Chinese visa

Question

I am an American and want to go from Macau to Zhuhai for 2 days and then take a bus on the new bridge to Hong Kong airport to fly to America. Do I need a Chinese visa for Zuhai. If so can I get it at the border? Thanks. Bruce

Answer

As an American citizen, you will need a Chinese visa to enter Zhuhai from Macau. Zhuhai is part of mainland China, and entry from Macau is treated as entry into mainland China. The visa-free transit policies (such as 24/72/144-hour TWOV) are generally for travelers in transit to a third country via certain cities, but a 2-day stay specifically in Zhuhai does not fall under those transit exemptions unless you are continuing directly to a third country via one of the eligible ports.

Key points to note:

You cannot obtain a standard Chinese tourist visa at the Macau–Zhuhai border. Visa-on-arrival for Zhuhai is not available for U.S. citizens.
You must apply for a Chinese visa (L visa for tourism) in advance at a Chinese consulate or embassy before traveling to Zhuhai.
Alternative options: If your travel is strictly to transit through Zhuhai to Hong Kong within 24/72/144 hours under the TWOV scheme, check if you are eligible based on your onward flight to the U.S. via Hong Kong. However, this usually requires entry and exit through specified ports and certain cities, and Zhuhai may not be covered unless connecting to a third country flight via Guangzhou or Shenzhen.

Traveling via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge:

You can travel from Macau to Hong Kong via the bridge using buses or shuttle services. However, if you intend to stop in Zhuhai for 2 days, you are entering mainland China and a valid Chinese visa is required before entry.
Make sure your visa covers the dates of your stay in Zhuhai, and plan for immigration processing at the bridge checkpoint when entering and leaving Zhuhai.

Summary:

Yes, you need a Chinese visa to stay in Zhuhai for 2 days.
No, you cannot obtain this visa at the border; it must be applied for in advance at a Chinese consulate or embassy.
If you only transit through Zhuhai directly to Hong Kong for your flight home, check whether TWOV policies apply, but a 2-day stopover generally requires a full visa.

Make sure to apply for the appropriate visa well ahead of your trip to avoid issues at the border.