Entry in to China with a uk passport

Question

Hi all, need some help asap as I’m having no luck with ChatGPT, the Chinese embassy or google. I have a uk passport and was born and lived in the uk for 42 year. I’m now living in Spain. I believe this doesn’t make a difference though as im a UK passport holder.

I’m travelling to chine on the 26th June from Dubai and need some clarification around my entry. I do not have a visa and it’s now impossible to get one and makes it all the harder as I’m currently in Lanzarote.

Initially I thought I had 10 days I could stay as long as I kept to certain parts of China, 54 areas were included I believe.

I have since been told it’s now 6 days but I need to remain in the area I enter the country and then leave from that same area.

I have also been told it’s 6 days and I can travel between 31 ports in 23 cities of 18 provinces in China

My question is, as a uk passport holder. How long can I actually stay in China with no visa if I’m in transit and am I aloud certain movement within this time.

I understand I will need to have proof of my booking to my next country which I plan to be Japan and probably show hotel bookings also. We land in Hangzhou and had planed to travel up to Beijing to then fly out to Japan.

My wife and 2 children all have Irish passports so I’m told they are not an issue it’s just me being a UK passport holder that’s a problem.

Answer

For UK passport holders traveling to China, the rules for visa-free entry under transit schemes have specific limitations, and it is important to distinguish between the general visa exemption for transit passengers and regular tourist visas.

Transit Visa Exemption (Visa-Free Stay)

China offers several types of visa-free transit policies, depending on the city and region of entry. The most relevant for your itinerary are the 144-hour and 6-day (144-hour or 6-day) transit exemptions. Key points for UK passport holders:

The 144-hour (6-day) visa-free transit is available in certain major cities and their surrounding provinces, including Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and others.
To qualify, you must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region (not returning to your point of origin). In your case, a flight from Beijing to Japan satisfies this requirement.
During the visa-free period, you are allowed to travel only within the designated areas associated with your port of entry. For Hangzhou, this typically covers Hangzhou city and nearby Zhejiang province. Traveling beyond the designated area (e.g., from Hangzhou to Beijing) would violate the transit exemption rules.
UK passport holders are eligible for this program, but it must be strictly adhered to, unlike citizens of some other countries that may have special arrangements.

Implications for Your Trip:

Landing in Hangzhou and planning to travel to Beijing under the 144-hour/6-day transit exemption is not permitted. You must remain within Hangzhou and nearby areas allowed by the visa-free policy.
If you want to visit Beijing or other distant cities, you would need a valid Chinese tourist visa (L visa) prior to arrival. Without this, immigration may deny entry if you intend to travel beyond the designated transit area.
Proof of onward travel to Japan is required at entry, along with potentially hotel bookings within the designated city/region.
Your wife and children with Irish passports would be subject to the same rules; however, there may be minor differences in how border officers interpret Irish versus UK passports, but generally the visa-free transit rules apply similarly.

Options to Consider:

Option 1: Apply for a regular Chinese tourist visa (L visa) from the nearest Chinese consulate before travel. This allows free movement between cities such as Hangzhou and Beijing.
Option 2: Restrict your trip to the designated visa-free area around Hangzhou and nearby Zhejiang province, then fly directly to Japan from Hangzhou.
Option 3: Consider adjusting your itinerary to land in a city that permits your desired travel route under the 144-hour transit exemption, though intercity travel outside the region is still restricted.

In summary, as a UK passport holder, you are eligible for 144-hour (6-day) visa-free transit in Hangzhou, but you cannot travel to Beijing under this exemption. To visit Beijing before flying to Japan, you must obtain a proper tourist visa. Always carry proof of onward travel and accommodation for the designated transit area to avoid entry issues.

Entry in to China with a uk passport

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