Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yaya]

I'm just curious if what I hear about travel to Shanghai is true. Can an American stay there for 48 hours without a visa? I just want to check it out for a weekend.

[mikesaidyes]

A friend of mine did this, but he said you have to go through Hong Kong...

[D.D.]

must get a visa

[mikesaidyes]

After a little research, you technically do not....

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84242.htm

Which, like my friend said, means you have to be "going" somewhere else.

[Yaya]

So I guess it's a bad idea to just buy a roundtrip ticket to Shanghai from Incheon?

[travelnguy]

From personal experience, you will need a visa. There is no actual policy where a visa isn't needed. What they have in Shanghai for nationals of many countries is a free visa upon arrival. It's good for up to 48 hours. You get off the plane, line up in the APEC/Business traveler card line at the airport, and they will then look at your onward ticket. It must be going to a third country. If so, they stamp, free of charge, a 48 hour visa. You can leave the airport, but you must depart from the same airport.

This works for Beijing too. However, it's only for 24 hours.

It's quite easy and very convenient. We will be doing this again on our way back to the states in a couple of months.

[young_clinton]

I was given a 24 hour visa only because i was going to a different country and had a large lay over. I wouldn't just show up and try to get one.