Trip to China: 240-hour visa free transit

[Skrambles]

I've booked a family trip to China and Hong Kong and am getting conflicting info/advice about whether a visa is required for the China part of the trip (or whether it falls within the Chinese 240-hour visa free transit policy), and wonder whether anyone has experience of this.

Flights are booked with Cathay. The outbound flights are from LHR to Beijing Capital Airport via Hong Kong (i.e. a flight from LHR to HK and a connecting flight, 2 hrs 25 mins later, from HK to Beijing). We stay in China for 7 days (with some internal travel in China) and then fly from Shanghai Pu Dong Airport to Hong Kong. We stay in Hong Kong for 8 days and then fly home from HK to LHR.

I have received confusing advice from the travel agents about whether a visa is required. As far as I can tell, they were initially unaware of the 240 hour visa free transit policy in China, and since I have brought it to their attention, they have come up with varying reasons why they don't think it applies. This is very odd since I cannot find anything online to suggest that it does not apply to our trip.

The travel agents' current position seems to be that the policy will not apply because we are flying via Hong Kong (i.e. a flight to HK and a flight from HK to Beijing). I cannot see any restriction like this in the info published on Chinese websites, e.g.

https://www.visaforchina.cn/MAN3_EN/qianzhengyewu/...

https://english.beijing.gov.cn/travellinginbeijing...

The outbound flights to/from HK don't involve us staying in HK, just passing through on the way to Beijing!

Any help to demystify this situation would be welcome!

[InitialDave]

I thought the visa-free transit entry had to be on the way to a third country.

e.g. UK to China, then on to, say, Korea. Or the reverse. As long as there is onward travel from China to somewhere other than where you came from.

UK to China and then back to the UK not counting.

[RichFN2]

This is also something I have been looking into as I do fancy a trip to China now that the visa fees requirements have been relaxed.

I 'think' you are fine to qualify for the 240 hour visa free entry as your return flight to Hong Kong is the 3rd country.

The connecting flight in Hong Kong on the way to China is probably going to need explaining, but if you print out all your documents for the hotels etc in Hong Kong on your return journey that should help.

I have seen a few YouTube videos where travel vlogger's have taken advantage of the new visa free rules and it does sound quite stressful. Some airlines won't even let you on the plane if they suspect you will have issues with Chinese immigration so make sure you have all your documents for every hotel and flight booked ready for them to check.

[chip*]

For convenience sake, you should consider downloading the Alipay HK app as it's widely accepted in both HK and the mainland (you just need to activate the cross border option for mainland use). I believe the registration rules has been revised to accept international/ non-local cards in order to accommodate the tourists.

[Skrambles]

InitialDave said:

I thought the visa-free transit entry had to be on the way to a third country.

e.g. UK to China, then on to, say, Korea. Or the reverse. As long as there is onward travel from China to somewhere other than where you came from.

UK to China and then back to the UK not counting.

That's my understanding too. Thanks Dave.

[Skrambles]

RichFN2 said:

This is also something I have been looking into as I do fancy a trip to China now that the visa fees requirements have been relaxed.

I 'think' you are fine to qualify for the 240 hour visa free entry as your return flight to Hong Kong is the 3rd country.

The connecting flight in Hong Kong on the way to China is probably going to need explaining, but if you print out all your documents for the hotels etc in Hong Kong on your return journey that should help.

I have seen a few YouTube videos where travel vlogger's have taken advantage of the new visa free rules and it does sound quite stressful. Some airlines won't even let you on the plane if they suspect you will have issues with Chinese immigration so make sure you have all your documents for every hotel and flight booked ready for them to check.

Thanks Rich. I think you're right. Cathay have directed us to the IATA travel website and the IATA online checker indicates that we don't need the visa, but I'll print out everything so we're well prepared.

[Skrambles]

chip* said:

For convenience sake, you should consider downloading the Alipay HK app as it's widely accepted in both HK and the mainland (you just need to activate the cross border option for mainland use). I believe the registration rules has been revised to accept international/ non-local cards in order to accommodate the tourists.

Thanks Chip. Will download that!

[daqinggregg]

I’ve no personal experience, only what I’ve seen on social media, the visa free ‘transit visas’ do not allow for regular travel in China, there may possibly be restrictions on ‘how far’ or ‘where’ you can travel internally.

Passports are required (personal experience) and thoroughly checked for all internal travel. China has a superb high speed rail system, which makes domestic travel, incredibly easy.

If you do find the ‘visa free’ option unsuitable, apply for a tourist visa, not that difficult or expensive. There is so much to see, careful planning and you can visit some very special places.

Unless you have a specific reason for visiting HK, other than sight seeing, eight days sounds a bit long and I love the city.

[Ridealong]

chip* said:

For convenience sake, you should consider downloading the Alipay HK app as it's widely accepted in both HK and the mainland (you just need to activate the cross border option for mainland use). I believe the registration rules has been revised to accept international/ non-local cards in order to accommodate the tourists.

If possible you should add WeChat (Chinese messenger with a optional pay app) - someone with WeChat has to verify you, as there was 1 or 2 shops/vendors that didn't accept Alipay when I was in Shenzhen earlier this year.