Since October 1st, 2016, Shanghai has hada 15-day visa-free policyfor foreign tourist groups entering Chinaby cruise.
Requirements
Foreign tourist groups can enjoy 15-day visa-free travel at Shanghai ports.如果你想take advantage of the 15-day visa-free policy, you will need to meet these criteria:
- 旅游团体应该arrive in Shanghai by cruise shipat Shanghai Port International Passenger Terminal or Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, andexit on the same cruise ship.
- A foreign tourist group may haveno fewer than 2 members.
- Foreign tour groups must be conducted bytravel agencies legally registered in Chinese Mainland, such as China Highlights.
- All members of a tour group should hold valid internationaltravel documents, primarily passports.
- The stay in China mustnot exceed 15 days, calculated from 00:00 on the day after the day of entry.
Places You Can Travel to Besides Shanghai
During the visa exemption period, qualifying cruise passengers are not only allowed to visit Shanghai, but alsoother coastal municipalities(Beijing and Tianjin)and provinces(Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan).
Procedures
Book a tour with a travel agency in advance.- 1.免签证并不意味着你可以进入country without doing anything. You musthave authorizationfrom Shanghai's immigration inspection authority, through a China travel agency, prior to your arrival.
- 2. You must book a tour with an agencyat least 24 hoursbefore your arrival in Shanghai. The agency will submit your passport details to the inspection authorities for you to be eligible.
- 3. While handling visa-free entry proceduresa group name list will be stampedby Shanghai's immigration inspection authority. No arrival cards or departure cards are required, nor will any entry or exit stamps be affixed on your travel documents.
FAQs About the 15-Day Visa-Free Policy
A valid passport is needed.1.Can I use this policy if I travel to Shanghai by cruise but leave by air?
Sorry, you can't use the policy unless you leave on the same cruise. You can consider72-hour visa-free transitand144-hour visa-free transit.
2. I don't want to return to the ship to spend the night — can I stay at a downtown hotel?
Yes, but when you check in, your group will need to provide all your passports and a tour member name list stamped by the Immigration Inspection Authority.
3. Can I get off the cruise and take a tour in Shanghai on my own if I don't book a tour in advance?
No, you can't. You must join a tour conducted by a Chinese travel agency.
Taking a Visa-Free Transit Tour with China Highlights
We at China Highlights provide a leading one-stop tour service. Tell us your interests and requirements, and we will help you handle your visa-free transit and arrange a China tour to suit you.
These itineraries have been producedespecially for cruise tour groups:
Not interested in the above options? We cantailor-make your own unique tour.
