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Warning about 24h visa...

So I had a 8 hour layover recently in shenzhen baoan airport and decided I will meet an old friend for a couple hours in the city.

Sadly, I was refused entry and told to go straight to departure terminal. The reason was "you can't gain entry to China with such a short layover".

Seriously? 8 hours is a short layover? I even considered to get a hotel for that to snooze for a little since the Chinese don't like you snoozing in the airport. They said even if I had a hotel reservation they'd refuse me.

In China, the ability to leave the airport during a layover depends on your eligibility for a transit visa or visa-free transit. While some cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou offer 24-, 72-, or 144-hour visa-free transit for certain nationalities, Shenzhen does not generally allow short layovers like 8 hours for leaving the airport without a proper visa.

Here are the key points regarding your experience at Shenzhen Bao’an Airport:

  • 24-hour visa-free transit: This option is not generally available for all nationalities at Shenzhen. Entry may be refused for short layovers unless the passenger qualifies under specific rules.
  • Visa requirement: To leave Shenzhen airport for a city visit, you would typically need a valid Chinese visa. Without it, immigration will not permit entry, even if you plan to stay only a few hours.
  • Hotel reservations: Having a hotel booking does not substitute for a visa. Immigration requires legal permission to enter the city, and hotel confirmation alone cannot grant this.

Tips for future layovers in Shenzhen:

  • Check if you are eligible for visa-free transit in advance. If not, plan to remain within the airport terminals during short layovers.
  • If your layover is longer and you want to explore the city, ensure you apply for a Chinese visa in advance or choose airports with clear visa-free transit policies (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou).
  • Always allow sufficient time for immigration and security checks when planning to leave the airport, even if you have a visa.

In summary, your refusal was standard procedure: Shenzhen immigration requires proper entry authorization, and an 8-hour layover alone is not sufficient to allow entry into China without a visa.

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