Shanghai stay, South Korea and Gems of Japan. Visa help!

Question

I have conflicting information about whether I need a visa for this trip on Spectrum of the Seas organised via Iglu cruises and wonder if anyone has done it? I hold a British passport. We fly London to Shangai, , stay in shanghai for three days then day 4 take the cruise stopping in south korea then Japan, then return shanghai day 12 to fly back to london. can I use the visa free transit twice - once on way out and once on way back, or would that not be allowed? Many thanks indeed for any help you can give me.

Answer

For your trip to Shanghai and the cruise to South Korea and Japan, visa requirements for a British passport holder depend on how you plan to enter China and the transit rules in place at the time of travel. Since you’re staying in Shanghai for three days before boarding the cruise and returning for a day after, the main question is whether you can use China’s visa-free transit (VFT) twice — once on arrival and once on return.

Here are the key points:

China currently offers a 144-hour (6-day) or 72-hour (3-day) visa-free transit
On your first entry into Shanghai from London, your onward ticket is on a cruise that stops in South Korea and Japan. This counts as travel to a third country, so you may be eligible for the visa-free transit for your initial stay in Shanghai before the cruise.
On your return from the cruise to Shanghai, the onward flight is back to London. Again, this is technically travel to a third country (UK), which could allow the visa-free transit for the day you return to Shanghai before your flight.

However, there are some important caveats:

Visa-free transit is not guaranteed
Not all ports may allow repeated use of the visa-free transit within a single trip. Some travelers report being allowed, while others have been asked to obtain a visa for a return visit within a few days.
If your cruise is organized through a tour operator (Iglu Cruises), they may provide guidance or documentation confirming that you qualify for the visa-free transit for your cruise entry/exit.

Options to consider for certainty:

Option 1: Apply for a single-entry tourist visa: Covers your initial Shanghai stay only. This requires careful planning for the return to Shanghai; you may need a new visa if visa-free transit is not accepted on return.
Option 2: Apply for a double-entry or multiple-entry tourist visa: This is the safest approach. It guarantees that you can enter Shanghai before the cruise and again after returning, avoiding any risk of being denied entry or delayed at immigration.
Option 3: Attempt visa-free transit both times: Save the visa cost, but be prepared to show complete cruise documents, tickets, and hotel bookings. Risk of denial exists, particularly for the second Shanghai entry after the cruise.

Practical recommendation:

For peace of mind and minimal risk, apply for a double-entry tourist visa
If you prefer to rely on visa-free transit, contact the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre or the cruise operator for official guidance and confirm that your planned itinerary qualifies for VFT on both entries.

In short, while theoretically the visa-free transit could be used twice (before and after the cruise), immigration discretion and port policies make this uncertain. The safest solution is a double-entry visa to cover both entries into Shanghai.