How to get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong – Index
Before you begin
If you can’t apply for a visa in your country of residence because you already live in Asia or you’re traveling, Hong Kong is still the best place to get one.
In the first part of this article, we’ll explain where you can apply for a visa in Hong Kong (you can use an agency or go directly to the CVASC), and which documents are necessary for getting a visa.
In the second part of this article, we’ll explain how to travel from China to Hong Kong in the quickest and cheapest way in order to get a visa.
Note that all the information that you’ll find in this article is the result of our own personal experience since we’ve applied for many visas in Hong Kong, starting way back in 2012.
For more general information on Chinese Visa, I suggest you read Chinese Visa application: A complete guide.
Do I need a Visa to visit Hong Kong?
If you are an American, Canadian, Australian or European (from E.U, I mean) citizen, then you don’t need a Visa as long as you stay for less than 90 days (British people can stay 180 days). If you come from another country, you should go to this page to check whether you need a Visa or not.
Once you arrive in Hong Kong, a customs officer will stick a “Visa exemption” ticket on your passport, which specifies for how long you can legally stay in Hong Kong without a Visa.
In the second part of this article, I’ll provide all the Visa costs in HKD (Hong Kong Dollars). Keep in mind that at the time of writing, 10 HKD = 1.29 USD = 1.16 Euro (you can find the exchange rate in real-time here).
Where can I get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong?
Option A: Using an agency
First Update: At the moment, according to our readers, this is the easiest solution (unless you hold a Hong Kong resident permit).
Second update: Generally speaking, if during the last twelve months you have already obtained one or two Chinese Visas in Hong Kong, it’s going to be hard to get more than a 14 day tourist or business Visa (unless you have a legit invitation letter from a Chinese company).
If you aren’t one of those people that basically live in China with a tourist or business visa, then you should be able to obtain at least a 60 day tourist Visa (double entry, this means that you’ll have to exit and reenter China after 30 days) or a multi-entry 6-12 month business visa.
Note that if you obtain a multi-entry business Visa of 90, 180 or 365 days, you’ll have to exit China every 30, 60 or 90 days (according to the Visa you will get).
Moreover, in order to obtain a business visa with a duration of 90, 180 or 365 days, usually you must have already obtained in the past a Chinese Visa outside the Chinese territory and have in your passport at least a stamp from the Chinese immigration office (that is you have already been in China).
If you applied for your Visa through an agency before August 2013, it was possible to obtain it within five hours. Nowadays, the rush service is two working days (that is, 24 hours because in China, the day on which you apply is included in the working days) for short term tourist and business Visas, and up to fifteen working days for a 6 or 12 month business Visa (according to the situation).
There are a lot of visa agencies in Hong Kong. Personally, I like Forever Bright. With the normal service (4 working days), you’ll pay 750 HKD for a single entry L or M Visa and 970 HKD for a double-entry L or M visa (30 days per entry).
The prices for the faster services (two or three working days) are 1,170 HKD and 1,720 HKD, respectively.
However, there are many exceptions; you can check the price for your nationality by following this link.
The multi-entry 6-12 months visa isn’t available for all nationalities and will cost you between 1,370 and 2,890 HKD (however we heard of people that paid up to 8,000 HKD; thus we advise you to contact the agency well in advance, in order to know what fee you will have to pay in your case).
Here is their address and contact information of Forever Bright Agency:
Rooms 916-917, New Mandarin Plaza Tower B
14 Science Museum Road,
T.S.T. East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2369 3188
Website: www.fbt-chinavisa.com.hk
The easiest way to find the agency is to take the subway to Tsim Sha Tsui East Station, leave through exit P2 and walk North on Mody Road (just turn left at the exit) up until the intersection at Science Museum Road, where the agency is located. From the P2 exit, it takes about ten minutes to get to the office.
The other agency that seems to be quite good is CTS (China Travel Service), located at the Hong Kong airport. I’ve heard that here, you’ll need at least three working days to get your Visa.
Option B: The Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC)
If you don’t want to use an agency, then you will have to apply for your Visa at the CVASC (unless you own a special passport).
Here the address and contact information:
Address: 20/F, Capital Center, 151 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Business Hours: Monday-Friday (closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)
Submission of Applications and Payment: 9:00 to 16:00 (Urgent service before 12:00)
Collection: Regular Service: 10:00 to 17:00, Express and Urgent Service: 12:00 to 17:00
Tel: + 852 29921999
Fax: + 852 29891116
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.visaforchina.org
Here you can find most of the information you will need (including the list of required documents, according to the type of Visa you want to apply for).
Here you find the Visa fees.
Here you can schedule an appointment for your Visa application.
Option C: The Consular Department Office (not applicable for ordinary passports)
Update: Since January 2018, this option is not applicable anymore for ordinary passports. Thus, if you own an ordinary passport, your only options are to apply with an agency or at the CVASC.
Although we don’t have any first-hand experience with it, If you have a diplomatic passport, it seems you can still apply for your Chinese Visa at the Consular Department Office. It’s close to Wan Chai subway station. The exact address is:
7th Floor, Lower Block, China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong Island
Tel: +852 3413 2424 (here you find working time and email address)
In general, a single entry Visa costs 200 HKD, a double-entry visa 300 HKD and a multiple-entry visa 500 HKD. However, we are talking about China! This means that there are many exceptions. For example, American citizens have to pay 1100 HKD for any kind of Visa, and British citizens need to pay 360 HKD for a single entry one, 540 HKD for a double entry one and 1090 HKD for a multiple-entry Visa. There are also exceptions for other countries; you can find the complete price list here.
It takes four working days to get your Visa; however, you can apply for the express service if you want to have it within three working days (you’ll pay 200 HKD extra), or the rush service if you want to get the Visa within two working days (you’ll pay 300 HKD extra).
Note that the day on which you apply is included in the working days, so if you apply for a rush Visa on Monday you’ll get it on Tuesday. Also, take note that for some nationalities (France, for instance), express and rush Visa service isn’t available. Don’t ask me why; this is just the way it is!
If you are planning to stay in a hotel and have no interest in visiting the city, then the rush service is more convenient, as hotels in Hong Kong are quite expensive. This means that you’ll end up spending more than the 300 HKD extra needed for the rush Visa process.
The list of necessary documents for obtaining a visa at the consular office
Here’s a testimonial from our reader, Enrico Penna (edited by me).
Getting a visa at the consular office is complicated because, even if they require various documents, the complete list of the specific documents needed isn’t published anywhere, and moreover, when they deny you at the counter, of the many necessary documents they tell you only one at a time in a way that you won’t even get it the next time around.
Between my direct failings and those of other unfortunate ones, I believe I’m able to provide a complete list of necessary documents:
- The application form, which among other things must be compiled without errors or omissions otherwise they’ll make you fill it out all again (losing your place in line);
- Photocopy of your passport, including the Hong Kong immigration slip (the so-called “Visa exemption”), a small rectangle of White paper that they give you at Passport control (when you arrive in Hong Kong), often without stapling a page. Note that if you’re not paying attention and lose it, you’re screwed;
- If you’re more than one applying for a visa, they don’t accept two copies of the same page; each passport must have a good A4 photocopy;
- Copy of your round trip air ticket in both English and Chinese; if your agency has printed it in another language (such as Italian), it will be denied even if your name, airline, booking number and flight information are clearly visible;
- Copy of your hotel reservation in China, also in English or Chinese and must absolutely have your name (and the names of all people that are applying for the Visa and will stay at the same hotel) clearly visible; Booking.com had sent me a receipt via e-mail in Italian with a booking code but no name and I had to return to the site to print a copy in English;
- Depending on the number of days of your stay, which they deduce for your flight dates, they can ask for proof of your booking for the entire length of your stay in China. The problem is that if you explain to them that you don’t have an exact itinerary and will decide where to stay from day to day, there’s a very strong possibility that they’ll refuse your visa;
- This aspect is really controversial and discretional; I saw a Pakistani pass through with just bookings for the first two days in Shenzhen; whereas a French couple was chased off and had to appeal to their agency because they only had a pair of bookings for almost a month-long stay;
- To conclude, if you’re traveling with a minor child, you’ll also need a birth certificate in English and two copies of the parents’ passports.
Luo Hu: The border between Shenzhen (China) and Hong Kong S.A.R.
How to get to Hong Kong from China Mainland
Hong Kong by plane
If you are coming from Europe or the U.S., you can just take a flight to Hong Kong International Airport. Then take the subway or a taxi to your hotel (click here to read our reviews of the best luxury, medium-range and economic hotels in Hong Kong).
However, if you live in China and are coming to Hong Kong to renew your Visa or for a Visa run, you may want to consider taking a plane to Shenzhen, a Chinese city located just across the Hong Kong S.A.R. border.
Why? Because a domestic flight from any Chinese city to Shenzhen is usually cheaper than an international flight from any Chinese city to Hong Kong. Click here to learn what are the best website to book a flight in China or Hong Kong.
Once you get to Shenzhen, you can take line 1 of the subway from the airport to Luo Hu station, which is located on the border with the Hong Kong S.A.R. It will take ab out 90 minutes, as you have to cross all of Shenzhen.
At this point, you can cross the border by walking (it takes from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the line) and then take the Hong Kong subway to downtown (about 50 minutes). The total price is about 80 HKD.
The other option is the bus that departs from the arrivals floor at Shenzhen airport and arrives at Tsim Sha Tsui Station, which is in Kowloon but very close to Hong Kong island, and which takes about 90 minutes (if there isn’t too much traffic at the border).
Even though you have to take two buses, one to the border and the second from it, it is only one ticket (I think it costs 150 HKD). The first bus drops you off at the border, which you have to cross by walking, while the second bus waits for you across the border (it’s all explained on the ticket).
If this trip from Shenzhen to Hong Kong seems too complicated to you, you can fly directly from China to Hong Kong. In this case, I suggest you to read our guide on how to book a flight ticket in China.
Hong Kong by train
The other possibility is to take a train from any Chinese city to Shenzhen and then cross the border at Luo Hu (the train station is quite close).
Take note that a hard sleeper ticket on the night train from Shanghai to Shenzhen will cost you 470 Chinese Yuan while a plane ticket is worth around 650 Yuan. Since the difference in price is relatively small and the train is way slower (around 15 hours instead of 2), I usually go by plane.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to many comments we receive, it is possible – even if in theory such visas should be requested in the country to which you belong. They’ve told us that the key is, besides having all your documents in order, having an invitation letter that clearly specifies that the visa be applied for in Hong Kong.
From two to four business days including the day you apply for your visa.
Click here to read our reviews of the hotels we recommend in Hong Kong.
It depends on the type of visa you apply for and what you manage to get. Note that if for example you apply for a two-entry tourist visa of 30 days each, you won’t necessarily be issued that exact visa.
It is possible, depending on the case, that they’ll just issue you a single entry visa of 30 days (or less).
Yes, we have applied for – and obtained – several times a visa in Hong Kong.
Photo Credits: 
Auf nach China by Max Braun
Great post,Furio! I’m glad you’re taking time to reply to each question in this post.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
: )
Hi sir,
I’m filipino and am going to Hong kong 3th APR 2014.
Can I get chinese visa even filipino?
Requirements can be same with other country guys?
Ricky
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, I don’t know the rules for philippines; you can check Forever Bright website, you find the link on this article
Furio Hi!
I am French I am in China, and I’ll finish but 90 days tourist visa
I can renew my visa hong kong?
how many days can I have?
THANK YOU
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi there, usually it takes 4 days for French people because of the complicate relationship between French and Chinese government. Yon can Check FTB website to make sure that things didn’t change during the last months.
i have a chinese business multiple 6 months visa and says i have to leave china after 30 days. my question is is it possible to exit hongkong and comeback again in after 30 minutes on that same date?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi there,
I never did it myself but it shall be fine cause what it matters is the stamp.
Hello, I am flying to HKG tomorrow from New York on a short notice trip. I need to be in Shenzhen China for business March 5th-12th. My flight lands Wed Morning at 6AM, Will it be safe or will I have any problems getting to Forever Bright leaving the airport at 6am and applying at the time they open at 8:30 AM? My goal is to be in China by the end of the day to sleep and start training the following morning. Please let me know your thoughts.
-Brandon
Hi Brandon
Have you contact the stuff of Forever Bright? I don’t think it’s possible anymore to get a visa in one day. I don’t think you’ll have any problem to get to the agency in 2h an a half, if you are worried about the traffic you can always take the subway, but at 6 I don’t think will be a huge problem.
I want to go to China for 4-6 weeks to study Chinese at a private language school. The problem is I already got two chinese tourist visas last year (I never overstayed these, because i was there just for tourism)
I heard it will de difficult to get a new tourist visa ( I need one for 60 days). Will it just help to get a new passport and dont mention my previous visa? or is everything registered in their system?
Also Ive seen that some school can provide The Jform for an X-visa. Its then possible to get the visa?
Thanks!
You’ll get a X visa this time so I don’t see any issue
Thanks for the fast reply!
Well not all school provide this service. so far ive only found one.
So if want to join a course at a school that doesnt provide the x-visa, the potion to just get a new passport will work you think?
And if i can get the x-visa. Can I stay longer than the period of study? (for example Ill join a 4 week course but i would like to come to China two weeks in advance?
Nope, change passport won’t work. They have databases of course. Also, you must negotiate the VISA date with the school.
However, if you only come two months as a tourist in 2013 I don’t think they will refuse you a tourist VISA this year, especially if you apply in your country
Hi,
I am from Holland and I am in Guangzhou China since Oktober 2013 on a business M visa with 2 entries of 30 days, which I extended twice (maximum) with both times 1 entry mentioned on the extension. The 2nd extension started January 23 and will end February 22, which means I need to exit February 21 at the latest and enter February 22 to have another 30 days in Guanzhou. Anyway, this was all with one visa and 2 extensions since oktober.
It now means I need to go out to HK in March to request for a complete new M business visa. I will go back to Holland end of May this year, so I would request for a double entry M visa of 30 days or if possible 60 days in HK. The business partner company in China will get me the invitation and all the other paper work. However, do you think I will face any problems in HK when I apply for a new M visa of 2 entries since I am in China since Oktober? I also have one L visa of 30 days I used in November 2012 for 7 days. Looking forward to your reply.
Thanks!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Yes, you may have problems as they are now rejecting applications from people thata stay too long on business or toursit visa. The reason is simple: many of these people are working in china illegally on a business/tourist visa.
However you’ll have a regular invitation letter so it’s possible that you’ll get the visa. Honestly nobody can tell as there are too many factors involved. You’ll discover it only if you apply
Ok, clear!
Thanks for your quick reply, I will let you know in March if I was able to get the visa or not.
Hello Charlotte, I´m curious to know if you at the end got another M-visa? I´m more or less in the same situation as you! I extended my M-visa in Beijing, and now I want to go to Hong Kong in a few weeks to ask for a new m-visa with an invitation letter or another tourist visa to be able to stay a little longer in China and finish up an internship here.
Thanks in advance
Hi, great post, just have a quick question. I’m currently in China with a tourist visa. my visa is states that I can stay in China up to 3 months at a timeand it’s a multi-entry visa good up to a year. I want to stay here longer while looking for a job. my question is, can I go to Hong Kong and get a new stamp on my passport and start my time in China as if it’s from day 0?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
I don’t understand your situation… If you have a 3 months multi entry it means you can stay at maximum 3 months and go in and out as many times as you want. However no VISA can be “restarted”
Be very careful because with the new VISAs you usually have to go out china every 30 days or the VISA will expire. However I dont know about yours
Sorry to ask a question on this thread. I have a business visa for 30 days and it will expire in a few days. I’m close to Shenzen office and was wondering could I just apply for a tourist visa for another 30 days without the hassle of obtaining letters and such? I have flight itinerary already booked for another 30 days… any info will help.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Marco,
sure, you can try it. However it’s not 100% sure you will get the visa for 30 days!
HI, I heard the rules changed again and now you can’t apply for a simple business or tourist visa without being a “long term residence” in whatever country you apply in including Hong Kong? Anyone tried getting one of those visas in the last couple of days to confirm this?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi so far we didn’t hear that. Could you share a link where you found this news?
hello. i do have M chinese visa and now staying near Shanghai, in Anji city. but i have just 3 months visa and it expires at 16th of april. so can i apply for M visa for 3 or 6 months with single entry? I don’t know what to do, because i really cannot afford to go back to Europe to make new visa, so would it work out , if i come for example a week before my current visa gets expired and make a new M type visa for 3 months ?
Hi, you case is too specific. Send an email to FBT, you find the link on the article
thank you. btw, maybe you know if it is possible to renew/extend M visa within China?
For what I know is not possible anymore
and when i applied for M visa in Lithuania, EU, i had to state that i am going to China as a business partner, because there is no such type of visa for internships, so I hope it will work out in Hong kong…
and another off topic question? i am in china 17 days, and i have 90 days visa, do i have to get a residence permit ?
yeah, should work, email to the agency!
No, you dont need a resident permit with a Business visa. It’s required only for student or work visa
Hi Furio,
I appreciate your detailed visa support :) I have a question too.
I am staying with an (old) F-Visa in China which is going to expire at the end of february. I want to stay for about 3 more weeks in CN afterwards. The Business-Visa unfortunately is unextendable since I don’t have all necessary documents. My plan is to go to hk and apply for a 30 days tourist visa. Will that work?
Besides, I am from Germany so I guess I am not eligible for the rush service in hk?
Thank you so much!
Hi, sometimes they only give 7 or 14 days to people that have been in china for long time on a tourist/business visa. They can even deny you a VISA. As I said on another comment, nobody can know it beforehand
ok just for general information. I am back from HK and got the 30 days L Visa successfully. But I really made sure to provide everything possible including a personal invitation letter from my girlfriend, my account balance and return flight tickets. Also I gave a certain explanation for the purpose of my visit for another 30 days. Not complications faced this way.
Hi Jonas, thank you for your update!
Hi, I just finished a one term study program in beijing, and I’m now in HK for the chinese new year.
I hope to get a new tourist visa to go back into china, find a new school, and study there.
From 2013 I have one student visa, and a two month tourist visa that I use to get in to china before school started. I also have a few entrys from 2012.
Does this mean that it might be hard for me to even get a 30 day visa?
And what about getting double entry?
yeah, it may be harder. But nobody can know whether you’ll get a visa or not
i have a turist visa, thank you very much for the quick response.
hi, thanks for all the info.. i am in shanghai and i extend my visa 30 more days but is going to end at the 28 of january, and i was told that from the first of january with the new visa laws you couldn’t extend you visa going to hong kong and coming right back in to china again, they told me that i have to go back to my country if i wanted a new visa, its that true? what can i do?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Are you living and working in China on a tourist or business VISA?
Then get ready to leave ’cause they aren’t extending these VISA anymore. I doubt you can even extend it on your own country!
The solution is to become a student (so you get a student VISA) or get a working VISA. In my opinion there is no much else that you can do.
Hi, thanks for all of this info, it is really useful. I was wondering if you could help me. I have been offered a job in Shanghai so I will be given my visa through the school, however my partner (whom is Czech) will not be able to come on my visa as they do not recognise our relationship in China. I have been told that we can apply for her first multi entry 180 day visa in the UK as a tourist which shouldnt be a problem. I have also been told that once this expires, then she can go to Hong Kong and apply for another 90 day tourist visa, is this information correct? If so are there a limited number of times that she will be able to get a new tourist visa? She will have a letter of invitation from my school in order to help with the application process informing that she will stay with me etc. Thanks :)
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Lyn,
living in China with a tourist/business VISA was normal in the past but since July they are rejecting a lot of people that stays in China too long (more than 3-6 months) on a tourist VISA. So she may not be able to renew her tourist VISA (but you never know with China).
Thanks for the quick reply. Will it be in her favour that she will have an official letter from an international school in shanghai inviting her to stay and explaining her place of accommodation?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
I don’t think so. Because she’s still in China without a “reason.” There is a solution though: She may join a school to learn Chinese and get a student VISA. Or find a job! She can do that while being on the first tourist VISA.
Great! Thanks for the quick reply! I will check out Forever Bright.
Thanks again!
Hi,
I have a few questions about Chinese visas and I’m hoping you can help. My husband and I are planning to travel through China on our bikes. We will be flying into Hong Kong and we were hoping to get 60 day travel visas for China. We won’t have flight itinerary because we will be entering and leaving China by bike. I am American and he is from New Zealand. Do you have any advise or know what our options are?
Thanks!
Katie
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi there,
for the last news I have you will only be able to get a 60 days tourist VISA double entry in HK. This means that after 30 you’ll have to leave China and then go back inside. You may plan to arrive close to Vietnam after 30 days and get the stamp at the Vietnamese border but then you’ll also need a Vietnam VISA (not difficult to get, you can get it in Shanghai within 5 hours or in HK).
The other option is to come back to HK after 30 days or go to Taiwan (there are boats that leave from Xiamen if you don’t want to take a plane).
In any case I suggest you to visit Forever Bright website (you find the link on this article) and send an email to them in order to know what’s your best option. They usually reply within 24 hours to all inquiries.
Hello I am traveling to Hong Kong soon arriving on a Friday and want to obtain a Chinese Tourist Visa upon arrival to travel to Guangzhou or Shanghai. I will only be busting for a week. Can I obtain a Chinese tourist visa upon arrival same day and what is the cost??
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
No, I dont think that’s possible, unless you stay in Shenzhen!
Hi,
Thanks for this post, very informative and clear.
I wonder if you can help to clarify something for me:
My boyfreind is a french citizen in the process of applying for tourist visa to China from France. They will only give him 30 days, Can he extend this in HK? Would he be able to change to a business visa in HK if he gets a job? The embassy won’t give us a straight answer.
Many thanks,
Cat
Hi there, no, I don’t think he can extend his VISA: The only thing he can do is to go back to Hong Kong after 30 days and apply for a new visa.
Regarding the job, he can’t work legally with a business VISA, he needs a work VISA (o Z VISA):
I have a similar question
My boyfriend is already in China (Beijing) with Tourist Visa valid for 30 days.
He is planning to get China business visa in HKG consulat.
Is it possible ?
If yes, what documents should he prepare ?
Thank you
Ling
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Yes, it’s possible.
please read the article (and the Tourist visa article also published on this site) for the list of document
Hi, i’m from indonesia. i want apply new china visa in HK but before i already extend my visa in Guangzhou. it problem or no? if i have invitation letter from company in china. what type visa i can apply?
thx
Hi there,
If you have an invitation letter it shouldn’t be a problem to get a business visa in HK
Hi Furio,
Thx for your answer. But i must have hotel booking and return flight ticket booking?
Thx
not sure when you have an invitation letter. Ask to HK visa agency, you find the link on this article, they always reply within 24 hours
hello Furio,
thank you for your tips, very helpful indeed.
I am french, I live in Bali so i have no access to a consulate as I have to fly to jakarta and I have no time for that as you must go 2 times. I plan to go to HK for 5 days (so no time for regular visa) but I would like to go to Shenzhen and areas near by (if possible), I’ve been told you can get a 72 hours or 5 day visa or arrival for the Guangdong province. I can get a letter from one (or even more) of the factory I will visit.
Do you know more about this kind of visa?
thank you for your next answer.
Regards.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
1. If you are in Hong Kong for 5 days, you do have time for a VISA,
2. You can get an visa on arrival at Hong Kong / Shenzhen border, valid for 5 days. However with this visa you aren’t allowed to leave Shenzhen area.
Hello, first thanks for the article, very useful information! Second, I am also planning to go to HOng Kong to get new visa there. To be precise my plan is to get a z visa / working visa by using agent. Has anybody done that? I called the sunrise agent and she told me I need: company business license, Foreigners Employment Permit and Invitation Letter. Note I do not have American, French, British or Italian passport, so should be fine ….
Hi there,
generally speaking, the law says you can get it only in your country.
I’ve heard of people that were able to get a Z visa anyway BEFORE July 2013 but after the new regulation kicked off (July 2013) I haven’t heard of anybody being successful with such application.
[Update 2016]: We did hear of several people that were able to get the Z visa in Hong Kong also after July 2013
i did … i got a chinese work visa in hong kong but i’m a US national and not a hong kong resident …
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Rob,
yes, it’s totally possible to get a Chinese visa in Hong Kong without being resident there. we don’t claim the opposite : )
Hi Furio, did you go through an agency? Or did you go directly to the Hong Kong visa office?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Personally I used an agency, when I did the visa in Hong Kong. But this doesn’t mean you can’t go through the Consular Office!
Sorry, this question is ment for Rob ?
He said “work visa” which means Z visa… which you claim is impossible since 2013.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, I didn’t realized this was a reply to a comment from 2013 (I reply comments from within the site and dont see the whole thread).
Let’s clarify something: in this article we don’t claim that getting a Z visa in Hong Kong is impossible.
I wrote that comment in 2013, when the law has just changed. And I said that “up to then I didn’t heard of anybody being successful with such application.”
Now, 3 years after, we did hear about people getting a Z visa in Hong Kong. So, yes, it is sometimes possible, but it really depends on the situation
Hey guys,
I have a question regarding visa changes in a certain period of time. This is the case:
I was working until 30th of June in a shanghai. I am going to apply next week for a student visa x2. But now it just come up another possible work opportunity. So will there be a problem with changing the visa within a few weeks that often?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
There may be or there may be not… these cases are assessed according to your personal situation. Just make sure to explain very clearly why you are applying again for a visa in such a short time frame
Hello,
I want to know how to get a Z visa for myself and my family without going back to my country- I have an invitation letter for a work permit in Suzhou China and since it’s very expensive to travel back and forth to my country, I want to get a Z visa within a few days.
Can you kindly give me guidelines and direction as I refuse to use an agency anymore – not money’s worth
I was told that I need a Z visa in Hong Kong before going back to China, I am confused as my country gives 30days visa exempt.
Even if some people manage to get a Z visa applying on the consular office in Hong Kong it is really difficult as they normally ask you to have a Hong Kong residence permit to do so. The law is clear about that, the Z visa should be applied in your country of residence.
I got the Z visa succesfully at the Hong Kong Consular service myself, not through an agent, this was around two years ago. I am Danish national.
Perhaps worth to note that I have been living and working in Shenzhen for 10 years, that time two years ago was due to I changed job in a different company.
As I recall I had to wait around 3-4 days to get the Z visa, sure the day of the application process was not all smooth in one go, but not too big a deal. Prepare all the required documents and some extra HKD pocket change for the photo copy machine.
I copy here the exact requirement for the supporting documents which are needed to submit a Z visa application in Hong Kong for mainland China:
———
Z visa for employment in China
Authorized Invation Letter and Alien Employment License for Foreigners from the Ministry of Human Sesourse and Social Security of the PRC shall be provided；
Foreign experts, scholars, teachers or managers to be working in Mainland China shall provide Authorized Invation Letter and Employment letter for foreign experts from the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of PRC;
Foreigners to be engaged in offshore petroleum operations in China shall provide invitation letters from China National Offshore Oil Corporation;
Foreigners to be engaged in commercial art performance in China shall provide the temporary commercial art performance permit from the Ministry of Culture of the PRC and Authorized Invation Letter from the Ministry of Culture of the PRC or Foreign Affairs office of Local government.
Chief representative of the permanent office of foreign enterprise in China shall provide Authorized Invitation Letter and the registration certificate from local Administration Bureau for Industry and Commerce;
Note: “Z” visa is required to provide Health Certificate issued by China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau or HK public hospitals.
http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/qzlb/
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Thomas,
thank you for sharing, very much appreciated : )
Can I please talk to you about the route you took to do so? I will be traveling to Hong Kong soon and will be trying to get a work or business visa with no degree. If you have a moment to talk I would really appreciate it.
Hi,
Skimming through recent forum posts about the issue there seems to be a lot of confusion about new regulations in place. I am an EU-National (not British) planning to travel into China overland via Hong-Kong soon. I was wondering whether it will be possible for me to obtain a visa in Hong-Kong without having to provide proof of return flights and accomodation (I will be travelling into Vietnam through China and won’t have any documentation for this – this is also the reason why I want to avoid applying in my country of residence).
Thank you very much for keeping us all posted.
All the best,
Luke
Hi Luke,
yes, it’s possible if you use the agency we recommend. If you have already spent longtime in China this year you may only get 14 days though. If it’s your first entry you should get 60 days double entry
One point you missed was — bring some small change for any unexpected copies.
yup, and a photo hehe
Hi Furio!
Thanks for all the insight.
I’m wondering if I have the correct invitation and documentation from a reputable language school in China, could I potentially apply for an x1/x2 student visa for 6 months in HOng Kong?
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Max
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
yes, many people applied successfully in Hong Kong (although it’s never sure you’ll get the visa). It seems that’s very important to have an invitation letter that specifies that you will apply in Hong Kong
hi mate， have u get ur x2 visa? I want to get one also
Hi Furio Fu,
I am a holder of a Niger passport (NER), I am a bit confused because I was told I couldn’t apply for any type of China visa in Hong Kong with my passport . Please how true is that?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi there, I have no idea!
You can contact the consular office or an agency (you find both info in the article)