Transit visa for dual citizen

Question

Hello everyone!

I have a question about the 240-hour transit visa in China (that was 144 hours previously).

I have dual citizenship — Israeli and Russian. I'm flying from Japan to Russia with a 5-day transit in Shanghai. I’m departing Japan using my Israeli passport and entering Russia with my Russian passport. Accordingly, I bought my tickets: the flight from Japan to China with my Israeli passport, and the flight from China to Russia with Russian passport.

The issue is that the Israeli passport does not allow me to get the transit visa, whereas the Russian passport does.

So, my question is: can I have any problem because the tickets issued with two different passports, one of which doesn't qualify for the transit visa?

Thank you!

Answer

China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy allows travelers from eligible countries to stay in certain cities (like Shanghai) for up to 10 days without a visa, provided they meet the entry requirements. However, eligibility is based strictly on the passport used to enter China and the tickets you present at immigration.

In your case, the situation is complicated because you hold dual citizenship (Israeli and Russian) and your flight from Japan to China is booked under your Israeli passport, which does not qualify for the transit visa, while your exit flight to Russia is booked under your Russian passport, which is eligible. This mismatch can cause an issue at the Chinese port of entry because immigration officers primarily look at the passport you use to enter China and verify whether that passport is eligible for visa-free transit.

Important points to consider:

China’s transit exemption is passport-specific: the Israeli passport is not eligible for the 240-hour transit, so you cannot legally enter under the transit visa program with that passport.
Immigration officers check the onward ticket and passport combination. Even if you have a valid onward flight under your Russian passport, entering with an ineligible passport can lead to denial of entry or being asked to obtain a proper visa.
Changing passports after arrival is not permitted. You must present the same passport at entry that you intend to use for the transit visa.

Practical options to avoid problems:

Book your Japan-to-China flight under your Russian passport instead of the Israeli passport. This way, your entry passport qualifies for the 240-hour transit, and your onward flight to Russia matches your entry documentation.
If it is not possible to change the flight, you may need to apply for a regular Chinese visa in advance using your Israeli passport to ensure legal entry.
Carry both passports and supporting documentation, but be aware that the border control officers will likely only consider the entry passport (Israeli) when determining eligibility, so this may not resolve the issue.

In summary, using the Israeli passport to enter China for a 240-hour transit will likely cause problems because it is not eligible for the program. The safest solution is to use your Russian passport for entry into Shanghai and ensure your onward flight is also booked under the same passport. This aligns with China’s immigration requirements and avoids potential refusal of entry.

Transit visa for dual citizen

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