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Enter & leave same airport in China for 30 day tourist visa?

Aloha fellow experienced travellers,

US State department website shows US citizens must enter and leave China from the same airport. Lots of Google searches on this topic say otherwise for 10 day visas and transit visas. Chinese embassy website is impossible to find an answer at for other types of visas.

If I book a 15 day tour and obtain a 30 day tourist visa for it, can I leave Honolulu airport to fly into Beijing and leave from Shanghai, or must I fly in and out of Beijing airport only? I need to know before purchasing airfare then getting surprised with change fees later.

Mahalo (thanks) in advance!

For US citizens planning to visit China with a standard 30-day tourist visa (L visa), there is no requirement to enter and leave from the same airport. This requirement you may have seen applies mainly to certain transit visas or 72/144-hour visa-free transit policies at specific cities.

Key points about a 30-day tourist visa:

  • The visa is valid for entry at any port of entry in China. You can enter through one city (e.g., Beijing) and exit through another (e.g., Shanghai).
  • Chinese immigration allows multiple airports and cities for entry and departure, as long as your visa is valid and your stay does not exceed the duration granted (in your case, up to 30 days).
  • This is distinct from visa-free transit policies, which sometimes require entry and exit through the same city or airport within the limited hours (24, 72, or 144 hours).

Practical Recommendations:

  • Confirm that your 30-day L visa is a single-entry tourist visa. A single-entry tourist visa allows entry at one port and departure from another without issue.
  • Keep all travel documents handy, including your visa, passport, and tour itinerary, as immigration may ask for proof of onward travel or hotel reservations.
  • It is safe to book multi-city airfare (Beijing arrival, Shanghai departure) without worrying about violating visa rules for a standard tourist visa.

In summary, with a 30-day single-entry tourist visa, you are free to fly into Beijing and depart from Shanghai. The restriction about entering and leaving the same airport applies to visa-free or transit arrangements, not standard tourist visas. You can safely purchase multi-city tickets before applying for your visa.

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