240-hour visa policy question

Question

Hi, I’m planning to fly in to Beijing on the visa-free policy on August 16. I read that the policy starts midnight after the day you get there, so 10 full days would be midnight August 17 to midnight August 27. So, it makes sense that my return flight should be before August 27, like on the 26th.

My question is, I’m looking at a flight out of Zhangjiajie on August 26, that stops in Guangzhou, with an overnight layover. I could stay in the hotel in the airport, then I’d fly out to the 3rd country early morning on August 27. Technically that’s more than the 10 days, but is it ok since that trip out technically starts on the 26th? Thank you.

Answer

The 240-hour visa-free transit policy in Beijing allows eligible travelers to stay within certain areas of Beijing and surrounding regions without a visa for up to 10 full days (240 hours). The timing of the visa-free period is based on the actual hour of entry rather than strictly counting calendar days, but the rules are interpreted strictly at immigration checkpoints.

Understanding the Visa-Free Period:

If you enter Beijing on August 16, the 240-hour countdown starts at the hour of your entry, not at midnight. For example, if you land at 14:00 on August 16, your 240 hours expire at 14:00 on August 26.
The “10 full days” often cited in travel guides is a simplified approximation; technically, overstaying even by a few hours can result in fines or complications at departure.
Immigration considers the exit from China as the moment you depart the Chinese territory, not the start of the next flight. So staying overnight in Guangzhou on August 26 is still within China, and your exit is only recorded when you board the flight to the third country early on August 27.

Implications for Your Itinerary:

Flying out of Zhangjiajie on August 26 is safe, as long as your departure from China occurs before the 240-hour limit counted from your Beijing entry.
Spending the night at an airport hotel in Guangzhou is considered being within China. Therefore, if your 240-hour period technically ends during that night, you may be slightly overstaying.
Immigration officers may interpret the limit strictly, so technically the safest option is to ensure your departure from Chinese territory occurs before the 240-hour mark (likely during your Zhangjiajie to Guangzhou flight on August 26, rather than waiting until early August 27).

Practical Recommendations:

Confirm your Beijing entry time and calculate 240 hours precisely to avoid overstaying.
If your international flight from Guangzhou departs early on August 27, consider requesting a slightly earlier flight from Zhangjiajie or moving your overnight stay to ensure you leave China within the allowed period.
Alternatively, contact your airline or the Beijing immigration authority for explicit guidance; they can clarify whether overnight stay in another Chinese city before your exit counts as overstaying.

In summary, technically your 240-hour visa-free stay starts at your arrival time in Beijing. Overnight stay in Guangzhou before departing to a third country on August 27 may be slightly beyond your allowed period. To avoid risk, plan to exit Chinese territory before the end of the 240 hours, possibly by adjusting your Zhangjiajie-Guangzhou flight timing.

240-hour visa policy question

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