China - Visas.

I understand that there is a 72 hour transit period that waives the need for a visa to enter China.

This applies in Shanghai, Beijing, and other cities.

It does not apply to people arriving and departing from China for a longer period but is good for passengers arriving in China for a cruise that ends in another country.

Can anyone confirm that this is correct?

I understand that there is a 72 hour transit period that waives the need for a visa to enter China.

This applies in Shanghai, Beijing, and other cities.

It does not apply to people arriving and departing from China for a longer period but is good for passengers arriving in China for a cruise that ends in another country.

 

Can anyone confirm that this is correct?

As explained to me on cc, the China transit visa only applies to an airport transit, that is flying into an airport and leaving from an airport. To be sure, here is my google search.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/free-72hour/

Ditto to 4774Papa's reply. Furthermore, a cruise line may require a visa before boarding even if you plan to stay on the ship for the port where the visa is required.

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IIR there were Cruise Critic treads from last year that had examples of people on cruises taking advantage of the 72-hour visa free policy during a "trial" period.

Apparently from the above posts the "trial" has now ended and no long applicable.

Also if your citizenship is the same as the "location" on your CC profile, the 72-hour visa free policy does not apply to you anyway.

We took advantage of China’s 72-hour-visa-free-visit policy while we were en-route to a cruise out of Singapore. (We flew on Air China from Houston to Beijing -- had the 11-hour visa free visit -- and then connected on to Singapore via another Air China flight.)

You could arrange so that your layover is up to 72 hours.

To take advantage, you have to do the following:

1) Notify you airline staff of your travel plans in China BEFORE you depart on your flight into China. We informed the Air China representative in Houston of our plans in Beijing; she took care of making the necessary entries to our flight record so that we could exit the airport without a visa during our brief stay.

2) Be certain to take your airline ticket/boarding pass with a confirmed seat for your departing flight that will take you to another country outside of China.

3) Know that visitors are not allowed to leave the transit city to go to other cities during the 72 hours. They can only depart from the same airport where they get their permit issued.

4) Visitors are required to register at a police station with their transit permits within 24 hours after entry. (NOTE: this step is only necessary if you stay with a friend or family member. If you check into a hotel, the hotel handles the registration for you.)

5) The duration of your stay in one of the approved cities in China starts from the scheduled time of your flight arrival and continues through the time of your scheduled departure flight. This time cannot exceed 72 hours. For example, you cannot have a 76-hour layover, even if you only plan to be outside of the airport for 72 hours.

This is a great way to explore some of Beijing or other transit airport cities in China without a visa (before your cruise, but not on a cruise out of China.)

Here's more details about our experience: http://www.travelingwiththejones.com/2014/03/25/11-hours-in-beijing-china-with-the-72-hour-visa-free-stay-program/

For an 11 hours visit, the 72 hours visa exemptions are irrelevant. Every nation qualifies for a transit of up to 24 hours visa-free.

Not sure that your experience is relevant to the question being asked as the OP wants to take a cruise that departs from China. This is clearly not allowed by the rules.

Travelinjones,

The information you provided concerning the 72 hour visa free visit in China is welcoming news.

We have booked a 12 night 2/3/15 to 2/15/15 Seabourn Quest cruise, Singapore R/T with multiple ports of call in Malaysia. The main attraction of this cruise is a 3 day layover in Myanmar formally Burma. ( Lots of Pagodas to visit.)

We have used our AA miles to book Business class DFW/HKG nonstop on the new Boeing 777-300ER. Plan to make a stop in BKK for a couple of days or so and then on to SIN before embarkation.

Our return plans are still up in the "air" depending on availability of Business class seats on AA from HKG, PVG. ICN or NRT. Not enough miles currently to book flight.

I would prefer departing from Shanghai ( PVG ) so we could spend some time there before the flight back to DFW. Knowing now that a visa is not required added the option of Shanghai.

Thanks again for your timely input. Much appreciated.

Texoma

Wichita Falls, TX

Correction to my last post.

Our Cruise will be aboard the Seabourn Sojourn in 2/3/15 - 2/15/15, not the Seabourn Quest. ( Senior moment !!! ) :confused:

For an 11 hours visit, the 72 hours visa exemptions are irrelevant. Every nation qualifies for a transit of up to 24 hours visa-free.

Not sure that your experience is relevant to the question being asked as the OP wants to take a cruise that departs from China. This is clearly not allowed by the rules.

New rule was already in place since last July. China 24-hour transit visa-free policy now include ship and train (in the past is air only).

As long as you arrive and leave the same port within 24 hours by air/ship/train to a 3rd country you do not need a visa.

More information:

New exit and entry law can from Chinese Consulate New York:

http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/e...wentryexitlaw/

Search for article 22 section (3)

Info from Chinese Embassy in Philippines

http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/visas/t960523.htm

See # 2)

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/transit.htm

See Visa Free Transit # 1)

http://www.sh-immigration.gov.cn/lis...?lx=37&id=2943

British couple arrived Shanghai on a cruise ship (Costa Atlantica) and left Shanghai by Air (Pudong airport) within 24 hours and no visa was required.

http://www.sh-immigration.gov.cn/listPageEn.aspx?lx=37

American citizen arrived Shanghai airport and left Shanghai sea port by ship within 24 hours again no visa was needed.

New rule was already in place since last July. China 24-hour transit visa-free policy now include ship and train (in the past is air only).

 

As long as you arrive and leave the same port within 24 hours by air/ship/train to a 3rd country you do not need a visa.

 

More information:

 

New exit and entry law can from Chinese Consulate New York:

http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/e...wentryexitlaw/

Search for article 22 section (3)

 

Hold connected passenger tickets and are in transit to a third country or region by an international aircraft, ship or train via China, will stay for not more than 24 hours in China without leaving the port of entry, or will stay in the specific zones approved by the State Council within the prescribed time limit

 

If you are arriving in Beijing on an aircraft and leave on a cruise ship, then a visa WILL be required. You are not leaving from the same port of entry. This includes arriving on the same day and going to the ship and leaving on the same day. Different ports. Arrival port is Beijing Airport and departing port is Tianjin Cruise port. My take on this.

That trip from cruise port to airport is a long one -- maybe 2 hours in moderate traffic and with only one break. They are indeed not the same city.

If you are arriving in Beijing on an aircraft and leave on a cruise ship, then a visa WILL be required. You are not leaving from the same port of entry. This includes arriving on the same day and going to the ship and leaving on the same day. Different ports. Arrival port is Beijing Airport and departing port is Tianjin Cruise port. My take on this.

True Beijing and Tianjin are two different cities so the 24 hours transit visa-free rule does not apply. However if you fly into Tianjin airport (TSN) and leave from Tianjin cruise port or vice versa within 24 hours that should be fine. Note that you must fly into Tianjin directly from another country (Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan etc.) if you fly to Beijing/Shanghai and then connect to Tianjin you will need a visa when you arrive in Beijing/Shanghai etc.