Jazmin Li
If you're an American with a long layover in China, you may be wondering if you can leave the airport to explore. The answer is yes, it is possible to leave the airport during a layover in China, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, check with your airline or the airport to confirm if you're allowed to leave, especially if your layover is 8 hours or less. Secondly, make sure you have the necessary documentation, such as a valid passport, a confirmed ticket for your connecting flight, and a completed arrival/departure card. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a visa. It's important to double-check the specific requirements for your country of origin. Keep in mind that the time spent on customs and immigration can vary, usually taking around 1.5 to 2 hours, so plan your time outside the airport accordingly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time needed to leave the airport | It is recommended to have at least 8 hours in total to leave the airport, with 2-3 hours available to explore. |
| Visa requirements | China offers visa-free entry to 54 nationalities for up to 144 hours. Nationals of the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore do not require a visa. |
| Immigration process | Pass the health/quarantine check, immigration inspection, customs inspection, and submit an application to the immigration inspection authority to leave the restricted area. |
| Transportation | There is a direct metro line (line 3) from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to the city. |
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What You'll Learn
Visa-free entry for 54 nationalities
China offers visa-free entry to 54 nationalities if you are transiting through the country to a third country. This is called the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program. The process is simple: fill in the arrival card you receive on the plane and go through immigration. However, it is always good to double-check the regulations and requirements for your nationality before travelling.
The TWOV program has two types: the 24-hour TWOV and the 240-hour (10-day) TWOV. The 24-hour TWOV is available to most nationalities at most entry ports, especially for airside transit. To qualify, travellers must have a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry, arrive by air, cruise ship, or train, and have confirmed onward tickets outside mainland China within 24 hours. The 240-hour TWOV is available only for certain nationalities and through specific entry and exit points.
Nationals of 54 countries can benefit from a 72-hour visa-free entry at 38 exit or entry ports in 18 Chinese provinces. This includes countries in Asia such as Brunei, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, and European countries such as Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and many more.
It is important to note that there are some restrictions and requirements. For example, at Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport, there is a separate list of nationalities that are not eligible for visa-free transit, including Taiwan passport holders. Additionally, some ports of entry have their own restrictions, such as Xiamen International Airport, which does not allow Syrian citizens to be eligible for visa exemption transit. To qualify for visa-free entry, travellers must have a valid passport, a confirmed connecting ticket, and a completed arrival/departure card.
If you are planning to leave the airport during your layover in China, it is recommended to have at least 8 hours to explore the city, as the first and last 2 hours of your layover will be spent on customs and immigration. It is also important to check with your airline or airport to confirm if you are allowed to leave the airport during your layover.
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Transit without a visa (TWOV)
TWOV, or Transit Without a Visa, is a program that allows eligible foreign nationals to transit through participating countries without a visa or electronic travel authorization. The specific requirements and benefits of the TWOV program vary by country. Here is an overview of the TWOV program in China and Canada:
China
China offers a 24-hour visa-free transit policy, also known as the 24-hour TWOV, which allows air, train, and cruise ship passengers from all over the world to transit in mainland China for up to 24 hours when travelling to a third country or region. This policy is applicable at nine airports in China, including Beijing Capital Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport.
To be eligible for the 24-hour TWOV in China, you must have a passport valid for at least three months from the date of entry, an onward ticket with a confirmed seat and date, and a visa for the third country or region, if required. Upon arrival, you must follow the signs to the 24/240-hour visa-free transit counter, fill out an Arrival/Departure Card, obtain a temporary entry permit stamp or sticker, and then proceed through customs.
It is important to note that the 24-hour TWOV is different from the 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit policies offered in certain Chinese cities. While the 24-hour TWOV allows multiple stops within China, you must depart the country within 24 hours. The 72-hour and 144-hour policies may allow longer stays in specific cities but have more restrictions on intra-country travel.
Canada
The TWOV program in Canada allows eligible foreign nationals to transit through Toronto Pearson International Airport (Terminal 1 only) without a visa or electronic travel authorization. To participate in the TWOV program, Canadian airport authorities and airlines must meet specific criteria, including having a functioning US in-transit pre-clearance (USITPC) facility and a memorandum of understanding with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
It is important to note that the TWOV program in Canada has certain restrictions. For example, if you are flying through Terminal 3 or need to change terminals between flights, you are not eligible for the TWOV program and must remain in a sterile transit area.
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Recommended layover duration
There is no official rule on the allowable time to leave the airport during a layover in China. However, it is recommended that you have at least 8 hours in total if you want to leave the airport and explore. This will give you around 2 to 4 hours of free time, depending on the airport and your citizenship. The first and last 2 hours of your layover will likely be spent on customs and immigration, and travelling to and from the city centre can take about 2 to 3 hours.
If you only have a couple of hours, it is probably best to stay at the airport. Both Beijing Capital Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport have Quanjude Peking Duck, popular Chinese milk tea, Beijing souvenir shops, brand stores, and luxury boutiques. Beijing Daxing Airport also offers free showers near baggage carousels.
If you are flying with China Southern Airlines, you may end up with a longer stopover in Guangzhou, China. New visa regulations have made it possible for certain nationalities to enter China for up to 144 hours without a visa. This includes travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. If you have more than a couple of hours, you may want to consider leaving the airport to explore the city. It is very easy to travel from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to the city centre, with a direct metro line (line 3) connecting the two.
If you are an American citizen, you can stay in China for 144 hours without a visa, but you are not allowed to leave a specified greater Shanghai area.
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Visa-free airport activities
If you are an American citizen, you can enter China without a visa if you are transiting to a third country. This includes nationalities from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. However, it is important to double-check the regulations as they can change.
To enter China without a visa, you need a valid passport, a confirmed plane ticket for your connecting flight, and a completed arrival/departure card, which you can fill out on the plane or at the airport. It is also recommended to have a printout of your onward flight confirmation. The process is straightforward, but it can take up to two hours to pass through immigration and customs, depending on your citizenship and flight destination.
If you have a long layover, such as 8 hours or more, you may consider leaving the airport to explore nearby cities. However, it is advised to have at least 8 hours in total to make it worthwhile, as the first and last 2 hours will be spent on customs and immigration. With an 8-hour layover, you may only have 1 to 2 hours of free time after traveling to and from the city center.
Some visa-free airport activities to consider during a short layover include:
- Enjoying local cuisine: Try the Quanjude Peking Duck or popular Chinese milk tea at the airport.
- Shopping: Both Beijing Capital Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport offer Beijing souvenir shops, brand stores, and luxury boutiques.
- Showering: Beijing Daxing International Airport provides free showers near baggage carousels on the first floor.
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Visa requirements by nationality
In general, travellers passing through China do not need a visa as transit visitors. China has a 24-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals from all other countries at all its accessible exit-entry ports. This rule applies to almost all ports of entry, except Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport, and Mudanjiang Hailang International Airport.
However, travellers who wish to leave the airport or terminal must apply for a temporary Stay Permit. This permit is not issued to all nationals, so some travellers may need to apply for a China transit visa instead. Travellers who are citizens of the following countries are not eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit policy: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Yemen, Oman, Iran, Iraq and Sri Lanka.
Citizens of 53 countries from Asia, America and Europe do not require a transit visa for a brief layover. These countries include the US, the UK, Argentina, Brazil, Israel, Japan, Canada, Australia and all EU countries. Citizens of these countries only need to provide their passports at the port of entry to enter China and stay for 3-6 days before continuing their journey.
For those whose countries are not on the list of 53 countries, they must apply for a 72-hour or 144-hour Transit visa. This visa-free policy allows travellers to rest in China for a short time as they head to a third country. Travellers cannot spend more than 24 hours in the country and must hold a ticket for their onward destination.
In some cases, travellers may need to apply for a visa at the Municipal Public Bureau at the airport or station if they cannot continue their journey due to illness or unavoidable reasons. If travellers are not from a visa-free country or wish to remain in China for more than 24 hours, they must apply for a transit visa before their flight, as applications cannot be done on Chinese soil.
Additionally, China has introduced a 144-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao entering Hainan, as well as for ASEAN countries visiting Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. This policy allows a stay of up to six days within the specified regions.
It is important to note that visa requirements may change, and travellers should always consult official sources and embassies for the most up-to-date information.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Americans can leave the airport during a layover in China. However, they must pass the health/quarantine check, immigration inspection, customs inspection, and submit an application to the immigration inspection authority to leave the restricted area. It is recommended to have at least 8 hours for a layover if you plan to leave the airport.
It normally takes 1.5 to 2 hours to pass through immigration and customs, depending on your citizenship and the destination you are flying from or to.
You will need a valid passport, a visa (if required), and a completed arrival/departure card. You will also need to print out the confirmation of your onward flight that takes you out of China.
The first and last two hours of your layover will be spent on customs and immigration, so you will only have about four hours free. Traveling to and from the city center can take about two to three hours, leaving you with one to two hours of free time.
