Frequently asked questions about 72-hour visa-free policy

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Concerning 72-hour Transit Visa Exemption for Foreign Nationals (Guangzhou)

1 What are the requirements foreign nationals have to meet to apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption at Baiyun International Airport Guangzhou?

Answer: (1) Citizens from the 45 countries and regions under the 72-hour Transit Visa Exemption Program (the origins and destinations of travelers are not limited to such 45 countries); (2) Foreign nationals with valid international traveling documents and air ticket for a connecting flight with confirmed date of flight and seat for a third country (region) leaving China at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport within 72 hours; (3) The scope during the visa exemption is limited to the administrative precincts of Guangdong Province.

2 What 45 countries are included?

Answer: (1) 24 countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. (2) Seven additional European countries: Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. (3) Six American countries: United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile. (4) Two Oceanic countries: Australia and New Zealand and (5) Six Asian countries: Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

3 Is the 72-hour limit in the “72-hour Transit Visa Exemption” calculated by starting with the entry time?

Answer: No. The 72-hour limit is calculated by starting with zero hour next day of the traveler’s entry. For example, if a traveler enters China at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on August 1, 2013, the visa exemption limit for entry is calculated by starting with 00:00 on August 2, 2013. The traveler can leave China before 23:59 on August 4, 2013.

4 How can a foreign national that meets the requirements for the 72-hour transit visa exemption apply for it?

Answer: A foreign national that meets the requirements may submit his/her request to the airline company that carries him/her to Guangzhou, which shall make the application to the border control authority of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport that shall grant a temporary entry of a passenger meeting the requirements for transit visa exemption upon verification. Additionally, a foreign national that does not apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption before entry may submit his/her application to the border control authority before completion of the border control formalities after arrival at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

5 Can a traveler apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption when no exit air ticket is bought at the time of entry but he or she plans to purchase the air ticket for a third country leaving within 72 hours after entry?

Answer:A foreign national applying for the 72-hour transit visa exemption must hold an airline ticket for a connecting flight with confirmed date of flight and seat for a third country (region) leaving China at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, i.e., the exit air ticket is already in place before entry. Therefore, this facilitation measure does not apply to a foreign national that does not have a confirmed air ticket for a connecting flight leaving within 72 hours.

6 Does this measure apply to a foreign national coming to Guangzhou from a certain country (region) with a confirmed air ticket for flying back to the same country (region) where he or she comes from within 72 hours with confirmed date of flight and seat?

Answer:The 72-hour transit visa exemption measure is for a foreign national passing through Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport for a third country or region. Therefore this measure does not apply to a passenger whose destination country is the country where he or she comes from.

7 Can a foreign national leave Baiyun International Airport Guangzhou for another Chinese city after getting the 72-hour transit visa exemption?

Answer:He or she may leave for any city located within Guangdong Province but may not leave Guangdong Province.

(Source:China Southern Airline Website)