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24-Hour Visa-Free Direct Transit

ChinaTransit

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in China Read the five questions ↓

Which travellers require a transit visa/permission and which officially documented exemptions are important?

The 24-hour direct-transit policy applies at all open Chinese entry-exit ports to foreign nationals of all other countries holding the required international travel documents and confirmed onward international transport tickets.

See recorded sources
  • I 24-hour transit
    All open exit-entry ports in China implement this policy for nationals of all other countries around the world. Foreigners transiting through China to third countries or regions may stay in China for no more than 24 hours without a visa, provided that they hold valid international travel documents and onward international flight/ship/train tickets with confirmed seats, and will not leave the restricted areas of ports. For any foreigner who does need to leave the designated restricted area, a temporary entry permit must be obtained first at the immigration inspection authority of the port concerned.

Can the traveller remain airside, and under what circumstances must immigration control be crossed?

Remaining in the port restricted area is a condition unless temporary entry is separately approved.

See recorded sources
  • I 24-hour transit
    All open exit-entry ports in China implement this policy for nationals of all other countries around the world. Foreigners transiting through China to third countries or regions may stay in China for no more than 24 hours without a visa, provided that they hold valid international travel documents and onward international flight/ship/train tickets with confirmed seats, and will not leave the restricted areas of ports. For any foreigner who does need to leave the designated restricted area, a temporary entry permit must be obtained first at the immigration inspection authority of the port concerned.

What officially documented baggage collection, terminal, separate-ticket or self-transfer situations affect the immigration requirement?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the baggage, terminal-change and self-transfer rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Searched the NIA visa-free transit page (511262), the Exit-Entry Law (147a), the Entry-Exit Regulations (1f25/d0e6) and the stay/visa notices for baggage, terminal, separate-ticket or self-transfer rules; none found. The 24-hour maximum previously placed here belongs to R4 and is answered there.

What maximum transit period, overnight, airport-change or multiple-stop rules matter?

The Exit-Entry Law exempts from a visa a foreigner holding a through ticket on an international flight, ship or train who transits China to a third country or region and stays no more than 24 hours without leaving the port. If such a transit passenger needs to leave the port, temporary entry must be requested from the border inspection authority, and temporary entry may not exceed 15 days. The official source does not state overnight, airport-change or multiple-stop rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The sources do not state overnight, airport-change or multiple-stop rules for 24-hour transit.
  • https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741547/c1013311/content.html
    （三）持联程客票搭乘国际航行的航空器、船舶、列车从中国过境前往第三国或者地区，在中国境内停留不超过二十四小时且不离开口岸，或者在国务院批准的特定区域内停留不超过规定时限的；
  • https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741547/c1013311/content.html
    第二十三条 有下列情形之一的外国人需要临时入境的，应当向出入境边防检查机关申请办理临时入境手续： （一）外国船员及其随行家属登陆港口所在城市的； （二）本法第二十二条第三项规定的人员需要离开口岸的； （三）因不可抗力或者其他紧急原因需要临时入境的。 临时入境的期限不得超过十五日。

If permission is required, what permission is it, where/how is it obtained, and what core onward-travel evidence is required?

No advance visa is needed when all direct-transit conditions are met, including holding the required international travel documents and confirmed onward international transport tickets. Before leaving the restricted area, the traveller must obtain a temporary entry permit from the immigration inspection authority at that port.

See recorded sources
  • I 24-hour transit
    All open exit-entry ports in China implement this policy for nationals of all other countries around the world. Foreigners transiting through China to third countries or regions may stay in China for no more than 24 hours without a visa, provided that they hold valid international travel documents and onward international flight/ship/train tickets with confirmed seats, and will not leave the restricted areas of ports. For any foreigner who does need to leave the designated restricted area, a temporary entry permit must be obtained first at the immigration inspection authority of the port concerned.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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