Visa requirement still unsure

Question

We are arriving in Shanghai on 28th April our flight takes us OSLO - FRANKFURT - PVG we then exit Shanghai on 2nd May going to Japan until 12th May before returning to Shanghai for one night departing on 13th May. My understanding is that we would not require a Visa as we are staying less than the 240 hours on our first stay and that the 240 clock 're starts' when we re enter overnight 12/13th May before leaving again

Thanks in advance

Answer

Based on your itinerary, here’s a detailed explanation of how the 240-hour visa-free transit (VFT) works in Shanghai and what it means for your travel plans.

The 240-hour visa-free transit applies to eligible nationalities and allows you to stay in certain regions of China, including Shanghai, for up to 10 days (240 hours) without a visa. The key points to understand are:

The 240-hour period starts from the moment you enter China under the visa-free transit policy.
Each entry is counted separately. When you leave China and re-enter, the 240-hour clock resets. So your stay in Shanghai from 28th April to 2nd May counts as one period, and your overnight return on 12/13th May starts a new 240-hour period.
To qualify, you must arrive and depart from specific ports that participate in the 240-hour policy (Shanghai Pudong Airport PVG qualifies).
You need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country (in your case, Japan) within the 240-hour window of your first entry.

Applying this to your travel plan:

Arrival: 28th April PVG from Oslo/Frankfurt → you are eligible for 240-hour transit stay without a visa.
Departure to Japan: 2nd May → this ends your first 240-hour period.
Return to Shanghai: 12th May overnight → this is a new entry; the 240-hour period restarts, and you can stay up to 10 days if needed, but you only need one night before your departure on 13th May.

Important considerations:

Ensure your nationality is eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit. Most European countries, including Norway, are eligible.
Carry all necessary documents, including passports and confirmed onward tickets to Japan and then from Shanghai to your home country.
Inform immigration officers about your travel plan if asked; they usually stamp your passport with the entry and exit date.

In summary, your understanding is correct: the 240-hour period applies separately for each entry. Your first stay in Shanghai does not affect your overnight return on 12/13th May, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria and have the proper onward ticket.

Visa requirement still unsure

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