What if I have a layover in China?

The government has a TWOV 24-hour policy that grants passengers visa-free access for a day, and this rule applies to almost all ports of entry. However, if you plan to stay for more than 24 hours, you may need to apply for a 72 or 144 hour Transit visa.



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When transiting certain international airports, you may stay in mainland China without a PRC visa. However, this “visa-free travel” permit is only valid for the city of arrival and does not allow you to visit other cities in the PRC. The duration of allowed stay and how broadly you may travel varies by region.

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All international travelers (except those exempted due to special circumstances) that are transiting through China are permitted to apply for a 24-hour visa-free entry permit upon arrival. As with the other two visa-free transit policies, travelers must provide a connecting ticket to a third country.

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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.

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The processing time for the China transit visa is 4 working days. If you want to speed up the processing time, you will need to pay an additional charge for expedited processing.

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In most, not all, countries if you are transitting you remain airside and do not pass immigration. Therefor, you do not need a visa. In the US, however, if you are transitting and change planes, you have to clear customs and immigration, collect your baggage and check in again.

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With the implement of 144-hour visa free policy, most transfer passengers at Beijing Capital Airport and Daxing Airport are allowed to enter the city for a visit during their layover. However, when the Beijing airport layover is within 6 hours, you'd better stay in the airport and discover some fun things to do.

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For Domestic Flights 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.

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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.

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Usually, it will take 4 working days if the application meets all the requirements. If there is an urgent need for travel, the applicant may apply for expedited processing by presenting the supporting documents. The processing time will be 3 working days (additional fee will be charged).

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Yes, as a US citizen you need a visa to enter China for tourism purposes. Remember that if your main goal is to perform commercial and business activities, you might want to apply for a business visa instead.

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The conditions of a 24-hour transit visa exemption you must meet are:
  1. You must have a valid passport for at least three months from the date of entry.
  2. You are limited to staying only in the transit area.
  3. You can travel by plane, ship, or train.
  4. You must purchase onward tickets to a third country or region.


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For Domestic Flights 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.

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While skiplagging isn't illegal, American Airlines filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month against Skiplagged.com, accusing the company of unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices and tricking customers into believing they've gained access to a secret loophole.

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It's not against the law. But it is a violation of the contract of carriage you entered into when you bought your ticket. Many people do this. It's called “Hidden City Ticketing” and it's a practice that should be used lightly because the airline will just ban you in the future if you do this too much.

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