Does Passing Through Guangzhou Airport Require A Visa?

Since June 28, 2013, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou has been granted a 24-hour Visa-free Transit Policy for transit passengers from foreign countries. This policy applies to 32 designated passenger transport ports in Guangdong Province, including five airports: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen. Passengers with US and Canadian passports are not allowed to use multiple-stop transit within China if transiting through Weihai (WEH) or Wuhan (WUH).

Passengers from 54 countries enjoy 72-hour visa-free transit in Guangzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, etc., and 144-hour visa-free transit if transiting in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. The 24-hour visa-free transit in China allows international flights, ships, or trains to directly transit through mainland China and stay for no more than 24 hours.

The policy applies to citizens from 53 countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, and others. To apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, travelers must buy and print the air ticket and check in.

For transits within mainland China of 24 hours or less, the transit comes under a 24 hour transit without visa program, not the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. If travelers wish to stay longer in China while transiting, they can apply for 72-hour visa-free transit or 144-hour visa-free transit. However, passengers entitle to the 72-hour visa-free transit policy can only complete their transit procedure at the Baiyun Airport.

Do I need a transit visa if I am not leaving the airport?

It is standard practice for international travellers with a layover in a different country to be required to obtain an airport transit visa, even if they do not intend to leave the airport. This is because such a visa may be necessary in the event that they recheck bags or transfer between terminals.

Can I transit through Guangzhou airport?

It is a requirement for foreign citizens to obtain a valid visa in advance for airport stays of more than 24 hours. Those who will be remaining in the country for less than 24 hours may apply for a 24-hour visa-free transit. The process entails disembarking from the aircraft, undergoing an inspection and quarantine, passing through a border inspection, placing luggage in designated areas, undergoing customs inspections, and waiting for clearance to board the aircraft.

Do I need a visa to layover in Guangzhou?

International passengers who have a connecting flight ticket and are transiting directly through China on an international flight are exempt from transit visas if they stay in the city of transit for no more than 24 hours and do not leave the airport. To leave the airport, passengers must obtain permission from the border inspection station. Foreign crews of vessels on international voyages and their families can apply for a landing permit from the border inspection station, while those staying ashore overnight should obtain an overnight stay permit. Citizens of Russia, Byelorussia, Turkmenistan, and Moldova visiting China as part of a tour group are also exempt from visas.

Can I leave Guangzhou airport during layover?

It should be noted that tourists are unable to obtain a 24-hour visa; however, they are permitted to qualify for a transit visa exemption, which allows them to transit the country without a visa but does not permit them to leave the airport. In order to visit the city, a temporary entry permit is required. However, this is not an automatic process and may not be granted due to the short duration of the transit.

Do I need a visa to transit through China airport?

Foreign citizens traveling through mainland China at open ports by plane, ship, or train can stay up to 24 hours in China without a visa. However, a preliminary entry permit application at the Chinese border is required for a visa-free transit. This applies to citizens from 53 countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, and Qatar.

Do you need a visa for Guangzhou airport?

If you’re not eligible for the China 24 Hour or 144 Hour Visa-free Transit Policy in Guangzhou, a Chinese Transit Visa (G Visa) is required for international transit. The latest visa and entry policies for foreigners entering China include Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna, and five Yunnan Province regions. The Mohan Railway Port at the China-Laos border can be used to enter or leave Yunnan. Additionally, China will be 15-day visa-free for Australia, New Zealand, and Poland from July 1st, 2024 to December 31st, 2025, and 15-day visa-free for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg until December 31, 2025.

Can I transit without visa?

It should be noted that a transit visa is not required for individuals in possession of an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, a Home Office travel document, or a Standard Visitor visa. The requisite visa is contingent upon whether the individual will be subject to UK border control upon arrival. In the event that one will not be subject to border control, it is advisable to apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa, provided that one will be changing flights in the UK and will not be passing through UK border control.

What is visa-free transit policy in China?

The 144-hour visa-free transit policy allows foreign travelers to stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa, provided they come from 54 eligible countries, enter and exit China from eligible ports, stay within the allowed cities and regions, and satisfy other requirements. Eligible countries include 25 countries in the Europe Schengen area, 15 other European countries, six countries in the Americas, two Oceanian countries, and six Asian countries. To obtain this visa exemption, the foreign national must have a valid passport from one of the 54 countries.

Which countries are visa-free for China?

China offers various visa-free travel policies to foreigners, allowing them to visit China on a short-term basis. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced a 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao entering Hainan on July 30, 2024. This policy aims to attract more international tourists to Hainan, enhance its global reputation and tourism competitiveness, and strengthen economic and cultural exchanges between the two regions.

The Beijing Port Visa Office released a guideline on July 18, allowing travelers to apply for a “port visa” (similar to a “visa on arrival”) via email to receive a “Pre-Acceptance Receipt” for boarding flights to China. After arrival, travelers must complete the visa application process at 24/7 Port Visa Offices in Beijing airports and obtain relevant types of visas, with an allowed stay period of up to 30 days.

Do I need a visa to transit through is?

A transit visa is not required for foreign nationals traveling through India in direct air transit, provided that they do not leave the airport premises or disembark at an Indian port, and that they do not leave the ship during its halt.

Do I need a transit visa even if I don’t leave the airport?

It is standard practice for international travellers with a layover in a different country to be required to obtain an airport transit visa, even if they do not intend to leave the airport. This is because such a visa may be necessary in the event that they recheck bags or transfer between terminals.