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Seat booking requirement for 240 hr free visa

With a british passport it requires a confirmed seat booking for the 240 hour visa.

I have Emirates return flight booked and have made seat reservation on the emirates websitr.

However I obviously wont get boarding pass for this till nearer the time so how do I prove seat reseervation is done?

How strict are they about this?

For the 240-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) in China, one of the key requirements for British passport holders (and most other eligible nationalities) is to show a confirmed onward flight or train ticket out of the country within the 240-hour window. You do not need the actual boarding pass at the time of application; a confirmed reservation is sufficient.

Here’s how it works and what you can do:

  • Confirmed Reservation Proof: Most airlines, including Emirates, provide a booking confirmation email or PDF once your seat is reserved, even if you haven’t checked in yet. This confirmation typically includes your name, flight number, date, and destination.
  • Print or Screenshot: Print out the confirmation or save a clear screenshot showing all the relevant flight details. Immigration officers at Beijing airport will accept this as proof of a confirmed onward journey.
  • Timing Flexibility: You don’t need to have the boarding pass in hand when applying for TWOV. Immigration mainly wants to ensure you have a valid exit plan within the allowed 240-hour period.

Regarding strictness:

  • The officers usually verify that the onward ticket is genuine and that the dates align with the 240-hour period. As long as your Emirates reservation is confirmed and matches your intended travel dates, it is generally sufficient.
  • If you booked through a travel agent or online platform, make sure the ticket is fully confirmed and not just on a “waitlist” status. Waitlisted or unconfirmed bookings may be rejected.
  • It is advisable to carry both the digital and printed versions of the reservation, as a backup in case one method is questioned.

In short, your Emirates seat reservation confirmation is enough to satisfy the 240-hour TWOV requirement. The process is generally straightforward as long as the onward ticket is legitimate, confirmed, and within the permitted timeframe.

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