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240 hours visa free transit

Hello,

I know this has been asked many times, and I have read multiple articles but I just want to double check before I book my flight. I am travelling from London - Tokyo and return Osaka - Beijing - UK. I would like to spend two days in Bejing on return. I will have return flights, hotel bookings and have a valid UK passport. Would I qualify and could you be refused? Would you then have to spend two days in the airport? I have emailed the embassy but still waiting a response.

Thanks in advance.

The 240-hour (10-day) Visa-Free Transit (VFT) in Beijing allows eligible travelers to stay in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region without a visa, provided certain conditions are met.

Eligibility for your itinerary:

  • UK citizens are eligible for the 240-hour VFT in Beijing.
  • To qualify, you must have confirmed onward international travel departing China within 240 hours (10 days) from entry, which in your case would be your flight from Beijing to the UK.
  • You must enter through an approved port of entry in Beijing, such as Beijing Capital International Airport or Beijing Daxing International Airport.

Requirements and considerations:

  • Hotel bookings or accommodation information should be provided if asked at immigration.
  • The VFT applies only to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, so you must remain within this area during your stay.
  • Entry is ultimately at the discretion of Chinese border authorities. While refusals are rare for travelers with proper documentation, they can occur, so ensure all documents are in order.
  • If for some reason entry is denied, the usual procedure is to be returned on your onward flight or held in a temporary facility, but this is uncommon for properly documented travelers.

Practical advice:

  • Have all your flight confirmations, hotel bookings, and passport ready upon arrival.
  • Be clear about your travel plan and duration of stay in Beijing.
  • While unlikely, be prepared for immigration to verify your itinerary and onward travel.

In summary, with a valid UK passport, confirmed onward flights from Beijing to the UK, and accommodation details, you should qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit and can spend two days in Beijing. Entry approval is at the discretion of immigration officials, but as long as all requirements are met, refusal is very unlikely.

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