I will be flying from Bangkok to Narita via Shanghai with my Thai gf. We have a 12 hour layover at Shanghai airport. Do either of us need to get a Chinese visa before we depart? We have no plans to leave the airport.

TIA

i do not know the answer. if you still do not know, i would suggest phoning the embassy in bkk. they will be able to tell you. if you will stay airside in china, you wont need to go through immigration, so maybe you wont. but best to phone

Sorry to bump this back to the top, but I'm wondering the same thing... If my wife and I are travelling BKK to Vancouver with a 6 hour layover in Pudong Int'l, I know that I (Canadian) can transit through visa free for 48 hours, but can my wife (thai)? Any help would be great, and thanks in advance!

According to IATA no visa is required if she departs within 24 hours:

National Thailand (TH) Transit China (People's Rep.) (CN) Destination Canada (CA) ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW

China (People's Rep.) (CN)

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):

Visa required, except for Holders of confirmed onward tickets

for a max. transit For details, click here time of 24 hours. Transit

incl. two stops within China (People's Rep.) is permitted.

- All transiting passengers are subject to passport control.

Passengers in transit are required to hold passports or

passport replacing documents that are accepted for entry

into China (People's Rep.). For more details on document

requirements, please enter China (People's Rep.) as a

destination.

- Leaving the airport transit area is allowed.

Great - Thanks for the information!!