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A stopover tour without any transit visa is one of the advantages of flying through China for citizens of USA, Canada, Singapore, Qatar, the UAE and some other countries. China’s visa-free transit policy for 72 hours, 144 hours, and 240 hours offers an exciting opportunity to explore the historically rich and culturally diverse regions of this beautiful nation. China is a major connection point for several airlines, in the Asia-Pacific region. No other country’s visa policy for transit stopovers is as liberal as China’s 10-day visa-free transit policy.
What is China’s visa-free transit policy?
Designed for international transit passengers from 55 countries, China’s visa-free transit policy allows stopovers in 24 provinces of mainland China for 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days) without requiring a visa in advance. Available at as many as 60 entry points across mainland China, the visa-free transit facility lets you plan stopover tours in Beijing, Hainan, Macau, Hubei, Hunan, Liaoning, and others while traveling on USA to China flights with connections to a third country.
Countries eligible for visa-free transit in China
55 countries, including the United States, are eligible for China’s 72 to 240 hours visa-free transit policy. The citizens of 6 countries from the Americans, 7 countries from Asia, 2 from Oceania, and 40 countries from Europe can visit and explore designated areas of China for up to 240 hours (10 days) without a Chinese visa when traveling between two countries on multi-city flights, for instance, USA to Philippines via China. The US, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, UAE, Japan, Singapore, and Qatar are among the countries eligible for visa-free transit in China.
Requirements for visa-free transit stopovers in China
If you’re a US citizen, you must book flights from USA to Beijing with a stopover transit to some third country. Precisely, the final destination should not be the country of your travel origin.
If Philippines or Vietnam is your final destination, you must have confirmed airline tickets to Manila or Ho Chi Minh City from China within the visa-free transit period. If you plan a 72-hour transit stopover in China, your onward travel to the final destination should start within 72 hours.
In addition to the above, requirements for China’s visa-free transit policy, 72 hours to 240 hours, include your valid passport and visa or residence permit to the destination country.
How to apply for China’s 10-day visa-free transit: A quick guide
The process to get transit visa-free stay in China for up to 10 days or 240 hours is simple and straightforward.
Before boarding your flight with any of the top 10 airlines from USA to China, you need to inform the airline about your plans for a visa-free transit stopover in China. The airline will notify China’s immigration authorities on your behalf. After arrival, proceed to the “Transit Without Visa” (TWOV) desk at the port of entry.
Eligible foreign citizens require a temporary entry permit for transit visa-free stay in designated regions of China. At the port of entry, be it Beijing or Shanghai, you need to apply for a temporary entry permit by filling out the arrival card form and any other form mandated by the Chinese immigration authorities.
China’s temporary entry permit for transit travelers will be granted to you after satisfactory inspection of your documents – passport, visa to the destination country, onward flight ticket, and/or hotel booking confirmation in a designated region of China.
You can go through customs and enter China for a visa-free stopover up to 10 days only after you obtain the temporary entry permit.
I am a Filipino American with a US passport. Are Filipino Americans eligible for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy?
Since Filipino Americans are US citizens, they are eligible for a visa-free transit stopover in China for up to 240 hours or 10 days. Besides, you need to meet the other eligibility requirements listed above, such as a multi-city itinerary with a significant layover in China and confirmed onward travel booking to a third country. iEagle, the most trusted air-ticketing partner for Filipinos, Americans, and other immigrants in the US, offers phone-only budget flight deals.
