fax:0034-91-5192035
    Website:
    　　　　http://es.chineseembassy.org
    　　　　http://es.china-embassy.org
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Consul Office Address: C/Josefa Valcárcel 40, 1a planta 1, 28027 Madrid, Spain.(Sección Consular de la Embajada de China)
    Tel: 0034-91-7414728
    Fax: 0034-91-7414793

    Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Barcelona
    Add: No.34 Av.Tibidabo, Barcelona, Spain
    Tel: 0034-93-2541199
    Fax: 0034-93-2127718
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: http://barcelona.china-consulate.org/esp/

    Consular Office (for visa, passport, authentication & notarization)
    Add: Carrer de lleó XIII, No.34, Barcelona, Spain
    Tel: 0034-93-2547070
    Fax: 0034-93-2118794
    Office Hours: 09:30 -13:30, Monday, Wednesday, Friday (except holidays)
    Consular Districts: Catalonia Region including Barcelona Province, Lleida Province, Girona Province and Tarragona Province

45. Hi
    if i were to arrive in Beijing on Tues at 1445 and wish to leave at Frdayi at flight time of 20.00hrs to Manilla would this exceed the 72 hour visa free stay
    Regards
    Chris

46. Hi Chris Broadhead,

    Yes, you exceed the 72 hours. You should leave at 1445 on Friday if you want to enjoy the visa-free 72 hours stay in Beijing. I suggest you return to Beijing airport at noon on Friday to avoid any trouble due the time limit for 72 hour policy.

47. Hi Daniel,

    Me and my wife have flight Hong Kong-Beijing-London and staying in Beijing for 70hours.
    My wife is From El Salvador(Central America) with a permanent residence permit in Greece.

    Is she eligible for the 72 transit visa??(Her passport is from El Salvador)

48. Hi Lefteris,

    As far as I known, El Salvador is not among the 51 Nationalities Eligible for 72 Hours. She still needs a China visa for entery into Beijing.

49. I am a US citizen. I have booked a round trip flight from Phoenix to Seattle to Beijing arriving 2/9/16. I have a 3 day stay in Beijing planned before heading to Thailand. I have a separate round trip flight booked on 2/12 from Beijing to Bangkok for an extended vacation.
    I booked a returning flight from Bangkok to Beijing on 3/25, with a planned stay in Beijing for 6 days. I booked a separate flight from Beijing to Seattle to Phoenix USA on 5/2/16.
    Will I need to apply for a Chinese Visa for both flight trips? (Time limit of visa?)Can you provide me with any issues you may foresee?
    We booked two seperate round trip tickets to have a stayover in beijing on our way to thailand, instead of multi city flight booking, as it was more cost effective. I hope there aren’t any issues with this plan? Please advise.
    Many thanks!

50. Hi SP,

    1. Seattle – Beijing – Bangkok flights
    You are eligible for up to 72 hours visa-free transit stay in Beijing. If you want to stay more than 72 hours in Beijing, you still need to apply for a Chinese visa.

    2. Bangkok – Beijing – Seattle Flights
    You are eligible for up to 72 hours visa-free transit stay in Beijing. If you want to stay more than 72 hours in Beijing, you still need to apply for a Chinese visa.

    Have a good layover trip to Beijing!

    Any questions, just drop a line again.

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