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Question

I want to travel to china and japan and take advantage of the 240 hour visa free waiver. If I fly from uk to Beijing and stay 240 hours then fly to japan, does that qualify. And can I do the same in the opposite direction. Flying from japan to Beijing and staying 240 hours then flying back to UK.

Thank you

Peter

Answer

The 240-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) in China allows eligible travelers from certain countries to stay in specified Chinese cities or regions without a visa for up to 10 days (240 hours) if they are in transit to a third country.

For your scenarios:

UK → Beijing → Japan: Yes, this qualifies for the 240-hour TWOV, provided your stay in Beijing does not exceed 240 hours and your onward flight from Beijing is directly to Japan. You must enter and exit through eligible airports and stay within the approved city or region.
Japan → Beijing → UK: This also qualifies, as you are arriving from a third country (Japan) and leaving to another third country (UK). The same rules apply: your entry and exit must be through the designated port and your stay within 240 hours.

Important details to consider:

TWOV only applies to travelers transiting to a third country; returning to the same country you came from (e.g., UK → Beijing → UK) is not eligible.
Designated cities for the 240-hour TWOV include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and a few others. You must remain within the approved city/region during your stay.
Make sure your flights are on confirmed tickets and your onward destination is valid, as immigration may ask to see proof.
Keep track of the 240 hours carefully; overstaying can result in fines or denial of future entry.

In summary, both your planned itineraries (UK → Beijing → Japan and Japan → Beijing → UK) are eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit, as long as all conditions are met.

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