240hr TWOV third country ‘rules’

Question

I’m planning to travel to Shanghai in May with my daughter (6) and then up to Beijing for no more than 7 days in total. I’ve been looking at getting a visa however we live quite a distance from the embassys in the UK so have been looking at the 240 TWOV option which obviously sounds quite appealing!

My question is, what are the rules around the third country? Can we simply transit through a third country on the way there/back? ie fly LHR>Shanghai then Beijing>somewhere like Dubai or Frankfurt, wait a couple of hours and then back to the UK? Obviously that feels like trying to cheat the system which if there’s any chance of being denied entry on arrival I would not take the chance. But I can’t find the guidance anywhere on what travel onward to a third country actually means? Do I need to pass through customs?

TIA

Answer

The 240-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) policy in China allows eligible foreign nationals to enter certain cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, for up to 10 days without a visa, provided they are traveling to a third country or region. Understanding the "third country" rule is crucial to ensure compliance and avoid any issues at immigration.

Key points about the third country requirement:

The onward destination must be a country or region that is not your country of departure. For example, if you fly from the UK to Shanghai, your onward flight must be to a different country (e.g., Japan, UAE, Germany, etc.). Returning to the UK directly without another third country in between would not satisfy the TWOV rule.
The “third country” does not necessarily have to be a long-haul flight. Short layovers are allowed, but your entry into that third country should be legitimate—just transiting through an airport without leaving the international transit area may meet the technical requirement, but immigration officers can ask questions if it seems like you are trying to “cheat” the system.
There is no requirement to clear customs in the third country for TWOV eligibility, but you do need a confirmed onward ticket showing departure from China to the third country within the allowed 240 hours.

Practical tips for compliance:

Have confirmed flight tickets for your onward journey from China to the third country and then back to your home country, ideally showing the entire route clearly on your booking confirmation.
Be prepared to show your travel itinerary and explain your travel plan to immigration officers if asked.
Ensure your stay in China stays within the 240-hour limit; overstaying is not allowed under this scheme.
Traveling to multiple cities within the 240 hours, such as Shanghai and Beijing, is allowed as long as your total stay is under the limit and within the eligible entry areas.

In summary, flying LHR → Shanghai → Dubai → LHR could technically meet the TWOV “third country” requirement, as long as you have a confirmed onward flight from Shanghai to Dubai, and your Dubai layover is recognized as an actual transit to a third country. Immigration may ask about the purpose of your Dubai layover, so it is safest to have legitimate onward flights and a clear itinerary.

240hr TWOV third country ‘rules’

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