VISA Application
Before visiting China, please check your visa requirements and make sure you have a valid visa. You may also follow the 144-hour visa-free transit policy of China to attend the conference. Details can be found here.
Countries eligible for Visa-exempt entry
To check if you are eligible for the visa exemption program, please visit here.
Countries not eligible for Visa-exempt entry:
Option 1: Use the 144-hour visa-free transit policy of China. Visa-Free Transit Policies for Foreign Nationals can be viewed on National Immigration Administration website, please visit here.
The National Immigration Administration (NIA）of China has implemented the 144-hour (counting from 0:00 AM after the day of arrival) visa-free transit policy at 37 exit-entry ports, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen ports etc. Citizens of 54 countries (including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, etc.), who hold valid international travel documents (of which the validity period shall be more than 3 months) and confirmed connecting tickets for flights, trains, or ships departing for third countries/regions (Hong Kong SAR included) within 144 hours after having arrived in China, are eligible to transit through any of the 37 aforementioned ports without visas. Within the stay periods, foreign guests can travel, engage in business activities, visit friends and relatives, and engage in other short-term activities.
For your convenience, some recommended ports of entry in Guangdong Province are as follows: Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Shenzhen Shekou Port (waterway passenger port), and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Foreign guests can leave China through all 36 exit-entry ports that provide passenger transport services within Guangdong province.
Please note that the underlying principle of “TRANSIT” that requires the port of origin before entering mainland China and the destination after leaving mainland China be different. For your reference, some suggested routines are listed below:
1. A foreign guest takes a direct flight from a foreign country A to Shenzhen/Guangzhou. After participating in the conference, the guest takes a flight to another foreign country B, such as Japan/Korea/Singapore, from the Shenzhen/Guangzhou airport.
2. A foreign guest takes a direct flight from a foreign country A to Shenzhen/Guangzhou. After participating in the conference, the guest takes a train from Shenzhen to Hong Kong SAR (e.g., Shenzhen North Railway station/ Futian Railway station to West Kowloon Railway station in Hong Kong), and then boards a flight back to country A from Hong Kong SAR airport.
3. A foreign guest takes a flight from foreign country A to another foreign country B such as Japan/Korea/Singapore, and then takes a flight from country B to Shenzhen/Guangzhou. After participating in the conference, the guest boards a flight from Shenzhen/Guangzhou back to country A. It is assumed that the guest had a record of entering the port of the country B before entering China.
4. A foreign guest takes a flight from a foreign country A to Hong Kong Airport and then takes a ship from Hong Kong Airport Skypier Terminal to Shenzhen Shekou Ferry port WITHOUT entering Hong Kong. After participating in the conference, the guest then boards a flight from Shenzhen Airport to another foreign country B such as Japan/Korea/Singapore.
5. A foreign guest takes a flight from a foreign country A to Hong Kong Airport and then takes a ship from Hong Kong Airport Skypier Terminal to Shenzhen Shekou Ferry port WITHOUT entering Hong Kong. After participating in the conference, the guest takes a train from Shenzhen to Hong Kong SAR city area (e.g., Shenzhen North Railway station/ Futian Railway station to West Kowloon Railway station in Hong Kong), and then boards a flight back to country A from Hong Kong SAR airport.
Additional notes:
1. For your convenience, ship tickets from Hong Kong Airport SkyPier Terminal to Shenzhen Shekou port can be booked here, or here.
2. For you convenience, train tickets from Shenzhen to Hong Kong can be booked here.
3. A short interview will be conducted at the port of entry for mainland China, and the officer may verify the tickets (and/or confirmed seats) of arriving and leaving to a third country/region with a date no later than 144 hours after the entry time. Possible proofs include airline tickets, train tickets, ship tickets, order receipts, payment records, etc.
4. The underlying principle of the TRANSIT rule stipulates that a guest enters the port of the third country/region, such that the “Transit” policy is held. The border control officer may use the entry records, and the onward tickets to verify the intent.
5. The guest should not have a Visa rejection stamp from the Chinese authority on the passport. The guest cannot have any record of illegal entry, exit, residence, or employment within the past 5 years in China.
6. It is recommended to have an invitation letter from the ITW conference.
Option 2: Apply for a visa in advance. Conference visas must be applied for in advance at a Chinese embassy or consulate.
This Chinese government website provides you detailed information about the visa application process.
To request a visa letter from the IEEE-ITW’24, you MUST follow the instructions below.
1) For authors, you can request an invitation letter here. Instructions can be found here.
2) For non authors, invitation letters will only be issued to registered participants with payments. After completing the registration process, please fill
this invitation letter request form, and email to zhanglvyin@ais.cn. The Visa letter will then be sent back via email.
PLEASE NOTE
1) Request for hard copy version of the letter will not be accommodated.
2) Visa letter requests may take upto 5 working days to process.
3) IEEE ITW'2024 can only issue the Letter of Invitation for the conference. No other kind of documents will be provided for visa applications.