Beijing 144 Hours Free Visa Transit

169 thoughts on “Beijing 144 Hours Free Visa Transit”

1. Hi Daniel,
   Thank you for confirming that we need a Chinese visa. Can you recommend how to apply for visa in Phoenix arizona? Is going through a travel agency like Able Tours (out of LA) that charges $90.00 usd for service fee and $25 for mailing to obtain chinese visa? Any other recommendations?
   Thanks so much for your help.

2. Hi SP,

   It seems not bad for charges $90.00 usd for service fee and $25 for mailing to obtain chinese visa. I myself is not good at the visa application. Below is the link, maybe a kind of alternatives for you. But still I think Able Tours is not a bad choice.

   How to get a Chinese visa in the States
   http://www.tour-beijing.com/united_states_beijing_tour/#q3

   Have a good trip!

3. Hello,

   I will fly from Lisbon to Rome to Beijing…stay 3 days and then fly to Hong Kong. The return is HK with a 2 hour stopover in Beijing Back to Rome and Lisbon. Do I qualify for a 72 hour transit visa upon arrival?

4. Hi Laurentius,

   If you fly from Hong Kong to Beijing, then fly out from Beijing to Rome, you are eligible for up to 72 hours visa-free stay in Beijing.

5. Good evening, I have a UK passport and I’m landing in Beijing Capital Airport on Sunday 11 Sep at 16:05 and flying out on Wednesday 14 Sep at 19:55. I was told by the airline that the visa starts from midnight of the day you arrive. Is this true? If it isn’t can I wait in the airport until 19:55 and get the 72 visa free transit then?

   Thanks,

   Aaron

6. Hi Aron,

   In your case, I think it is wise to return to Beijing airport earlier. Do you catch what I mean? You don’t have to wait till 19:55 to get the 72 hour free transit. You can come back earlier! Anyhow, you only have 72 hours no matter entering Beijing earlier or later.

   The above is just for your reference! Have a good time in Beijing!

7. Hello there,

   I am planning to do the 72 hr visa free transit on the way to Japan. Who do i need to inform prior to my journey? Airline companies? Chinese authorities? and my second question is I would like to stopover in Shanghai on the way back . it is possible to do another 72 hr visa free stopover within 2 weeks ?

   Many thanks

8. Hi Pelin,

   If you are entiled to the 72 hr visa free transit, you don’t have to inform Airline companies or Chinese authorities. But you must make sure whether you are entitled to 72 hr visa free transit.

9. Hello,

   I’m planning on traveling to Beijing just to see the Great Wall of China and some of the sights in the city.

   Is the Great Wall in the “Beijing administrative region?” I was just looking at this.

   4) Travellers would “face punishment” if they left the administrative region of Beijing to other places in China during the 72 hours free-visa stay in Beijing.

   I’ll fly from Seoul to Beijing then on to Munich. Thanks for the help!

10. Hi Brian,

    Not all the Great Wall of China is within Beijing administrative region as you know the Wall snakes and zigzags along the mountains for over 21196 km long!

    But Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu Great and more are under Beijing administrative region. So basically it is okay for you to visit the sections of the Great Wall within Beijing administrative region.

    Have a good time!

11. Hi! I plan on arriving from the US to Shanghi on 10/28. I then fly to Beijing (from Shanghi) on 11/3. I return to the US (from Beijing) on 11/6. Since both of these cities have the 72-free visa policy — do I need a visa or can I use the 72-free visa program?

12. Hi Becky,

    Yes, both Beijing and Shangha have the 72-free visa policy, but both of them require you to fly out for the third country instead of flying for a domestic city. So you are not entitled to the the 72-free visa policy if you fly from the States to Shanghai, then from Shanghai to Beijing, then back to the US.

    You still need to apply for a China visa.

13. Hi! my wife and I are arriving in Beijing on 11/3 at 1 PM departing on 11/6 at 9 AM basically 4 nights stay in Beijing we are coming from the Philippines to Beijing then from Beijing to Hongkong. Do we need to get a Visa to enter Beijing or can we use the 72 hrs- free visa? We have US passports.

    Thanks

14. Hi Gary,

    In your case, flight from Phillipines to Beijing, then flight out for Hong Kong, as US citisens, you are eligible to 72 hours visa-free stay in Beijing.

15. Hi Daniel,

    Thank you for your quick response my other question is that since we are staying 4 nights given the time of arrival and departure are we going over the 72 hours limit?

    Thanks for your help.
    Gary

16. Hi Gary,

    Try to limit your stay witin 72 hours.

17. Hi Daniel,

    Im looking to book my flight to Canada. I am currently in Japan and will have a layover in Hong kong, then Beijing and then fly to Canada. Am I eligible for the 72 hour free visa? Also I have a long layover (8 hrs in Hong Kong) and 14 hours in Beijing, should I apply for the free visa in Hong Kong before I arrive Beijing because I will like to tour Hong Kong too. Thanks.

18. Hi Tobi,

    What’s your citizenship? Are you from Canada or the States? Or any of the 51 countries with visas and plane tickets to a third country, then you are allowed to transit through Beijing for a visa-free stay of up to 72 hours.

    1. If yes, you are entitled to staying in Beijing up to 72 hours visa-free ( you will get a permit when you exit at Beijing airport ).

    2. As for Hong Kong, many foreign passport holders can enjoy visa-free stay in Hong Kong, just take some examples:

    The following passport holders are eligible for Visa free period for visit to Hong Kong not exceeding:

    Canada Passport Holders: 90 days
    US Passport holders: 90 days
    UK Passport holders: 180 days
    Japan Passort Holders: 90 days

    Thanks for your inquiry!

19. Me and husband are both US citizen. We have 14:30 hrs layover in Beijing Capital on May 11th 2017 at 5:30am and flying to Philippines same day at 8:00pm and we are planning to do a day tour in Beijing,my question is do we still need to get a visa? And how we can get it? Thanks!

20. Hi Joy,

    Happy Holidays!

    If you fly from the States to Beijing, then fly out from Beijing to Philippines on the same day, you don’t need a visa in advance. You are eligible for visa-free stay up to 72 hours in Beijing though you don’t need that long time in Beijing. Though you don’t need a visa, you still need a permit to enter Beijing. So how to get the permit?

    When you exit your plane, just follow the throng or the signs directing you to international arrivals, immigration and customs.

    Passport Control/Immigration
    In the Passport Control/Immigration Area, there are mainly two connected zones ( lanes ）: Lanes for Foreign Citizens on the left side and Chinese Citizens on the right side.

    Where to find your special lanes for 72-hour visa-free transit passengers?
    Some 72-hour transit passengers miss their layover tour in Beijing simply because they cannot locate the special lanes to get the visa-free permit. Yes, it is a bit tricky to find the special counters ( or lanes ) to register and get your visa-free permit to enter Beijing. There are no clear signboards directing you to the special counters .

    Actually the special lanes for 72-hours visa-free transit are located just on the left side of the Lanes for Foreign Citizens as well as on the right side of the Lanes for Chinese Citizens. The Passport control staff are supposed to be on duty there 24 hours a day. But the problem is sometimes the passport control staff are not there for various reasons. So don’t get nervous or frustrated, just take it easy, patiently wait or turn to a nearby airport staff member for assistance.

    Note: You need to fill up the entry registration card and get your 72 hours free visa stay permit, a stamp on your passport. The items for filling up the registration to get your 72 free visa stay permit:

    Name，Sex, Birth, Passport Number, Nationality, Arrival Date, Arrival Flight, Exit Time, Exit Flight, Contact Phone Number in Beijing, Address in Beijing, Reception Unit or Person, Reception Unit Phone Number.

    For more travel and tour information, please check out the link: http://www.tour-beijing.com/short-tours/

    Any further requet, please email us at [email protected].

    Have a nice time in Beijing!

21. Hi
    I need to ask same Question about my travel in Beijing airport to jinan city
    Just I stay only 3 days after 3 days my travel to Bangkoko can I take transit visa or anther visa.

22. Hi Ali,

    If you want to go from Beijing to Jinan, you need China visa.

23. Traveling from Okinawa to Beijing for 69 hours. Will then return to the US via Seoul. Does this qualify for 72 hour visa free transit?

24. Hi Sue,

    You are eligible for the 72 hours visa free stay in Beijing in light of your connected flights.

25. Hi,
    you write: “Foreign airlines must contact Beijing Entry Frontier General Office to apply for 72 hours free transit visa for their passengers.”
    1) When and how should I inform my Airline about my plan to apply for a 72 hours visa? Is it enough if I inform them at check-in at the Airport?
    2) You say “Foreign airlines…”: I fly by Air China – it this not necessary then as Air China is not foreign?

26. Dear Reinhard,

    1. Sorry for the misleading information about “Foreign airlines must contact Beijing Entry Frontier General Office to apply for 72 hours free transit visa for their passengers”. Now you can just inform them at check-in at the Airport. Actually now there is no neeed for Foreign airlines to contact Beijing Entry Frontier General Office.

    2. This policy applies to all airlines including Air China ( not just foreign airlines ).

    Again sorry for the confusing message. We have just updated the article.

    Thank you!

27. Hello

    My plan is the following: first fly into Beijing from Europe, stay 2 days, then to Hong Kong, stay 2 days, then to Shanghai, stay 2 days, then to Macau, stay 2 days, then fly back to Europe. Does this work with 72h transit visa first in Bejing and later in Shanghai?

    Thanks, Thomas

28. Dear Thomas,

    As far as I understand the 144-hour policy, you are eligible for the two legs of the trips – Beijing and Shanghai. But to play safe, you’d better check with the airlines for the layover visa-free stay both in Beijing and Shanghai.

    Have a good time in China!

29. On July I am flying from Rome to Sydney and I want to stop to X’ian for five days.
    I have to change flight in PVG airport from Rome to X’ian and change, again, in PEK airport from X’ian to Sydney.
    Then on August I am flying from Sydney to Rome and I want to stop to Beijing for six days.
    I have to change flight in X’ian airport from Sydney to Beijing and change, again, in PVG airport from Beijing to Rome.
    Can I enjoy the 144h visa-free transit?
    thanks
    SM

30. Dear STEFANIA MARIANI,

    Sorry, you are not entitled to the 144h visa-free transit. For the 144-visa free transit in Beijing, you are supposed to enter Beijing from your departure country and leave for a third country, instead of a domestic city in China.

31. hello,
    Im planning to see Great wall of China .
    My flight is from Manila to Beijing ( stay for 72 hrs) then from Beijing airport back to UK
    is this possible?
    if I arrive at Beijing at 2PM when will the 72 hrs visa end ?
    Thanks

32. Dear gemma,

    Sorry for my delayed reply!

    The 72-hour visa-free policy has been changes. Now basically you can stay in Beijing visa-free up to 144 hours !

    So I think you have enough time to visit Beijing. Have a nice time!

33. Hi,

    I wonder if you can help me. We are flying to Beijing from the UK via Dubai. We are then going to stay in Beijing for 3 nights and then going to Tianjin to join a cruise which will leave for Japan. Reading through the 144 hour transit-free visa policy, it looks like we do qualify for this. Do we need to do anything before we leave the UK to make sure that we can travel?

    I rang the airline with whom we are travelling and they have informed me that only those with valid visa’s can travel with them. Is there anything that we can offer to them to verify that we will not encounter problems in Beijing? I look forward to your advice regarding this. Thank you, Pat

34. Dear Pat Hartigan,

    If you are a Uk citizen, as far as I understand the 144-hour policy, you are entitled to staying visa-free up to 144 hours in Beijing and Tianjin.

    You can show the official website of Beijing Capital Airport. One the homepage, there is a advertisement for 144-hour visa free transit: Check out the link below:

    http://en.bcia.com.cn/server/notice/144visafree/

    http://en.bcia.com.cn/server/notice/144visafree/144visafree_policy.shtml

    Enjoy your trip!

35. Hi,
    I’m flying London to Hong Kong via Beijing . Where do I complete immigration control? If it’s Beijing how much time between flights should I allow?

36. Hello, Im peter from Canada. We are going to the Philippines next month with a stop over in Shanghai. Going back to Canada, I booked a flight from Philippines to Shanghai to Beijing. In Beijing, we are planning to stay for 4 days. There is an option for an 8 hr layover in Shanghai for which we are thinking of exploring for a few hours. Will the 144 hr rule apply?

37. Dear Peter,

    Thanks for your inquiry! Beijing’s 114 hour layover policy doesn’t include the city of Shanghai. So you have to apply for China tourist visa. We suggest you can take the advantage of Shanghai’s 114 hour layover policy which allow you visit Shanghai and its neighbor cities like Hangzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing. You can visit Beijing on your next trip. China is huge like Canada. Just visit China step by step at your convenience. Wish you a happy time in China.

    Hangzhou tour: https://www.tour-beijing.com/hangzhou_tour/
    Suzhou tour : https://www.tour-beijing.com/hangzhou_tour/
    Nanjing tour : https://www.tour-beijing.com/nanjing_tour/

38. I am US citizen. I will be traveling from Seoul South Korea to Beijing. I know I can not do a round trip to Seoul with a 72 hour Visa free but can I return to Busan South Korea?

    Thank you for your time. I look forward to visiting your beautiful country.

39. Dear Mary,

    As far as I know, you are not entitled to the 72 hour visa-free stay in Beijing since both Seoul and Busan belong to South Korea, so you return to the same country – a kind of a round trip.

    Hope you have a nice time in Beijing!

40. If one flies from Hong Kong to Beijing, then on to the USA, I understand that he/she would qualify if the flight goes directly to the USA, or connects in NRT, Seoul, etc., but what if the flight to the USA has a connection in HKG? Would the person still qualify or would they focus on the fact that there is a stop in HKG even if there is a confirmed itinerary showing a PEK-HKG-JFK itinerary?

41. Dear Robert,

    Thanks for your inquiry!

    As far as I know, those who fly out for a third country will be entitled to the visa-free policy. If you fly back to Hong Kong ( though it is a transit a flight for US), I’m afraid that you don’t not qualify for the policy.

42. I thought Hong Kong was consider a different city/country for the 72 hour visa free.
    I tired to book a ticket on Korean air.. Seoul to Beijing to Hong Kong to Seoul. I’m just trying to visit the Wall I do not have much time. Any suggestions. How I can get from Seoul visit the wall and get back to Seoul. US citizen no China Visa

43. Dear Mary,

    Sorry for my delayed reply!

    As far as I know, if you book the connected flights from Seoul to Beijing, then fly out for Hong Kong and back to Seoul, you are entitled to 144 hours visa-free stay in Beijing.

    Once you layover in Beijing, you have several choices of visiting the Wall:

    1. Taking the local taxis to the Wall.

    2. Using the public transports ( Train or buses)

    3. Using the local daily group tours by the local travel agencies.

    Check out the following link for more information on the daily group tours:

    https://www.tour-beijing.com/coach_tours/

    Any questions, please email us at [email protected] .

    Have a nice time in Beijing!

44. I have duo citizenship (two passeports: one from Canada and one from El Salvador). I am flying to Russia first so will be using my Salvadoran passeport as no visa is required. I will then take Trans-Mongolian entering Mongolia and China with my Canadian passeport. I would like to use the 144 hours visa-free transit. I have a flight departing Beijing Aug. 21st. I hope there aren’t any issues with this plan? Many thanks, Carol

45. Dear Carol Lopez,

    As far as I know, Beijing Railway Station is the arrival train station in Beijing for your Trans-Mongolian entering Mongolia and China. But Beijing Railway Station is not on the list of the official exit and entry ports entitled to the 114-hour free transit visa.

    There are only two exit and entry ports for the free-visa transit: Beijing West Railway Station and Beijing Capital Airport.

    So please double check whether your arrival train station in Beijing is Beijing West Railway Station or Beijing Railway Station. By the way, there are 4 major railway stations in Beijing, only Beijing West Railway Station is eligible for the free-visa transit passengers.

    We are a non-government agency, we don’t have the last say about the 144 hours visa-free transit, please also look for other channels for the accurate information.

    Hopefully you have a good time in Beijing!

46. I’m flying from Uk-HK (via a 3 hour transit stopover in Beijing). I’m then flying from HK back to Beijing but visiting for 3 nights when in transit before flying back to UK.

    I thought this was ok with the 144 visa waiver but now confused where it says:

    ‘The passengers should be foreign nationals with valid international travel documents and passenger tickets of confirmed travel date and seats to a third country (or region, such as Hong Kong, China/ Macao, China/Taiwan, China) within 144 hours. ‘

    Thanks

47. Hi!
    I am currently studying in HK and planning on visit Beijing with my parents who come to visit me. We want to get to Beijing by the train (the one that takes about 9 hours to Beijing form HK to experience something else rather than plane).
    Will we get the 144 h transit visa on the railway station as well or do we have to fly to China to get them?
    Further question, we want to visit the Great Wall of China and as I saw it is about 50 miles far from Beijing – are we allowed to get there with the transit visa only?

    To avoid questions, we are headint to the Czech Republic afterwards, no HK anymore, so it will be a transit.

    Thank you,
    Nikol

48. Dear Nikol,

    Thanks for your inquiry!

    If you are from the 53 Countries regions officially declared to be benefited from the 144-Hour New Policy, you can get the visa-free permit in Beijing West Railway Station.

    Yes, definitely you can visit the Great Wall of China around Beijing with your visa-free permit.

    Check out the link about how to visit Badaling Great Wall by train:
    https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/how-to-visit-great-wall-by-train

    Have a nice time in Beijing!

49. Hi
    I am British citizen and flying to Singapore in August 2019 then Beijing for 4 nights before flying back to UK from Beijing. Do I need a visa?

50. Dear Kiran Lad,

    Thanks for your inquiry!

    No, you don’t have to apply for Chinese tourist visa. Upon arrival at Beijing Capital Airport, you just need to apply for the transit permit for visa-free stay in Beijing ( up to 144 hours).

    Enjoy your trip !

    By the way, please check our the Top 10 tourist scams in Beijing just in case:

    https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/china-travel/tourist-traps-in-china/top-10-tourist-scams-beijing

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