Visa ?

Question

Hi we are entering Shanghai on 28th April, staying for 4 nights then going to Japan on 2nd May before returning to Shanghai on 12th May to fly home on 13th May. I have read things about 144 hours visa free. Will we need a visa for this trip?

Answer

For your travel plan, entering Shanghai on 28th April, staying 4 nights, then going to Japan and returning to Shanghai on 12th May, you need to carefully consider China’s transit visa policies.

The 144-hour visa-free transit (TWOV) allows travelers from certain countries to stay in specified cities or regions (including Shanghai) without a visa for up to 144 hours (6 days) under the following conditions:

You must be arriving and departing via an international flight or cruise.
Your point of entry and exit must be within the eligible regions (Shanghai is included).
Your nationality must be on the list of eligible countries for the 144-hour visa-free transit.
The stay cannot exceed 144 hours (counted from the arrival time).

Applying this to your itinerary:

Arrival in Shanghai: 28th April.
Departure to Japan: 2nd May.

This first Shanghai stay is within the 144-hour limit, so you likely do not need a visa for this part, assuming your nationality is eligible.

However, for your second Shanghai stay starting 12th May until departure on 13th May, this is considered a separate entry. Since it is a short stay of only 1 day, technically you could use the 144-hour TWOV again, but there is a complication: the TWOV rules usually allow only one visa-free transit per trip, and authorities may require a valid visa for re-entry.

Therefore, for peace of mind and to avoid potential issues, you should consider the following options:

Apply for a single-entry China visa before your trip covering both Shanghai stays.
If you prefer to use the 144-hour visa-free transit for the first stay, confirm with Shanghai immigration whether the second entry on 12th May would be allowed without a visa.
Check your nationality’s eligibility for the 144-hour visa-free transit before relying on it.

In summary, the first stay can likely be covered under the 144-hour visa-free policy, but for the second entry into Shanghai after visiting Japan, a valid visa is recommended to ensure smooth travel and avoid being denied boarding or entry.

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