Visa questions for UK passport holders

Question

I am sorry to have to ask but I find the rules about transfer without visa so confusing. We are British Passport holders and are hoping to travel London - Guangzhou (stay for 3 days) and then. Guangzhou to Thailand returning to Guangzhou to spend one night before flying back to UK ? Do we qualify for transfer without visa on our return ? Thank you in advance.

Answer

For British passport holders, China offers a 24-, 72-, or 144-hour visa-free transit (TWOV) policy in certain cities, including Guangzhou. Understanding whether your itinerary qualifies for visa-free transit can be tricky, so here’s a detailed breakdown based on your plan.

Your itinerary: London → Guangzhou (3 days stay) → Thailand → Guangzhou (1 night) → UK.

1. Initial Stay in Guangzhou

Since you are staying in Guangzhou for 3 days initially, you will need a proper Chinese visa for the first entry. The 24/72/144-hour visa-free transit only applies if you are passing through China en route to a third country without staying in the city for a standard tourist visit.

2. Return to Guangzhou for 1 night after Thailand

On your return to Guangzhou before flying back to the UK, you are technically entering China a second time. The visa-free transit rules generally only apply if:

You are in transit to a third country or region (not returning from China).
Your stay is within the permitted hours (24, 72, or 144 hours depending on the city and port of entry).

Since you will have already entered China once, then left for Thailand, and now are returning for one night, you do not qualify for the visa-free transit on your return. You will need a valid Chinese visa for this second entry as well.

Options for your itinerary:

Obtain a single-entry visa and adjust your travel so that all your China visits fall within that entry period (may require shortening or combining stays, depending on visa validity).
Obtain a multiple-entry Chinese visa, which allows you to enter, leave, and return to China legally without requiring TWOV.

Key Notes:

Visa-free transit is generally intended for passengers passing through on the way to another country, not for returning visitors or separate domestic stays.
Always check with the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before travel, as policies can change and may have specific requirements based on your nationality and airport.
Ensure your flights and itinerary allow sufficient time for visa processing if applying for a multiple-entry visa.

In summary, your initial 3-day stay in Guangzhou will require a visa, and your return from Thailand for one night in Guangzhou also requires a visa; you cannot rely on visa-free transit for the second entry.

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