144 hour transit without visa now available for Shanghai

[MEL_Traveller]

Started yesterday (30/01)... Aussie passports travelling to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing can now get 144 hours visa free transit.

Like the 72 hour version, China must be a transit, and you must be on your way to a third country.

 

[auriga]

I can see this being potentially useful for me.

 

[defurax]

Started yesterday (30/01)... Aussie passports travelling to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing can now get 144 hours visa free transit.

Like the 72 hour version, China must be a transit, and you must be on your way to a third country.

I'll be spending some time in HKG and maybe I could visit PVG for a few days. I guess HKG-PVG-TPE would work? Does it need to be on the same ticket?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'll be spending some time in HKG and maybe I could visit PVG for a few days. I guess HKG-PVG-TPE would work? Does it need to be on the same ticket?

HKG-PVG-TPE is ok, China is the 'transit' to a third country. There's no requirement for same ticket - I've travelled on separate tickets and it's been fine. Immigration just want to see you next flight out of there.

 

[Himeno]

I'll be spending some time in HKG and maybe I could visit PVG for a few days. I guess HKG-PVG-TPE would work? Does it need to be on the same ticket?

They consider Hong Kong and Taiwan different countries for the purposes of the TWV (while at the same time claiming they are all China...). They only look at the flight in and the flight out. Even if you are connecting at the next stop. So SYD-PVG-HKG-SYD will work while SYD-PVG-SYD won't.
Doesn't have to be same ticket, they'll want to see the paperwork for both in and out flights. May also need to show the inbound airline at checkin the outbound paperwork and maybe a copy of the TWV rules. Even though these rules have been around for 3 years, some airlines/agents still don't know about it and keep asking for visas even when shown that one isn't needed.

Flew LHR-PVG-KUL in 2013, shortly after the rules changed to allow the 72h TWV. No issues.
Did LHR-PEK-HKG in 2014. BA didn't tell China what was happening, so I had to fill in extra paperwork when I arrived.
Did LHR-PVG-HKG last year. Spent some time at check in at LHR getting it sorted out. Staff had to call another department. All got sorted out, then got stopped at boarding. One department said it was fine, another said no. Spent a few minutes at the boarding gate with the agent on the phone getting things fixed again.

 

[defurax]

Did LHR-PVG-HKG last year. Spent some time at check in at LHR getting it sorted out. Staff had to call another department. All got sorted out, then got stopped at boarding. One department said it was fine, another said no. Spent a few minutes at the boarding gate with the agent on the phone getting things fixed again.

Looks like TIMATIC is far from perfect...You could have ended up like this poor fellow: Confusion reigns over EU entry requirements as British man refused boarding - Telegraph

 

[brickmark]

Having 4 nights in Hong Kong then flying to Shanghai for 4 nights. We are then off to Singapore (3rd Country) for a night but transferring through HGK for a hour. Should be ok for the 144 Visa - right?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Having 4 nights in Hong Kong then flying to Shanghai for 4 nights. We are then off to Singapore (3rd Country) for a night but transferring through HGK for a hour. Should be ok for the 144 Visa - right?

No - unfortunately not eligible.

For TWOV you must be departing to a third country. In this case your immediate boarding pass is back to Hong Kong. You'll either need to change your flights to fly non-stop PVG-SIN, or route via another country that isn't HKG (you could do Vietnam, Macau, Japan etc).

otherwise you'll need a visa.

(I appreciate your ultimate destination after PVG is SIN, but that's not what matters in this case and the HKG transit is relevant)

 

[brickmark]

No - unfortunately not eligible.

For TWOV you must be departing to a third country. In this case your immediate boarding pass is back to Hong Kong. You'll either need to change your flights to fly non-stop PVG-SIN, or route via another country that isn't HKG (you could do Vietnam, Macau, Japan etc).

otherwise you'll need a visa.

(I appreciate your ultimate destination after PVG is SIN, but that's not what matters in this case and the HKG transit is relevant)

Thanks - I better hurry up and go get a Visa then. I am glad I asked