Timatic: Valid China visa in old passport (British) - Tajikistan to China by air? [duplicate]

I am a British citizen with a valid Chinese tourist visa is an expired passport, and I have a new passport. I've heard reports that it's fine to enter China like this, despite the fact that officially on the UK visa for China application website it says you can't (I once phoned and the woman said it was fine, despite what it says on the website). Can anyone comment? (British passport holders only!)

Secondly, my embarkation point is Tajikistan (Dushanbe airport) flying to Ürümqi in China, not from the UK. Will this be OK to fly according to Timatic? I will probably be flying with a Chinese airline.

Best Answer

After some searching, I could not find an answer to this on the People's Republic of China Embassy to the UK website.

But I was able to find this question in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section of the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles:

I have got a new passport but my valid visa is in my previous passport. Can I use the two passports to enter China?

If your personal data such as your name, sex, date of birth, nationality in your new passport remain the same as your previous passport and the purpose of your next tour to China remains the same as permitted in your previous visa, you may use the two passports together to enter China. You need not apply for a new visa with the new passport.

If any information mentioned above is changed, you must apply and pay for a new visa with your new passport and your previous visa will be cancelled without refund.

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Can I travel to China with visa on old passport?

A: You can travel to China on the expired passport containing valid Chinese visa in combination withthe new passport, providedthat the identity information (name, date of birth, gender, nationality) on both passport identical.

Are old Chinese visas still valid?

The validity of a China visa is the period between the "Issue Date" and "Enter Before" date shown on your visa. It is usually 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and sometimes even 10 years. Holders please note that they must enter mainland China before 24:00 of the "Enter Before" date.

Can you get a Chinese visa at the airport?

You can apply for a China Business Visa on Arrival only if the purpose of your visit is Business. The China Business Visa on Arrival is only available to travelers whose point of entry is Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Can you renew a Chinese visa?

Generally speaking, it is not possible to renew, extend a China visa or change it into another type once it is issued. However, if you want to spend more time there, want a multiple-entry visa, or need to have a different type of visa, you can - in many circumstances - apply within China.

Tajikistan became Visa free, so we went there (57 hours after)

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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