Transit in Beijing - Passport validity less than 6 months.

Question

Hey everyone! I'm going to Seoul from Denmark and my passport has more than 6 months left, however, I will stay over a month in Seoul and then when I have to go back, I have to transit in Beijing (passport will be about 5 months and 25 days left). I read somewhere that it needs 6 months validity to enter China, but I will only stay in transit and not actually enter China. Will this be fine? Do I need to apply for the 144 hr VISA? Or can I just relax?

Edited: 1 year ago

Answer

For transit in Beijing, the general requirement for passport validity is at least 6 months for entry into China. However, since you are only transiting and not leaving the airport’s international transit area, the rules are slightly different, but caution is still necessary.

Key points to consider:

If you remain in the international transit area and do not pass through Chinese immigration, you typically do not need a visa, and your passport validity is less strictly enforced.
For transits longer than 24 hours or if you need to leave the airport for any reason, you would normally need a visa or qualify for the 144-hour transit visa exemption (applicable only for certain cities and nationalities).
Since your passport will have less than 6 months remaining (5 months and 25 days), some airlines may still allow boarding, but the Chinese authorities could raise concerns if your transit requires passing through immigration.
The 144-hour visa-free transit is only available in Beijing for certain nationalities and generally requires a passport valid for at least 3 months, but requirements may vary depending on airline policies and local regulations.

Recommendations:

Confirm with your airline whether they will allow you to board with 5 months and 25 days passport validity, even if it’s just a transit.
If your flight itinerary requires changing terminals or going through immigration in Beijing, you should either renew your passport or apply for a transit visa to avoid any risk of being denied boarding or entry.
Carry documentation for your onward travel to Seoul to show that you are in transit and have a confirmed next flight.

In summary, if you strictly stay in the international transit area and do not pass through immigration, your transit should be fine. But if any part of your transfer requires entry into China, it is safest to ensure your passport meets the 6-month validity requirement or obtain a transit visa in advance.

Transit in Beijing - Passport validity less than 6 months.

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