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

A: (1) Citizens from 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) Foreign nationals with valid international travel 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 range of staying during the visa exemption is limited to the administrative precincts of Guangdong Province. 

Q: What 45 are the countries?

A: (1) 24 Schengen countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherland, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. (2) 7 other European countries: Russia,Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus,Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. (3) 6 American countries: The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico,Argentina and Chile. (4) 2 Oceanian countries: Australia and New Zealand. (5) 6 Asian countries: Republic of Korea, Japan,Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

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

A: No. The 72-hour limit is calculated by starting with zero hour the 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.

 Q: How can 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 make the application to the immigration of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport that shall grant a temporary entry of a passenger meeting the requirements for transit visa exemption upon verification. Besides, a foreigner that does not apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption before entry may submit his/her application to the immigration before completion of the immigration after arrival at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

 Q: 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?

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 is already 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) where he or she comes from 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 where he or she comes 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 the city in Guangdong and 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 in case 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 of exceeding the permitted scope of stay, a passenger should apply for the relevant visa to the exit-entry administration department of the municipal public security authorities of Guangdong.