Can I use 2 144hr transit visas in a 17 day trip

Question

UK citizen. I'm planning a trip from the UK to Beijing. I'm planning to stay 5 days, then move on to Thailand for a number of days then back into another area of China for 5 days before returning to the UK. Am I allowed to use two 144 hour transit visas for the 1 trip? Thank you!

Answer

The 144-hour transit visa in China allows eligible travelers to stay in certain cities or regions (such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.) for up to 6 days (144 hours) without a full visa, provided they are in transit to a third country. However, there are important limitations to consider for multiple entries during one trip.

Regarding your planned itinerary:

UK → Beijing (stay 5 days)
Beijing → Thailand (several days)
Thailand → another region of China (stay 5 days) → UK

Key points about using two 144-hour transit visas:

Single-entry nature: Each 144-hour transit visa is typically single-entry for a designated city/region. Using a second 144-hour visa for a different city or region on the same trip is possible, but you must meet the entry requirements for that second region separately.
Third-country rule: To qualify, your first entry into China (Beijing) must be from the UK, and your exit to Thailand counts as leaving China. For the second entry into another region of China, your point of entry (Thailand) counts as the “originating third country,” so this satisfies the 144-hour transit condition again.
Permitted regions: Not all regions in China allow 144-hour transit visas. Make sure the second destination is within one of the approved cities or regions for this visa type.
Documentation: You must have confirmed onward tickets from the second Chinese city to a third country (which could be the UK or another destination) to show immigration. The 144-hour period starts from the time of entry for each separate transit visa.

Additional considerations:

Plan your entries carefully: confirm that both cities are on the list of approved 144-hour transit visa regions.
Keep all supporting documents, such as flight tickets, hotel bookings, and visa approvals, to present at immigration checkpoints.
Remember that the 144-hour visa does not allow multiple entries across different regions in one single visa; each entry requires its own eligibility check and must adhere to its respective transit rules.

In summary, as a UK citizen, you can generally use two separate 144-hour transit visas on one trip if each entry satisfies the transit visa requirements (entry from one country and exit to a third country) and both regions are eligible. Careful planning and documentation are essential to ensure smooth entry for both periods.

Can I use 2 144hr transit visas in a 17 day trip

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