How Long Can I Stay in China Without a Visa?
"Reader Questions" are answered three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.
International visa rules can be confusing, especially when it comes to traveling in, out and through China, as TPG reader James has been discovering...
[pullquote source="TPG Reader James"]I have a 12 hour layover in Beijing and I'm trying to determine if a visa would be required if I leave the airport to do some sightseeing.[/pullquote]
James is referring to a program called "visa free transit" which China implemented and then expanded in recent years. It's important to note that Chinese visa free transit rules are very specific and somewhat tricky. If you're not eligible, you'll need to have a visa to enter China and you need to get it before you leave the US since you can't obtain one upon landing in the country.
When you check in at the airport, the airline desk agent will likely rely on a computer system called TIMATIC (short for Travel Information Manual Automatic) to determine if you're eligible to travel without a visa. If the computer says you can't go, then you almost certainly won't be going, so be absolutely certain you know the rules before you arrive at the airport.
There are three lengths of Chinese visa free transit available — 24-hour, 72-hour and 144-hour — and each one has its own rules and applies to different cities in China. But in all cases, the key word here is transiting, meaning you must be arriving by air from one country (call it "Country A") and departing China ("Country B") enroute to a third country ("Country C"). You cannot go directly back to Country A, and you must already have your confirmed ticket — no standbys — to Country C when landing in China to be eligible for visa-free transit.
So as an example, you can't fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Beijing (PEK), stay a day, and then fly back to the US without having a visa for your day in China. You'll have to go on to somewhere else first. But yes, a connection will count — you can go from L.A. to Beijing, then fly to Tokyo (NRT) for a 90-minute layover before heading back to LAX.
Beyond that, the 24-hour visa free transit rules are the broadest and simplest of the three versions. When transiting nearly all Chinese cities, you can exit the airport and enter China (and even change airports within China) without a visa so long as your scheduled departure time is no more than exactly 24 hours after your scheduled inbound arrival time. Don't worry if your inbound flight arrives early or your outbound flight runs late — the scheduled time is what matters.
If you're a US citizen, you may be eligible for 72-hour visa free transit, but only if you're visiting certain Chinese cities — as of this writing, they are Beijing (PEK), Changsha (CSX), Chengdu (CTU), Chongqing (CKG), Dalian (DLC), Guangzhou (CAN), Guilin (KWL), Harbin (HRB), Kunming (KMG), Qingdao (TAO), Shenyang (SHE), Tianjin (TSN), Wuhan (WUH), Xi'an (XIY) and Xiamen (XMN). But if you use this option, you generally must stay within your region of arrival, which is roughly 100 miles from your arrival airport. Also, some of these cities consider your arrival time to be midnight the day after you arrive instead of your scheduled arrival time.
Finally, US citizens transiting three other Chinese cities — Shanghai (SHA and PVG), Hangzhou (HGH) or Nanjing Lukou (NKG) — can take advantage of the 144-hour visa free transit rules. The major difference with this option, aside from the cities involved, is that you can travel amongst the three 144-hour cities while you're in the country.
These are just the broad guidelines and there are a number of other nuances to China's visa free transit program, so make sure you double check the rules and even bring a TIMATIC printout to the airport with you if possible. And if you find you aren't eligible for visa free transit, Chinese visas are available in lengths of six months to 10 years and can be complicated to get, so TPG recommends using a third-party service like Allied Passport & Visa. Mention The Points Guy on your order form and you'll get a $5 discount just for TPG readers.
Hope this info helps, James, and thanks for the question. If you're a TPG reader with a question you'd like answered, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or send an email to info@thepointsguy.com.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.