Q: What requirements do foreigners have to meet to apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport?

A: Travelers must:

(1) Be a citizen of one of the 45 countries under the 72-hour Transit Visa Exemption Program (the origins and destinations of travelers are not limited to such 45 countries);

(2) Have valid international travel documents and an air ticket for a connecting flight with a confirmed date of flight and seat for a third country (region) leaving China at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport within 72 hours;

(3) Remain during the visa exemption period within the administrative precincts of Guangdong Province.

Q: What are the 45 countries?

A: (1) 24 Schengen countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

(2) seven other European countries: Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine.

(3) six countries of the Americas: The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

(4) two Oceania countries: Australia and New Zealand.

(5) six Asian countries: the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Q: Is the 72-hour limit in the "72-hour Transit Visa Exemption" calculated from the time of entry?

A: No. The 72-hour limit is calculated by starting with zero hour the next day after 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 must leave China before 23:59 on August 4, 2013.

Q: How does a foreigner who meets the requirements for the 72-hour transit visa exemption apply for it?

A: A foreigner that meets the requirements may submit his/her request to the airline company that carries him/her to Guangzhou, which shall apply to the immigration office of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport for a temporary entry of a passenger meeting the requirements for transit visa exemption upon verification. In addition, a foreigner who does not apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption before entry may submit his/her application to the immigration office before completion of the immigration procedures after arrival at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

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

A: According to the requirements, a foreigner applying for the 72-hour transit visa exemption must hold the 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, i.e., the exit air ticket must already be in place before entry. Therefore, this facilitation measure does not apply to a foreigner that does not have a confirmed air ticket for a connecting flight leaving within 72 hours. 

Q: Does this measure apply to a foreigner coming to Guangzhou from a certain country (region) with a confirmed air ticket for flying back to the same country (region) from which he/she has come within 72 hours with confirmed date of flight and seat?

A: According to the requirements, the 72-hour transit visa exemption measure is for a foreigner connecting 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 he/she has come from.

Q: Can a foreigner leave Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport for another Chinese city after getting the 72-hour transit visa exemption?

A: He or she may leave for Guangdong city but is not allowed to leave Guangdong.

Q: Can a passenger enter China at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and then leave from the Guangzhou East Railway Station within 72 hours?

A: This measure is currently available at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport only, which means that the travelers who enjoy the 72-hour transit visa exemption policy are only permitted to enter and leave China at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

Q: What should be done if a foreigner who has the 72-hour transit visa exemption cannot leave China within 72 hours due to some special reason after entry?

A: In case of special need to stay in the administrative precincts of Guangdong Province longer than 72 hours due to force majeure or any other reason, a passenger should apply for the relevant visa to the exit-entry administration department of the municipal public security authorities of Guangdong.

Q: If I have more questions concerning immigration where should I ask?

A: You may call the 24-hour inquiry hotline of Baiyun Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection: +86 20 36066950 or 24-hour inquiry hotline of Guangzhou General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection: +86 20 32090088.