Is A Visa Required To Exit A Chinese Airport?

There are three types of transit without a visa (TWOV) programs in China’s mainland: 24-hour TWOV, 72-hour TWOV, and 144-hour TWOV. On departure from China, foreigners should exit with valid passports, visa, credentials, and other documents checked by the frontier inspection. The 24-hour visa-free transit allows international passengers to transit through China’s Mainland for no more than 24 hours without appointment at many embassies and consulates. Starting from November 1, 2023, individuals entering or exiting the country are exempt from filling out the “People’s Republic of China Health Declaration Card for Entry/Exit”.

From December 1, 2023, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia have been allowed to travel to China without a visa for a period of 72 hours. Citizens of Singapore, Brunei, and Japan holding ordinary passports may enter China without a visa through ports of entry open to foreigners. Foreign citizens who are going to transit China are exempt from visas as long as they have a booked seat in an international connecting flight.

The 144-hour visa-free transit policy allows foreign travelers to enjoy a six-day stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa, provided they come from 54 countries. However, they can leave the airport, but not the city (or in some cases surrounding areas, such as Beijing) for up to 144 hours, depending on transit.

In case of needing to leave the precinct for special reasons, passengers must apply for a visa to the exit-entry administration department of the municipal government. Visas are not required for group tours through registered tour operators, Hainan, or airports.

Do you need a visa to leave the airport in China?

Foreign citizens traveling to other countries or regions through mainland China at open ports can stay up to 24 hours without a visa. For a visa-free transit, an application for a preliminary entry permit at the Chinese border is required. The visa-free transit is available to citizens of 53 countries, including 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, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, and Qatar.

Travelers should apply for visa-free transit at the Chinese border either themselves or with the support of the responsible airline. An entry permit issued by the border control authorities is required for a visa-free transit. Open ports listed for visa-free transit include Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou.

Can you leave Shenzhen airport?

Upon arrival at the airport, it is necessary to apply for a temporary stay permit in order to leave the country.

Can you leave Shanghai airport during layover?

Passengers must have an onward ticket with a confirmed seat and date, a valid visa for a third country or region, and enter and leave from eligible transit ports. During layover periods, passengers can travel within Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang but cannot leave for other cities. The layover time is limited to 144 hours, with the free stay period starting at 00:00 the day following arrival. Passengers must inform the carrier, fill an Arrival/Departure Card, apply for the 144-hour stay permit upon arrival, claim luggage, go through customs, and leave the airport.

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.

Can you transit through China without a visa?

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.

Do I need a visa to transit through Shanghai airport?

On March 15, 2012, Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai commenced implementation of a 24-hour visa-free transit policy. This policy permits international travelers to visit a third country without undergoing immigration inspections, allowing them to remain within the airport premises or depart within a 24-hour period. This provides an opportunity for travelers to explore the city during layovers, a process that saves time and money. Additionally, the airport provides a convenient method for travelers to reach a third country without the necessity of applying for a visa.

Do I need a visa for a connection flight in China?

Foreigners who have confirmed onward tickets and seats on international flights and directly transit through China and stay for no more than 24 hours within the airport boundaries do not need to apply for a transit visa. However, those wanting to go beyond the airport boundaries temporarily should obtain permission from immigration authorities at the airport. Citizens of 51 countries with valid international travel documents and air tickets for a connecting flight with confirmed date of flight and seat for a third country can apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption at designated airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Xi’an, Guilin, Kunming, Xiamen, Wuhan, Tianjin, Harbin, Qingdao, and Changsha.

Citizens holding ordinary passports of 21 countries and on a group tour to Hainan Province for a stay of no longer than 15 days, organized by international travel services approved by the National Tourism Administration of China, do not need to apply for a visa.

Do I need a visa for transit in Beijing airport?

Beijing Capital International Airport is the sole entry-exit port for the 72-hour visa-free transit policy in Beijing. Consequently, all in-transit travelers are required to enter and exit there.

Can I leave Beijing airport during layover?

For those applying for a 24-hour direct transit visa, it is possible that they may have an overnight layover at Beijing Capital Airport. Such individuals may utilize the time to rest and request assistance from airline personnel stationed at the airport. Should they wish to leave the airport during the layover, they are required to apply for a China Transit Visa (G Visa) prior to departure. For those with a 144-hour visa-free transit, they are permitted to stay in any hotel they choose or to rest in a nearby hotel upon the arrival of their flight.

Do you need a visa to leave China?

To enter the People’s Republic of China (PRC), applicants must obtain a visa and a passport with at least six months’ validity remaining. A ten-year multiple entry visa is recommended for repeated travel or trips to Hong Kong or Macau Special Administrative Regions. Working in the PRC on a student or tourist visa is not permissible and may result in detention, criminal charges, imprisonment, and deportation. A valid visa is required to exit the PRC and leave before the expiration of the listed duration of stay.

Travelers with a warrant for arrest in the United States should not travel to the PRC. If a visa is lacking, expired, or overstaying, detention and fines may occur. To apply for a visa extension, apply ahead of time and visit the Embassy of the PRC in the United States for current visa information and information on the PRC’s immigration and nationality laws.

What documents do you need to leave China?

Before leaving China, foreigners should obtain a recommendation letter, employment separation certificate, work permit cancellation certificate, T visa application, non-criminal record, housing fund withdrawal, withdrawal of social insurance, and handling individual income tax. Thomas Harvey, a US citizen with years of experience in Shenzhen, completed his contract and embarked on his journey back home on June 19. He also visited the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expat to obtain a non-criminal record certificate, a required document for foreigners leaving China.