240 hour transit visa CHINA

Question

We have just booked tickets from London - beijing-phuket and return phuket - Shanghai - London.

On the return we opted to have 3 days in shanghai and I just wanted to make sure that you can use the transit visa when returning home to your home country? So we will be flying from Phuket to Shanghai (3 days layover) and then Shanghai to London.

Answer

Yes, your planned route from Phuket to Shanghai (3-day stop) and then Shanghai to London qualifies for China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy. This policy allows eligible travelers from certain countries, including the United Kingdom, to transit through specific Chinese cities without obtaining a visa, provided that they meet the entry and exit conditions.

In your case, your flight path—Thailand (Phuket) → China (Shanghai) → United Kingdom (London)—meets the “third country” rule. That means you’re arriving from one country (Thailand) and departing to a different one (the UK), which makes you eligible for the visa-free transit stay in Shanghai.

Here are the key requirements and steps to ensure everything goes smoothly:

Eligible Nationality: UK passport holders qualify for the 144-hour visa-free transit.
Approved Port of Entry: You must enter through one of the designated ports that allow 144-hour TWOV (Transit Without Visa). In Shanghai, this includes Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao Airport (SHA).
Third Country Rule: Your travel route must be “Country A → China → Country B.” Since Thailand and the UK are different countries, this condition is satisfied.
Stay Duration: You can remain in China for up to 144 hours (6 days) from the time of arrival.
Geographical Restriction: During your stay, you must remain within the permitted region for this transit policy. For Shanghai, you can travel freely within Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province, and Zhejiang Province.
Documentation: You’ll need to present your onward ticket to London when arriving in Shanghai, showing your departure within 144 hours.

When you land in Shanghai, proceed to the dedicated “144-hour visa-free transit” counter at immigration. The officers will review your travel documents and issue a temporary entry permit stamped in your passport. This is not a visa but an authorization to stay in China during your layover.

To summarize your situation:

London → Beijing → Phuket: This leg likely requires a tourist visa since your stay in Beijing isn’t just a transit stop (unless within 144 hours and following the rules).
Phuket → Shanghai → London: You can use the 144-hour visa-free transit for this portion, as it meets all the eligibility criteria.

Overall, your plan to stay three days in Shanghai before flying home to London is fully compliant with China’s 144-hour transit visa-free policy. Just ensure that your flight tickets clearly show your onward departure to the UK within 144 hours, and carry a printed itinerary in case the immigration officers request verification.

240 hour transit visa CHINA

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