China: visa-free stopovers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu
By Chris C., February 19 2014
China's Transit Visa Exemption Program lets you spend 72 hours in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu or Chongqing without the hassle and cost of applying for a single-entry visa.
It's a boon for business travellers flying through China: you'll have up to three days (and nights) for meetings, presentations and of course those lunches and dinners over which all-important personal relationships are forged.
But there are a few things you need to know before you go.
Who qualifies?
Any traveller with an Australian or New Zealand passport is eligible for the visa waiver – in fact, the program extends to citizens of 45 countries – as long as you're flying into Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing or Guangzhou.
You also have to be travelling onwards to a third country directly from those cities, such as flying from Australia to Europe via Guangzhou with China Southern.
If you're just flying into Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing or Guangzhou and then heading straight back home again you'll have to obtain the appropriate visa (or an APEC card) before boarding your flight to China.
How to enter China on a 72-hour transit visa
On arrival into China, look for the 72-hour Transit Visa lanes at passport control.
(In Shanghai’s Pudong airport, we’ve spotted them in between the ‘foreigner’ and ‘Chinese national’ desks.)
Advise the immigration official that you are transiting China for a short period before heading to your next destination, and produce a copy of your confirmed airline reservation clearly showing an onward flight within 72 hours of your arrival.
Rules for transit passengers
Passengers arriving into Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing and who are entering China under this program are required to remain within the administrative precincts of their city of entry.
The guidelines are slightly more lax for travellers arriving into Guangzhou – ‘visa-free’ travellers are allowed to roam within the province of Guangdong which includes Shenzhen.
Extending your stay
Other than where absolutely necessary, visitors can't ask for an extension of their visa-free stay.
Where an unforeseen situation arises – say, you require treatment of a sudden illness or there’s a flight cancellation – contact the Municipal Public Security Bureau (MPSB) from within China. Your hotel concierge should be able to help in this.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter – we're @AusBT
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 732
Why does China want to make it difficult for foreign business travellers?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Because the officer with the keys is on leave today.
22 Mar 2013
Total posts 27
Because this is how Chinese are treated to enter foreign countries.
16 Dec 2011
Total posts 49
Because they are communists ?
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Excuse my ignorance. Does this visa exemption rule include 2 hour transits in PVG before taking a flight to HKG, with respect to Australian passport holders?
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
14 Feb 2014
Total posts 33
Does this apply if you're flying in on any airline or just specific few?
04 Sep 2012
Total posts 72
Any airline, but you have trouble convincing check-in staff that you don't need a visa. I am Australian and in May last year it took 30 minutes to convince SQ at Perth check-in that a visa is not needed for Beijing. "ALL Australians require a visa for China". Suggest you take a printout from a website such as Beijing Airport where they detail the requirements.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1029
If the airline is being difficult, tell them to look it up in Timatic.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
21 Feb 2014
Total posts 3
Here is a good video on YouTube re the 72 hour visa as well as an overview of Guangzhou. https://youtu.be/3jGinfQSYeo
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jan 2013
Total posts 5
Does HK count as a "Third Country" for this purpose?
Can you fly SYD-PVG stay 71 hours and then fly to HK as your final destination?
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1029
According to all reports thus far, yes HKG counts as a "3rd" country.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Apr 2014
Total posts 10
No, HK and Macau do not count as a "third country". I found this out the hard and expensive way as i had to wait an extra day in hk and pay almost $200 for an express visa into china. if i had flown in directly from bkk then i would have been ok.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
I'd be challenging that Phillip – all credible online advice points to HK being regarded as a separate 'region'.
Were you turned back by your airline when trying to check in, or by the Chinese border authorities at the airport?
For Hong Kong details, see: https://www.airchina.com.au/en/aboutus/airchinanews/2012/20140315.html and https://lawandborder.com/china-72-hour-transit-visa-waiver/
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Apr 2014
Total posts 10
I was stopped at check in and told that HK and Macau didn't count. The only way they would let me check in to a flight was if I held a valid China travel visa. Only option they gave me was to apply for an express visa which cost $1400HKD and had to wait a whole day so had to rebook my flight as well. Mind you this was flying CX too.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1029
"(In Shanghai’s Pudong airport, we’ve spotted them in between the ‘foreigner’ and ‘Chinese national’ desks.)"
I went through Pudong under this visa free system last November. I didn't see any such desks and used the normal "foreigner" lane.
It appears that they only had the special desks set up for a few months when the visa free option first started until all the staff were aware of how it worked.
18 Aug 2017
Total posts 1
Thanks for this. Does it work in reverse ie if you stop in to China on the way back to Australia from visiting a 3rd country?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on China: visa-free stopovers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu