Sydney to UK/Europe Via China - Transit Visa Requirements for China

SydOzber on 12/11/2016 - 05:50
Last edited 12/11/2016 - 05:51

Guys,

Need your expertise to understand the visa requirements while transitting through China.

I have the below itenary booked for myself(Aus passport) and my partner(Indian passport).

ON-WARD:
Flight 1 (CZ 302):
Sydney(Syd) 07-Dec 22:15 - Guangzhou(CAN) 08-Dec 5:00

Flight 2 (CZ 307):
Guangzhou(CAN) 09-Dec 12:05 - Amsterdam(AMS) 09-Dec 5:55

Flight 3 (CZ 7679): OPERATED BY KLM DUTCH
Amsterdam(AMS) 09-Dec 07:20 - London Heathrow 09-Dec 07:40

RETURN:
Flight 4 (CZ 768) : OPERATED BY KLM DUTCH
Amsterdam(AMS) 07-Jan 17:35 - Beijing(PEK) 08-Jan 9:55

Flight 5 (CZ 3152):
Beijing(PEK) 08-Jan 13:00 - Shenzhen(SZX) 08-Jan 16:20

Flight 6 (CZ 3071):
Shenzhen(SZX) 08-Jan 19:30 - Sydney(SYD)
09-Jan 07:40

As I hold an Aus passport, I haven't applied visa for any country.
My partner has submitted her Visa for UK which is under process and she needs to get her Schengen visa after that.

I got a shocker when I called china southern airlines to place a special request for meals and the call center staff advised that we both need a visa(especially on way back) to transit through China.

I checked my itenary and the visa regulations for china and figured out :

1) There is no where on my eTicket it is mentioned as a self transfer.

2) Flight #5 - though it is between 2 cities within china, I have searched with the flight code and see that it departs and arrives at International terminals.

Jus to make sure that I dont need to check out international and check in to Domestic, if this is what they meant.

3) China has a 24 hour TWOV for any nationality provided the transit time is less than 24 hours.
I have a 19 hour wait between Flights 1 & 2 on ward, and 9.5 hour wait between Flights 4 & 6 Return.

If anyone has any experience transitting via any Chinese airport.. could you please advise if we require a China Transit Visa ?

TIA

Travel

Comments

  • Mad Max on 12/11/2016 - 06:58
    +1

    Some interesting reading for you.
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/248967
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/255669
    I have some comments in both forums that are very applicable to your itinerary.
    The onward flight should be ok.
    I do not think you need a visa on an australian passport (do not know about your partner on an indian passport). However I did not go through Shenzen and every town/provence seems to have different rules about visas and transit rules. The Beijing(PEK) 08-Jan 13:00 - Shenzhen(SZX) 08-Jan 16:20 is a domestic flight and the 3 hours you have in Beijing may not be enough especially if your first flight is late and considering that you will need to go from international to domestic and customs in between and you most likely have to collect your luggage and check it back in (nobody tells you about that-I was lucky I suspected that was the case and went to check and there was my luggage on the carousel even though on departure they had told me it would go through all the way and it was tagged so). See my comments in the 2 posts above re domestic flights in China.
    In my experience, if you can change the return itinerary I would if I was you because if something goes wrong you will be on your own (do you speak chinese?). Sorry for the bad news, but that is my personal experience…never again.
    Back then I found a lot of up to date info on Tripadvisor.
    Good luck!

    • SydOzber on 13/11/2016 - 21:35

      Thanks for your reply mate.
      I did enquire with China Southern, and they are charging $780 per person if I change my return via Guangzhou, which will make the ticket price to $2200 AUD pp.

      I am confused if I need to pay that money for a carrier like China Southern.. but looks like there is a big Risk involved with just 3 hours in Beijing to transit from International to Departure and 3 hours in Shenzhen to transit from Domestic to International.

    • SydOzber on 26/11/2016 - 13:43

      Many thanks Maxi
      I changed my return flight to Amsterdam-Guangzhou-Sydney to avoid Domestic transfers. Hence, no Visa is required.
      24-Hour transit Visa works in Guangzhou airport for on-ward & Return

      • Mad Max on 26/11/2016 - 15:31

        I did the same route but Guangzhou to Brisbane. Remember to double check in Amsterdam that your luggage will go all the way to Sydney. And may be confirm again in Guangzhou to be sure to be sure ;-).
        Hope it did not cost too much for the change. You saved a few hundreds on the visa at least. Much safer option… Have a nice trip.

        • SydOzber on 26/11/2016 - 15:36

          I assume luggage will go through from Amsterdam to Sydney, because both flights are operated by China Southern.
          But yes, I will double confirm while checking in.

          There was no fare difference, hence I just paid $100 per passenger to change my return flights.. which is less than the Visa cost :)

          From Sydney to London, I need to collect my luggage at Amsterdam and re-check in as Amsterdam to London is operated by KLM

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