Do you need a visa if you have a layover in China?
Foreigners who have confirmed onward tickets and seats on international flights and directly transit through China and stay for no more than 24 hours within the airport boundaries do not need to apply for a transit visa.
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An airport transit visa is generally required if you travel internationally and if you need to transit through a country. Even if you do not intend to leave the airport, you may need an airport transit visa.
You're allowed to have a 24 hours transit visa for free to get out of the airport during your layover in Shanghai. You will just need to show them that you have another plane booked to get a visa for Shanghai layover, otherwise they won't let you out.
24/72/144-hour China visa-free transit. China allows eligible travelers from certain countries to enter and stay in certain areas of China for 24, 72, and 144-hour periods without prior application for a visa when transiting to a third country.
A layover is a connection that lasts no longer than 4 hours for domestic flights and no longer than 24 hours for International flights. Layovers are fairly common, especially overnight layovers, but usually they aren't long enough to benefit you.
Mostly, yes! And in most cases, you can leave the airport during a layover in the US, even while traveling to an international destination. International travelers need to make sure they have a valid visa to travel in the US. But, whether you need to leave the airport or not during a layover is completely up to you.
Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements. Entry & Exit: Obtain a visa prior to arrival in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and have a passport with at least six months' validity remaining. The lack of either will result in a fine and immediate deportation upon arrival.
Foreigners normally need to obtain a visa for a trip to China before departure, while in certain cases they are likely to get a China visa on arrival at entry ports. The validity counts from the day following your entry and only one entry is allowed. Once you exit from China, the VOA expires.
Another thing to note is that travellers in transit must remain in the transit area until their ship or plane arrives in Mainland China. If they wish to leave the airport or terminal, they must apply for a temporary Stay Permit.
During domestic layovers, you are free to leave the airport. If your domestic layover is longer than one hour, you should expect to receive two boarding permits. If you want to check out local points of interest, make sure you get your second boarding pass and print it out before you leave.
Yes, you can leave the airport during domestic layovers. For instance, if you're a US citizen and have a layover within the country, it is legal and safe to leave the airport. Be aware that you'll probably be getting two boarding passes if the domestic layover is more than an hour.
China's visa-free policies allow nationals of certain countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand to travel to China for stays ranging from 24 hours to 180 days without obtaining a visa if certain requirements are met.
If you want to experience the iconic Hong Kong skyline, a typical short layover plan is to take the Airport Express to Hong Kong Station, then enjoy a Star Ferry ride at Victoria Harbour to admire Hong Kong's grandeur, and then walk along the Avenue of Stars.