Do international travelers need a QR arrival form or visa for a transit stop in Beijing or Shanghai?

Leaving the airport on a long layover does not always work out. In October 2026 a passenger with a 15-hour connection in Shanghai said that when he tried to go out, airport staff turned him back and told him that with a connection he had to wait in the airport. If you plan to see the city, find out the exit conditions from the airline in advance.

A traveler who flew China Eastern in August 2026 said that before landing in China the cabin crew came round with a QR code that opens the arrival form. It is quick to fill in, and you select transit as the purpose. Their plane had Wi-Fi, so in their view the form can be completed in advance. On entry, all their fingerprints and a photo were taken.

In late August 2026 someone asked what passengers with a 5.5-hour connection in Beijing on a trip out of Ho Chi Minh City need to fill in. A participant replied that if they do not enter China, they stay in the transit zone, which requires neither a visa nor the QR arrival form. Confirm the requirements for your specific itinerary with the airline before flying.