Do I need Transit Visa for a 5-Day Layover in Shanghai ?

[lokesok2]

Hi everyone,I have some questions about the transit visa requirements for Shanghai, China. I am a Russian citizen and plan to transit in Shanghai for 5 days. My travel itinerary is as follows: I will be flying from Bali, Indonesia to Shanghai, and then continuing my journey from Shanghai to Jeju, South Korea on a different booking code. Can I transit through Shanghai without a visa, or do I need to get a transit visa ?Thanks for your help!

[justdavid]

As a Russian citizen traveling from Bali to Jeju via Shanghai, you will need to obtain a Chinese transit visa in order to spend 5 days in Shanghai before continuing your journey.

Even though Shanghai has airports that allow visa-free transit for certain nationalities for up to 72 hours, since you will be changing flights on separate bookings and spending a longer time in Shanghai than just transiting, you do not qualify for the visa-free transit exemption.

I would suggest applying for a double entry Chinese transit visa, which allows you to enter China twice and stay for up to 144 hours (6 days) total within 30 days. This gives you some buffer in case of delays.

You can apply for the Chinese transit visa at the Chinese embassy/consulate in Bali before your trip. Be sure to include your flight itineraries and hotel bookings in Shanghai with your application.