Success: 1st Time Using The Visa Free Entry For China

To be able to report some first-hand experience, I decided to do a quick dash over to Shenzhen from Hong Kong by Subway and see how easy the process is and visit the Lo Wu shopping mall in the afternoon.

It was actually just as previously announced, and there were no hiccups whatsoever aside from the border officials being interested in my passport, checking it with a magnifying glass for damages and authenticity.

I didn’t have an immediate need to travel to Beijing or Shanghai this December but since Hong Kong is just 40 minutes by subway to Lo Wu (Shenzhen) where they also have a shopping mall I decided to make a quick run for it in the afternoon as I haven’t been there before and wanted to have a look either way.

I took the subway from Admiralty Station to Lo Wu:

The East Rail Line takes approximately 40 minutes with several stops to reach the terminus station, it also stops in Sha Tin in case you’re staying at one of the hotels there.

At the arrival platform, you follow the signs that show Shenzhen as an exit point:

There were not many people on the train that day, I purposely did this quick trip on the afternoon of the 24th. People proceed to the immigration area from the arrival area (obviously no pictures allowed there).

You then have to fill out the arrival form and hand it together with your passport to an immigration officer:

You check VISA FREE and fill in the rest of the information, there are also some questions on the back.

As arrival I entered TRAIN, and as an address I entered DAY TRIP SHENZHEN LO WU :

After that, it was a quick process (I obviously had no luggage), and following a quick inspection of my passport by customs officials, I walked through the exit and arrived in Shenzhen.

I only had time for a quick walk around and the planned visit to the shopping center. After that, I went back through immigration and took the train back to Hong Kong.

Conclusion
All in all, the trip took less than three hours, but this new visa waiver system for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, as well as Malaysia to enter China without a visa for up to fifteen days is really useful.

The process was extremely easy; everybody knew exactly about this new rule, and there was no confusion as to why I arrived without a visa in hand. I’d assume the same would be the case at the airport.

This was the first time I’d been back in China after the pandemic; the last time I got an actual visa was in late 2019, and that ended up expiring unused as the trip I planned to make to Shanghai coincided with the first cases popping up so I decided not to go.

I’m sure I will use this a few times in the coming year, a great improvement for those seeking to visit China as it eliminates the requirement for the cumbersome and expensive visa process.

Source: by Sebastian Powell,https://loyaltylobby.com/2023/12/26/success-first-time-using-the-visa-free-entry-for-china-after-new-visa-waiver-policy/