Chinese tourist visa from UK

Question

Hi, travelling to Shanghai via Japan and Sth Korea in October, stopover in Shanghai will be three days max. ive a flight booked from Seoul and out of Shanghai to UK.

I believe I need a hotel pre booked (no problem) do I need a visa for three days is so any idea how much, or is there an exception, TIA.

Answer

If you are a UK citizen and your stopover in Shanghai is up to 144 hours (6 days), you may be eligible for the Shanghai 144-hour visa-free transit, which allows you to stay in Shanghai without a visa for short trips. Since your stay is three days, this fits within the allowed period.

Here are some important details:

You must enter Shanghai directly from another country (in your case, from Seoul) and depart to a third country (back to the UK counts as a third country).
You must have a confirmed onward flight ticket and hotel booking for the duration of your stay.
You need to enter through an eligible port of entry in Shanghai (for flights, all major international terminals at PVG are eligible).

If you meet these criteria, you do not need to apply for a Chinese visa in advance for your 3-day stay in Shanghai.

Other considerations:

Carry all travel documents (passport, onward ticket, hotel booking) for immigration inspection.
Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.
Do not leave the Shanghai region if you are using the 144-hour visa-free transit.

If for any reason you do not meet the transit requirements or plan to travel outside Shanghai, then you would need a standard Chinese tourist visa (L visa) from the Chinese embassy or consulate in the UK. The fee for a single-entry visa is usually around £125, and processing takes several working days.

Chinese tourist visa from UK

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