🔄 Special topic on transit visa
Transit Visa is a visa required when transiting through one country to a third country. The core difference from business visa:A transit visa only allows only a short stay in the airport transit area or a limited-time entry, and does not permit business activities.
🌏 Transit policy at major transit hubs (Chinese passport)
| Transit country/region | policy | Applicable conditions | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 96-hour visa-free transit (VFTF) | Hold a valid visa from one of 8 countries (US/Canada/Japan/UK/Australia/Schengen, etc.) and travel to or from Singapore via Singapore | Up to 96 hours after arrival at Changi Airport; air entry and exit only |
| 🇰🇷 Korea | 30-day transit visa exemption | Holding visas from the United States/Canada/Australia/New Zealand and 30 European countries and transiting through Incheon/Gimpo | Must stay in South Korea, with the destination/departure point being one of the above countries |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | Shore Pass 72 hours | Holding a US/Canada/Australia/New Zealand visa and transiting through Tokyo/Osaka, etc. | Arranged by the airline, approved by border control case-by-case — not an automatic right |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 120 hours transit visa-free (TWOV) | Traveling to and from Kuala Lumpur with a country-specific visa, entering and exiting at the same airport | Applicable to low-cost airlines such as AirAsia; onward ticket must be presented |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | Transit visa 30 days | Entry is required (e.g., changing airports or collecting luggage) | A visa on arrival can also be used instead (15 days, about 200 RMB) |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 96 hour transit visa | For connecting flights via Dubai, it is usually booked by the airline. | To apply in advance, you need to confirm whether the airline provides it free of charge |
| 🇨🇳 China | 24/72/144 hours visa-free transit | Applicable to foreigners transiting through China (reverse reference) | Not applicable to Chinese nationals transiting through a third country |
🚫 Strict Countries: Visa Required for Transit
USA: No transit visa exemption. You must hold a valid B visa or C transit visa when transferring, even if you do not leave the airport and are only changing planes.
Canada: Chinese passport holders need to hold a TRV or transit visa when transiting through Canada, unless they meet the "China Transit Plan CTP".
Schengen Area: There is no unified transit visa exemption in the Schengen area. A Schengen visa or a transit visa of the destination country is required when transiting through an airport in a Schengen country.
Australia: Transiting through Australia usually requires a transit visa (subclass 771, free) or a valid visitor visa.
UK: In most cases, if your connecting flight stays within the airport and you leave the UK the same day, no visa is needed — but a DATV visa is required when changing airports or staying overnight.
✅ Transfer travel self-check list
1Is it a connecting ticket (same ticket number)? Does the luggage go directly to the destination?
2Do I need to enter the country to pick up luggage/change terminals/overnight?
3Does the transit country offer transit visa exemption for Chinese passports? Are the conditions met?
4Does the ticket include visa requirements for the destination country (the airline will check it when checking in)?
5Does the transit stay exceed the transit visa exemption limit?
6Do low-cost airlines need to pay extra "transfer service fees" for connecting flights?
7Before booking, use the airline/visa tool to confirm "Do you need a transit visa?"
❓ Transit visa FAQ
Q: Do I still need a transit visa if I don’t leave the airport for a connecting flight?▼
A: Depends on the country. Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, etc. have visa-free policies in transit areas; however, the United States, Canada, Schengen Area, and Australia may require a visa even if you are not leaving the airport for transit. What matters is whether the transit country exempts travelers on a "Chinese passport + transit" basis.
Q: Do I need a transit visa for connecting air tickets?▼
A: A connecting ticket only means that the airline helps you connect the flight, but it does not mean that you are exempt from a visa. Visas are determined by the laws of the destination/transit country. However, if the transit country does not have any exemption (such as the United States), a visa is also required for the connecting journey.
Q: Can I stay at the airport or go sightseeing without a visa in transit?▼
A: It depends on the specific policy. Singapore VFTF and South Korea's transit visa exemption allow entry and stay (but for a limited time); Japan's Shore Pass is approved by border cases; most "transit area visa exemption" is only within the airport.
Q: How to arrange a visa when transiting through the United States to a third country?▼
A: There is no transit visa exemption in the United States. You must hold a valid B visa or apply for a C transit visa (C-1). If you have plans to go to the United States in the future, it is more cost-effective to directly apply for Category B (multiple times in 10 years).