Visa or no Visa

Question

We are flying from uk to shanghai staying overnight & then getting a cruise to japan for 7nts then returning to shanghai & staying for a further 7nts before returning back to the u.k I have done my research but still unsure if I qualify for Visa free or not it has been up graded in December that uk residents can now stay 240 hours(10days) Visa free 🤷

Answer

Yes, as of December 2023, UK passport holders are eligible for the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit in certain Chinese cities, including Shanghai. However, there are important conditions to note that affect your itinerary with the cruise.

Key points for 240-hour visa-free transit in Shanghai:

You must enter and exit through one of the eligible ports in Shanghai (Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, or Shanghai Railway Stations if arriving by train).
Your stay in China must be within the Shanghai municipality or neighboring cities specifically allowed under the 240-hour policy.
You must have an onward flight or cruise ticket departing within 240 hours from the time of entry. In your case, the cruise to Japan counts as the onward travel.
The 240-hour count begins from the time you enter China, not at midnight. So if you land in Shanghai in the evening, your 10-day period starts from that exact time.

Considerations for your itinerary:

Flying from the UK to Shanghai and staying overnight before your cruise: You are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit as long as your onward cruise to Japan departs within 10 days.
Returning to Shanghai after the cruise for another 7 nights: This is treated as a separate entry into China. You would need either a standard tourist visa for that stay or check if another 240-hour visa-free entry is allowed, though some ports may have limitations on consecutive uses.
Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure.
At immigration, be prepared to show your cruise tickets and hotel booking details if requested.

Summary:

You can use the 240-hour visa-free policy for your first short stay in Shanghai before the cruise. For your second 7-night stay after returning from Japan, you likely need a standard tourist visa unless you confirm eligibility for a second 240-hour entry.

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