jh6000

Hi,

I wanted to know if anyone had flown into PEK or PVG on one day (late afternoon or evening) to connect to another flight (within 24 hours of landing) and whether you needed a Chinese visa to do that or not.

Any help would be appreciated. I am flying to Asia from the US in December and one of the best routings for me would be using one of these overnight options to reach my final destination).

Thanks.

John H

sassy_cat

You don't need a visa for less than 24 hours provided you have tickets for ongoing flight and you do NOT leave the airport.

smacdvanbc

I transited PVG in January. I flew on Thai BKK-PVG and connected to Air Canada PVG-YVR. Eventho' both airlines are Star Alliance, Thai could only check bags to PVG. I had to retrieve my bag and go through immigration, where I was given some sort of visa. Once through I had to check-in again with Air Canada and depart through Chinese immigration. It was pretty straighforward. I had several hours beween flights so it was doable. I am uncertain if there is hotel accommodation available at the airport if you have a long layover.

rkkwan

Transit through Shanghai or between Shanghai airports, you have 48 hours and can leave the airport. All others, 24 hours and cannot leave airport. In particular, at CAN, you cannot leave the airside secured area, while at other airports you may or may not leave the airside area.

The OP should transfer at PVG if he/she wants to stay overnight without a visa.

joannay

From the Embassy of China website:

★Visa-free transit
1. Visas are not required of aliens who hold air tickets to the final destination and have booked seats on international airliners flying directly through China, and will stay in a transit city for less than 24 hours without leaving the airport.
2. Visas are not required of passport holders of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland.

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84242.htm

lincasanova

Great information!

sassy_cat

Hmm, so I wonder why UK citizens don't get a 48 hour visa free transit via Shanghai?
Visas are cheaper than for US citizens though..

jh6000

Thank you all SO much -- great news -- very much appreciated.

John H

Paulo59

So has anyone tried this 48 hour option in Shanghai?
How does it work? Do we need to do anything special if we are leaving PVG airport?
We are transiting through Shanghai via PVG at both the beginning and end of our trip, staying less than 24 hours the first time then about 29 hours the second time.
We arrive PVG (from LAX)at 7:15 pm on November 18 then depart 19th at 5:25pm for BKK. Then return on Nov 26 to PVG at 4:15pm and depart next day at 8:30pm to return to U.S.
Thanks!

rkkwan

You will go through regular Chinese immigration. You will need to show the e-ticket receipt for your onward flight from Shanghai, and they will put the appropriate stamp in your passport for the 48-hour transit.

The harder part is to persuade your airline to let you board the flight from LAX. Print out the page from the Chinese Embassy in Washington for the visa-free transit in case that airline agent has no clue.

lincasanova

..."The harder part is to persuade your airline to let you board the flight from LAX. Print out the page from the Chinese Embassy in Washington for the visa-free transit in case that airline agent has no clue."

thank you for the VERY important reminder and excellent tip!

Paulo59

Thanks Rkkwan
So it's no problem that I will be transiting China at PVG twice?
We can get the 48 hour visa at PVG both times?
Once for less than 24 hours on 11/18 (departing for BKK 11/19) then again for 29 hours on 11/26 (departing for USA 11/27).

Also did you have problem convincing your airline that you did not need a VISA?

rkkwan

There's no limit how many times in how many days you can get the 48-hour transit at PVG. No reason you should have an issue, as long as you have valid onward tickets each and every time.

Not personally, but I have heard enough stories about airline agents in N. America not knowing Chinese entry rules and/or making up their own rules. One similar example - Hong Kong or Macau citizens with the "Home Return Permit" being denied boarding in Canada for non-stop flights to China.

Paulo59

Thanks again. Now I am wondering if Thai air will realize it's ok for me to return to PVG from BKK without the visa.
Maybe I will try calling both United (LAX-PVG) and Thai Air (BKK-PVG) in advance and see what I can get them to commit to. This is a bit nerve racking.

rkkwan

Calling have no use. Like I said, just bring the printout from the Chinese Embassy with you, just in case the airline agent is clueless. Chances of THAI agent making a fuss at BKK is less than UA's agent at LAX.

joannay

I cannot imagine that the airlines that fly these routes will not have someone available at check-in who can allow you to board, even if you must ask for a supervisor. I suppose more surprising things have happened but there are likely others doing exactly as you are doing, it must happen all the time on nearly every flight. I think you are over thinking this situation.

sunburned

I recently met a young couple in Hanoi who were on my flight to PVG. They intended to stay overnight in Shanghai and then fly back to the US, relying on the 48-hour visa free period. Vietnam Air would not let them board the flight in Hanoi. They were able to resolve the situation by talking with a supervisor but almost missed the flight. I like rkkwan's suggestion of having a printed copy of the Chinese Embassy page. Travelers in this situation should also allow extra time at the airport in case of difficulties with the agent.

Paulo59

Just thought I'd update since we did this trip back in November and all worked as Rkkwan said it would. Actually the immigration staff at the Pudong airport were very efficient at dealing with this issue. The immigration agent merely called for one of their special staff assigned to this issue and they came over to me and asked me to follow them to their booth a few feet away. I just needed to give them my passport and my ongoing flight ticket. They processed me in a few minutes. As rkkwan suggested, it was the United staff in LA that did not understand the policy and really only believed me as I showed them the written policy and insisted. Had a bit of explaining to do also on the way back when departing HKK for PDG but they were easier than the LA United staff.

Thanks everyone for your help before my trip.

rkkwan

Glad to hear it worked out for you and thanks for reporting back.

JPDeM

Not sure about Pudong but at the Beijing airport I noticed one immigration booth that had the sign "transit".
About the Hanoi incident, remember that this does not apply to all nationalities.