240 hour visa free travel

Question

Hello,

I’m sorry if this is a dumb question. We are USA citizens.

Can we do:

Leg 1: Seoul to Beijing

Leg 2: Beijing to Shanghai

Leg 3: Shanghai to Los Angeles

Out total time in China will be less than 24 hours. Is it ok to fly into China and then fly or take the train to a different city in China? Is it ok to fly to the home country?

Thanks!

Answer

Yes, as a U.S. citizen, you can take advantage of China’s 24-hour visa-free transit policy, but there are some important details and rules to be aware of for your proposed itinerary.

1. 24-hour Visa-Free Transit Basics

The 24-hour visa-free transit is available at certain Chinese airports, including Beijing Capital (PEK) and Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao (PVG/SHA). It allows eligible travelers to stay in mainland China for up to 24 hours without a visa, provided they meet certain conditions:

You must arrive and depart from a Chinese airport with confirmed onward tickets to a third country (not a domestic connection or return to the same country of departure).
The itinerary must be continuous, meaning the layover within China should be within 24 hours from your arrival to departure.
You must hold a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.

2. Your Proposed Itinerary

Your plan is:

Leg 1: Seoul → Beijing
Leg 2: Beijing → Shanghai
Leg 3: Shanghai → Los Angeles

This is where a common misunderstanding arises. The 24-hour visa-free transit applies if you are transiting through China to a third country. It does not automatically allow multiple domestic legs within China. Technically, if you enter Beijing under the 24-hour transit, you are allowed to stay in the city or nearby airport area, but taking a domestic flight to Shanghai counts as entering China formally, and immigration may require a valid Chinese visa for that segment.

Option 1: If you strictly stay in the Beijing airport area, or leave the airport within Beijing city, and then depart directly to Los Angeles from Beijing, the 24-hour policy works without a visa.
Option 2: If you want to fly to Shanghai in between, this is usually not covered under 24-hour transit. You would likely need a regular Chinese visa to travel to a second city.

3. Practical Advice

Check with the airline: Some Chinese airlines may be able to book “domestic connection” under the same ticket, but immigration authorities enforce the visa rules strictly.
Alternative: Consider a direct Beijing → Los Angeles flight. You can still briefly explore Beijing city during your short layover.
If your total transit time is less than 24 hours, make sure your arrival and departure are on the same calendar day, and you don’t attempt to exit the airport to travel domestically without a visa.

Conclusion: For your itinerary, flying Seoul → Beijing → Shanghai → Los Angeles, the domestic leg Beijing → Shanghai is not technically allowed under the 24-hour transit policy. To stay fully compliant, you would need either a standard Chinese visa for the domestic travel or restructure your plan to exit Beijing directly to a third country.

240 hour visa free travel

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