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4 hr Transit @ Guangzhou Airport | Self Transfer | T1 to T2

Hi I am travelling from Japan to Bangladesh. Layover at guangzhou airport for 4 hours. I will arrive at T1 and my 2nd flight is from T2 (China Southern Airlines)

1. Since it's less than 8 hours transit, am I eligible for visa free transit?

2. Will I get temporary entry and exit permit?

if anyone has this experience please share.

For a 4-hour layover at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) with a self-transfer between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, here are the key points regarding visa and transit:

1. Eligibility for visa-free transit:

  • China’s standard 24-hour visa-free transit is available for most international travelers, including citizens of Japan and Bangladesh, when transiting through certain Chinese cities, including Guangzhou.
  • Since your layover is only 4 hours, you are within the 24-hour transit period. However, in practice, for such a short transit, you usually do not need to leave the airport or clear immigration, especially if you can stay within the international transfer area.

2. Temporary entry and exit permit:

  • Visa-free transit or temporary entry permits are generally issued if you want to leave the airport during your layover.
  • For a 4-hour layover, leaving the airport is technically possible, but it is not recommended because clearing immigration, transferring between terminals, and security checks can take 1–2 hours. This leaves very little actual sightseeing time.
  • If you choose to leave, you can request a 24-hour transit permit at immigration, but you must show your onward boarding pass and passport. Keep in mind the risk of delays.

Additional considerations:

  • China Southern Airlines has flights from both T1 and T2. Confirm whether your bags are checked through to your final destination. If not, you may need to pick up and recheck luggage, which requires going through immigration and customs, increasing the risk of missing your next flight.
  • The airport provides an inter-terminal shuttle that takes about 10–15 minutes, but with security and waiting times, transferring can take 30–45 minutes minimum.
  • For such a short transit, it is usually safer to stay within the airport’s international transit areas and avoid leaving, unless you have ample buffer time and are comfortable navigating immigration quickly.

In summary, you are eligible for visa-free transit in Guangzhou, but with a 4-hour layover, obtaining a temporary entry permit is possible but not practical. Staying in the airport is recommended for safety and convenience.

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