Foreign sign-on crew must obtain visas in local Chinese embassy/consulate before departure. Meanwhile it will take 5 working days to obtain transitvisas for sign-off crew.
Visas are not required for aliens in immediate transit on connected international flights who hold passenger tickets and stay for no more than 24 hours in China entirely within airport boundaries.
持联程客票搭乘国际航班直接过境，在中国停留不超过二十四小时不出机场的外国人，免办签证。
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This form must be completed by all persons except U. S. citizens, returning resident aliens with immigrant visas, and Canadian citizens visiting or in transit.