Using the 240 Transit without Visa correctly

Question

A little confused as to what is accepted with the 240 TWOV.

My situation is this, UK passport holder living with residence in Spain (but not a Spanish passport holder). We will be travelling to China for 13 days this summer, as my wife and kids have Spanish passports they have up to 30 days, but I don’t.

Our itinerary was to visit Hong Kong at some point, is there a way to use the visit to break the trip so that its not necessary for me to obtain a travel Visa?

Many thanks in advance, this forum is truly a gold mine of information

Answer

Hello, your situation regarding the 240-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) in China is a common question for travelers from countries like the UK. Here’s a detailed explanation to help you plan your trip.

The 240-hour TWOV allows eligible travelers to stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa for up to 10 days (some regions extended to 15 or 240 hours depending on policy updates) if entering and exiting through specific ports and following the rules strictly. However, the rules differ by nationality, city, and port.

Key points for your situation:

As a UK passport holder, you are generally eligible for the 240-hour TWOV in certain cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and a few others, but you must arrive and depart via eligible airports or ports in these cities.
The TWOV cannot be “split” into multiple periods by leaving to Hong Kong and returning. Exiting to Hong Kong or Macau does not reset the 240-hour clock unless you actually exit mainland China and re-enter through a designated port and follow the TWOV procedures again. Simply visiting Hong Kong from Shenzhen or Guangzhou may not count as exiting mainland China for this purpose.
If your total stay in mainland China exceeds the allowed period under TWOV, you would need a visa for the remaining days. In your case, visiting for 13 days, if entering through a city offering 240-hour TWOV and adhering to all rules, you could cover your stay without a visa. But you must carefully check which city you will enter first and ensure your travel plan matches the TWOV requirements.

Options and recommendations:

Check your first entry city and port to confirm it supports 240-hour TWOV for UK citizens. Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are the most commonly used ports.
Plan your itinerary so that your entry and exit are within the same TWOV region if you intend to use it for your 13-day trip.
If any part of your trip falls outside the eligible region or exceeds the TWOV limit, you will need to apply for a regular Chinese visa in advance to avoid overstaying.
Consider splitting your stay by traveling to Hong Kong first, then entering mainland China under TWOV, but only if your Hong Kong entry occurs before your mainland entry. Remember, Hong Kong counts as a separate territory, but the TWOV rules apply only upon entry to mainland China.

In summary, it is possible to use 240-hour TWOV to cover your 13-day stay, but careful planning of your entry city, port, and exact dates is essential. Simply visiting Hong Kong during your trip does not automatically exempt you from needing a visa for any days exceeding the TWOV period. Double-check the current rules with the Chinese consulate or official TWOV information, as policies can be updated.

Using the 240 Transit without Visa correctly

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