China Visa-Free overland?

[danto1]

Hi!

My nationality is on the list of countries eligible for entering China Visa Free for 15 days.

Does anyone know if its also possible to cross overland like that into China?

I am planning on crossing from Pakistan into China (and vice-versa) via Khunjerab pass in mid October.

thank you!

[Milad]

Yes

[sunny0421]

No worries. There's no limit on the method of entry. As long as your country's on the list, you could enter visa-free.

[IronChris]

Hey
...but then, if you enter with a vehicle, getting the authorization is a bit pain in the ass I heard. Any instructions in how it goes? Or can you just rock up in Kashgar and get a stamp?

Chris

[sunny0421]

Hey
...but then, if you enter with a vehicle, getting the authorization is a bit pain in the ass I heard. Any instructions in how it goes? Or can you just rock up in Kashgar and get a stamp?

Chris

You need to apply for a provisional driving permit and a provisional car plate if you want to drive your own car in China.
Documets required for a provisional driving permit:
- ID
- Original copy of your driving license (a Chinese translation copy is required if the original one is not in Chinese)
- Accommodation registration
- 2 photos
If everything goes well, you could get the permit on spot.
But I'm not sure if the Vehicle Administrative Office in Kashgar handles such application. I know you could get one in Urumqi. From the news I've read, many regions in Xinjiang only issued their first permit to foreigners this year with the increase of foreign visitors.

Provisional permit applications seem more common. I haven't seen any detailed example on provisional car plate, so I checked relevant laws.
Key points:
- You need to apply for a temporary vehicle plate and driving permit from the traffic management department of the city of entry.
- You may drive your car till the authory location mentioned above and apply for the permit within 2 days of entry.
- You have to fill in the application form in Chinese.
- The authority will issue the provisional car plate and permit within 3 days.
But this law was published many year ago. I guess now the stuff can put your info into an online form and print it out, so you don't need to write Chinese characters. The news from this year also said you could get a permit in as soon as 15 minutes instead of 3 days. Anyway, the practice seems slightly different from the articles.

[IronChris]

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation, sunny!
Well going from Irkrshtam border to Urumqi within three days is a bit boring, especially if the plan is to go to the south to Khunjerab...
Let's see. As you say, maybe they find a way to make it more practical.

Peace

[X-man]

Hello
Given that I also want to cross China in 2025 with my vehicle and that my country is also on the list of visa free 15 days.
in your first post you were planning to carry out the traferser in mid-October.
I would like to know if there is a delay concerning this crossing? Can you cross with your vehicle and without a guide?
best Regard
xavier