Hong Kong and Shanghai – Visas

[NP]

I am thinking of booking a trip to China this year. Based on Avios availability, I can book London to Hong Kong and return to London from Shanghai (with a side trip to the Philippines). From what I understand the tourist visa is not available yet but transit visas are.

Given I’ll be booking a series of separate flights does anyone know if the transit visa would work for this trip? The planned trip is from London to Hong Kong (3 nights), then Hong Kong to Manila (1 Week) and Manila to Shanghai (2 nights). Then back to London.

[kai]

Yes, as long as you do A – China – B and A and B are different countries.

[TJones]

Be sure to use the correct terminology at check-in, etc. It is “Transit Without Visa” (TWOV) and not a “Transit Visa”. A transit visa is something completely different that must be applied for in advance. “TWOV” is not a visa. If an agent looks at Timatic when you check-in, you need to be sure that they are checking for “TWOV” not “Transit Visa”.

[strickers]

There’s a really long thread about it on FlyerTalk, it’s been dormant for obvious reasons but there’s been a flurry of recent activity. One anecdote is that the glue on the stickers they use for TWOV had dried up. As said above ensure you use the correct terminology, you aren’t applying for a visa you are transiting without one for 24/72/144 hours maximum depending on location.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china/708095-china-24-72-144-hour-transit-without-visa-twov-rules-master-thread-455.html

[NP]

Thanks all, very helpful