240 Hour Visa Re-Entry

Question

Can anybody advise if I can enter on a 240 Hour Visa and see the South of China then Travel to Japan and Korea and re-enter on another 240 Hour Visa 2 weeks later to visit Beijing/Xian and the North.

I am a UK Citizen with a British Passport and have looked everywhere for this answer.

Thanks Taylorclan

Answer

The 240-hour (10-day) Visa-Free Transit (VFT) policy in China allows eligible travelers to enter certain cities or regions of China without a visa, provided specific conditions are met. However, re-entry under this scheme requires careful planning.

Key points for 240-hour visa re-entry:

The 240-hour VFT applies only to selected ports of entry and specific regions (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi’an, and others). You must remain within the approved city or province during your stay.
UK citizens are eligible for the 240-hour VFT in applicable cities, as long as you have confirmed onward international travel within the 10-day period.
The VFT is intended for transit purposes, not for repeated tourism. While technically you could leave China and return to apply for a new 240-hour VFT, there is no formal guarantee that re-entry will be granted immediately for the same traveler. Each entry is assessed individually by border authorities.

Applying your plan:

First entry: You could use the 240-hour VFT to visit southern China (e.g., Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Shanghai) for up to 10 days, then depart to Japan or Korea.
Second entry: After leaving China, you could attempt to enter northern China (e.g., Beijing or Xi’an) under a new 240-hour VFT, provided you meet the eligibility requirements at the port of entry and have confirmed onward travel.
There is no official restriction on using the 240-hour VFT multiple times, but border officers have discretion. Frequent or consecutive use may raise questions, so you should have clear proof of your travel plans, accommodation, and onward tickets.

Alternative approach:

If you want more certainty and flexibility, consider applying for a standard Chinese tourist visa (L visa) with multiple entries. This would cover both southern and northern China in your trip without relying on re-entry under the VFT policy.

In summary, as a UK citizen, your proposed plan is theoretically possible, but re-entry under the 240-hour VFT is at the discretion of Chinese border authorities. To minimize risk, keep all travel documents, confirmed tickets, and accommodation details ready, or consider a multiple-entry tourist visa for smoother travel across China.

240 Hour Visa Re-Entry

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