Denied 24-hour Temporary Entry Permit to leave the airport

Question

I was just denied the permit and my layover is almost 24 hours. I’m Indonesian and as soon as the officer saw my passport, she took a long time in front of the monitor and then she made a call and I knew that couldn’t be a good news.

I have used up half the pages in my passport and I have been to China before. When I asked her why she wouldn’t tell the reason, just that her superior said no.

I took that personally. And the stupid thing was, I booked a day trip already and they refused to refund me.

I have also booked a transit hotel but that was free from the AirChina app. The moral of the story was, I should have just applied the visa. It’s just that I don’t live in Jakarta or Surabaya so applying for one is trickier.

Anyone has had the same ordeal? I feel really down. If she told me the reason, it would make it fair.

Answer

It can be very frustrating to be denied a 24-hour Temporary Entry Permit (TEP) when you have planned a long layover in China. Unfortunately, the decision to grant or refuse a TEP is entirely at the discretion of the immigration officer, and they are not required to provide detailed explanations. This discretion can depend on multiple factors, including your passport history, previous visits to China, number of used visa pages, and any internal security checks.

Some key points to understand about Temporary Entry Permits:

The 24-hour TEP is not automatically granted to all nationalities. Certain countries may have restrictions, and Indonesian citizens sometimes face additional scrutiny.
Immigration officers may refuse TEP if they detect anything unusual in travel history, passport condition, or the perceived purpose of the stay.
Even if your layover is less than 24 hours, TEP approval is not guaranteed, and officers do not have to explain the refusal.

In situations like yours, the practical steps you can take include:

Consider applying for a regular Chinese visa in advance, even for a short layover, if your layover exceeds a few hours and leaving the airport is necessary.
If planning a future day trip, confirm with your airline or travel agent whether refunds are available for tours in case of TEP denial.
For peace of mind, try to book transit hotels that allow flexible check-in or cancellation options, in case you are unable to leave the airport.

Unfortunately, experiences like yours are not uncommon. Many travelers report that officers’ decisions appear arbitrary. It’s important not to take it personally, as it often relates to internal regulations rather than your individual record. The safest approach is always to ensure proper visa arrangements ahead of time when planning to leave the airport during a long layover.

Although disappointing, this incident highlights the importance of checking TEP eligibility for your nationality and having backup plans for accommodation or tours that can be canceled or rescheduled.

Denied 24-hour Temporary Entry Permit to leave the airport

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