VISA Free Travel to Mainland

Question

I am HK resident with UK passport. Am I able to utilize the visa free program to transit through china with the below itinerary. I will not be spending any overnight in Mainland, just need to self transfer between the 2 airports.

HK to Beijing (PEK) then self transfer to

Beijing (PKX) to Third Country

Return Flight

Third Country to Beijing (PKX) and self transfer to

Beijing (PEK) to HK

Answer

As a Hong Kong resident holding a UK passport, you are eligible for China’s 24/144/72-hour transit visa-free policies depending on your entry city, but there are some important points to consider for your itinerary.

In your case, your travel involves self-transfers between Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX). This situation complicates eligibility for transit visa-free entry, because:

The visa-free transit program generally applies when you are transiting through the same airport or using a single airport hub for an international onward flight.
Self-transferring between two different airports in Beijing requires you to pass through immigration and customs, collect luggage, and travel between PEK and PKX, which is considered entering Mainland China.
Visa-free transit programs are intended for travelers who stay in the city (or province) for a short period, usually up to 24, 72, or 144 hours, but in practice, you need to obtain a temporary transit permit at the airport if you are leaving the airport area.

Key points for your specific case:

If you plan to leave PEK and transfer to PKX by yourself, you cannot rely solely on the transit visa-free program. You would need a regular Chinese visa or a pre-arranged temporary transit permit issued at the airport. Some travelers attempt this by applying for a 24-hour Beijing transit permit in advance.
If you were able to have your luggage checked through to the final destination and use an airport shuttle without going through immigration, you might avoid the need for a visa, but this is generally not possible between two separate airports.
The transit visa-free program is much easier to use if you are staying in the same city and airport area.

Recommendations:

Obtain a standard Chinese visa in advance to cover your self-transfer between PEK and PKX. This is the safest option.
Contact the airlines and Chinese authorities to confirm if any temporary transit permits can be issued for your specific airport-to-airport transfer, though this is uncommon.
Plan at least 5–6 hours for the transfer, accounting for immigration, luggage collection, and the 1–2 hour journey between the two airports.

In summary, your itinerary as described does not qualify automatically for visa-free transit, because you must cross immigration between two airports. Getting a standard Chinese visa in advance is the most reliable way to avoid complications.

VISA Free Travel to Mainland

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