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
Hello Furio,
I’m from Russia and I currently hold 30 day Business visa. I want to apply for 3 month X2 Visa by using the invitation from Mandarin House language school. For that purpose I have to go to HK. I’m not entirely sure if I should go for it even though the school seems credible enough. Just heard that peoples’ student visa applications with invitations of that sort of schools can be easily rejected. Is it true and could you give me any suggestions on what I should do in this situation?
We don’t know for sure about it, the school might have more experience about that. Also you can ask an agency in Hong Kong to help you
Hi Furio,
I just got an offer to go to China, to work at a kindergartner, but I am not qualified yet for Z visa so the school said I can take a tourist visa first (available one month, which I already took. I’m going to pick it up tomorrow from the embassy) and come to China. After I arrive they said they can make a x2 visa for me (they said is available 6 months but I’m not sure about it) but I have to go to HK for one day (also I’m not sure is just one day as they say) . They said they will prepare the documents for x2 visa so I won’t have to worry (they just asked for my high school diploma, and when I asked if they need it translated they said no need, and a photo with me on a white background). I want to be sure is possible because I don’t want to waste my money to go in China and be rejected.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi there,
working in China without a Z visa is illegal. We can’t recommend that
Hi, agency are too expensive. Is it possible for us to go direct to the consular and apply for tourist visa? Thanks.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Well, you can try… however when there is the CVASC in a country, usually you must go through them
Hello im from EQuatorial Guinée, im in china with a M Visa, for 1 month is it possible to go to Hong Kong to get a Visa for 3 to 6 month, what will be the easier to apply to?
The thing is when I entered The company forgot to registered and informe de minister of commerce, now that they wanted to extend they said it’s not possible for extention.
Which visa I could apply fast in HK
An Q1 since my sister is studying here
An M again?!
Or L
But I need at least 3 or 6 month
And how much will be the price?!
How long i should wait to get it
You can contact a visa agency in Hong Kong to get more details
The Q1 or S1 is not possible with siblings
Please can you recommend me some good agency
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Shelley,
you find our recommendations here in the article!
Hi! I a US citizen and I’ve been working in China for 2 years. I am in a bit of situation because my old employer is giving me a hard time and not issuing the release letter and cancellation certificate I need to get a new work visa at my current job. I will have to fly to do a visa run in Hong Kong this Saturday. I’m confused by all the different types of visas there are. Is it just easier and best to apply for a tourist visa and fly back to Shanghai while my new employer finishes the work visa/ residence visa process? If I apply for a tourist visa, will I need an invitation letter from the employer or from a Chinese friend?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Elizabeth, I don’t think you need an invitation letter from the employer for a tourist visa.
You may either need an hotel booking for the whole period of your stay in China under a tourist visa, or an invitation letter by a friend that has either a Chinese passport or a resident permit.
Ok, got it. Thank you! I’m really worried about the chances of being denied. I will use FBT agency to do the process so I hope it goes through without any issues. I don’t see why I would.
I see on the Chinese Consular site now they are outsourcing the visa application process to the “China Visa Application Service Center” who are going to charge loads more money in “processing fees”.
Do you know any more about this? Can you still go to the consular office in China Resources Building?
Thank you for the update, we still don’t know about this but in our experience in other countries when they open a CVASC in one place, the only way to apply for the Chinese visa is through them.
Hi,
thank you for this very helpful informations you provide here.
I have detail question about the rush service for applying visa in hongkong, maybe you have experience with that.
On pretty short notice i have to go to
Guangdong Sheng, Foshan Shi, Nanh
in china.
I ave a legit invitation letter from a chinese company.
Now i am planning the trip and trying to keep at short as possible.
Going to Hong Kong, getting the Visa, taking a train to this company, taking the train back to Hong Kong and flying out.
The question:
should this be possible in 4 days?
does it make a difference at what time of the day i apply for the visa?
e.g. if i make it to the agency in the afternoon of one day, will it still be granted the next working day?
or should i plan in an extra day to be safe?
thank you very much,
best, Josh
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
If you apply for the visa in the afternoon, it may take an additional day. I suggest you contact the agency of your choice and ask for a detailed timeline before you fly to hong kong
Hi:
I’m a MBA Student in Boston (USA) and I got an Internship for a company in Hong Kong. The company will get me a “Training Visa”. In order for me to finish my MBA, my university has the option to rotate to a campus in Shanghai, where I will need to apply for a Student Visa and take hybrid courses (Most classes online). My doubt is if it is possible to have a Student Visa in Shanghai and at the same time a Training Visa in Hong Kong. Both my Internship and my studies will be in the same period: July to August.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Anthony,
I have no first hand experience on this, thus I can’t give you any certainty. However, my experience is that you can have visas for different countries at the same time. And, when it comes down to visa, Hong Kong does “behave” as a different country (even if politically speaking is a special region of Greater China)
Thanks a lot for your promptly reply!
Regards,
Antony.
Hi, im planning to go to China thru HongKong and don’t have a China VISA The agency CTS u mentioned is in the airport? do they help apply or they do the visas there? can you help. thanks
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
There is a visa office at Hong Kong airport. You could try there, although there is no guarantee that you will get the visa
Hi! My business visa M to China will expire in next month, and I’m from Russia. Can I visit HK to get new business visa for 60 days with total duration of stay 180 days if I have invitation letter from Shanghai company?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Andy, it’s possible, but we can’t certainly guarantee it!
I suggest you to contact the Chinese Consular Office in Hong Kong and / or one of the agencies we recommend in this article
Hello Furio, your article is exactly what I was looking for. Enriched by experience of many other people throughout the years. Very nice work that keeps the travelling, studying and working community in the tightening grip of Chinese visa requirements.
I would like to add my question, too. I am a Slovak passport holder. I have never overstayed my visa. Until September 2017 I held a valid work residence permit. I got extension from Exit-Entry Bureau to process my new work permit application, but it failed because of few mistakes in submitted documents. I dont work now and I could get a double entry tourist visa with each stay 30 days in HK. In a couple of days I am flying back home to Slovakia. I want to apply for a new visa there to return to China, seek new job and learn Chinese, preferably for up to 6 months. I am thinking of three options:
a) get double or multiple entry business visa for a total combined duration of stay 180 days
b) get X2 visa as attending a chinese course (yet I am not sure if they have enough time to process all documents since I want to submit my visa application in late December)
c) try to get single/double entry tourist visa for 30-60 days and then change it to X2 visa.
Questions:
A) With a proper invitation letter and other necessary documents, given my history of stays in China and that I would be applying in my home country, how big is the chance that I can get double/multiple entry business visa with total duration of stay 180 days? (opinion?)
C1) Given my history of stays in China, especially recent 2-entry tourist visa, how likely is it that I can get another single/double entry tourist visa? Can an invitation letter by my Chinese friend by a game changer in my case?
C2) If I get a tourist visa, can I change tourist visa to X2 visa in Shanghai (without necessity of going to HK)?
D) Which option do you think gives me biggest chances of staying in China for 6 months?
I would be grateful for any response :-)
Lukas
Hi Lukas,
If you don’t have time to apply for an X2 visa, I think it’s better to apply for a tourist visa and then try to change it to an X2 visa later on
Hi! Great article. Is the entry point in to mainland China restiriced to the Hong Kong crossing?
We are planning on making a quick stop in Hong Kong to get out China visas, then heading to Seoul. It would be easier for us to then enter through Beijing. Would this be possible? Or is entry only allowed via Hong Kong?
Thanks, Josh
@Sborto Zhou: the new mainland China smart ID for work permit for foreigners.
It’s really strange your situation as this ID should work as a resident permit with the advantage that you don’t have to renew it every year. I think your best option is to go to a Chinese medicine embassy or consulate and ask them what you have to do. Have no sense that you need to apply for a Z Visa or Tourist visa. Your smart ID should be enough.
Is it possible that your ID card has been revoked?
I am an American citizen married to chinese. I got the new Chinese work permit smart ID cards in October. I was under impression that, this ID is sufficient as work ID and residence visa. I had a flight form HK to Dubai and at the border I was told that I over stayed my residence visa by one week and If I leave China, I must pay a fine and apply from abroad for visa to enter again. I had a business trip, so I decided to go to my trip, and I had to pay a $1,000 RMB fine for over stay of one week. Now, I will go back in a week to HK with my already purchased flight. I do have the new work permit ID card, but no residence visa. Does anyone here, could tell me, what is the best way I should do? Do, I apply for Z-Visa, or do I apply for a 30 day tourist visa?
should i go directly to the consulate or use an agency?
Hi Kay, sorry but I’m not sure if you are talking about a mainland China smart ID or Hong Kong smart ID, because are completely different things.
Hi and thanks for this info, finding it useful.
I’m British, living in Guangzhou on 180 day F visa. Only been in Guangzhou for 3/4 weeks but I need to go to Hong Kong for a few days or so in 2 weeks.
Problem is I can’t get back into China for the remaining 4/5 months. My inviters won’t get me new documents so need a new solution.
Is it possible to get long term tourist visa to return to China? Or should I try something else?
Many thanks
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
if you have a single entry visa and leave China, your visa will expire. As simple as that.
You can try to get a new visa in Hong Kong, it’s possible you will get a tourist visa, but usually tourist visas are 30 or 60 days long.
If I get a company to invite me on an M visa for say 6 months, do you think Hong Kong would accept my application?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Yes, that will work in most of the case, just make sure to get an invitation letter that specifies that you will apply for the visa in Hong Kong (this seems to help, according to many of our readers)
To fly from Shanghai after 15 years with a Z visa to get an L visa to take care of business a few months longer, do I need to have a return flight to Canada to show them in HK? That is, fly from Shanghai to HK hopefully to get the L, and then fly back to Shanghai being good enough?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Usually you need a flight to exit China (it doesn’t matter if it’s for Canada) and hotel reservations for the whole duration or your stay (or a letter of invitation from a Chinese person or a non-Chinese with resident permit). Sometimes, if you use an agency, some of these requirements aren’t compulsory.
Forever Bright says I can get a 9 year, multiple entry visa, 60 days (Canadian) and I can just fly in from Shanghai and fly back the next day (for 2250HKD), no hotel voucher, no plane ticket to Canada to show, just the usual documents plus my old passport and some kind of paper sticker I get at the airport
Cheers
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Charles,
yes, it’s possible! We heard of many cases similar to yours. I wish you good luck with your visa!
Cheers
I am a Malaysian and have applied 2-entry tourist visa to China a few times before in my own country. The agent in my country told me multiple-entry is not possible for Malaysian applicants.
I am going to apply for it in Hong Kong this time and I don’t know if I should go for a multiple-entry visa.
And I might go for a one-day trip which means I will not have a hotel booking proof and I will be taking train from MTR station which means I will not have a return flight ticket proof too. I am afraid that they will refuse my application.
One last thing, if they approved my visa for that one-day trip, is it okay for me to stay for another day? Will they not know as long as I leave within 30 days?
You can ask this questions to the Hong Kong visa agency directly.
Hey guys
Does anyone know if all foreigners have to have their diplomas verified back home under the new legislation or just those who are new or are changing their employer?
I’m not 100% sure about that, maybe you can ask your employer to call the foreign expert office. I don’t think you need it to renew your resident permit but it’s better to be sure as this process may take a while. Anyway many embassies can validate your diplomas (depend on the specific rules of your country).
So, I got my visa this time through the FBA and it was great, they do everything, I just picked it up the next day and had 2 great HK days to myself. I should have done this years ago.
Bu now my question is, I have 30 days, 2 entry visa and -I entered China on the 24th August. Does that mean I have to go to HK before 24th of September and just re-enter China the same day? Or do I have to stay the night in HK?
How does this work?
The same day should be fine
Hey,
Im arriving at HK on Saturday, and have been advised to apply for the L visa through the above mentioned agency.
However, I have lived and worked in China for the past two years through Z visas, and im wondering if having this in my PP will only allow me 14 days L VISA.
Also, does anyone know if I need a return flight out of China if I go through the agency? Im soo confused, on their website I cant find anything. Im planning on visiting friends in China and need to know, so I can arrange my trip around it.
British pp holder
Cheers
Forgot to mention that I left China at the end of June
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Al,
I don’t think that a previous working visa shall be a problem, in order to get one travel visa.
You may need a flight out China, I’m not sure though as with the agency sometimes you don’t need it
Cheers, thanks for the reply!
Hi Furio,
I have an American Passport and am visiting HK, my question is I have to go to China for a business trip for 4 days, come back to HK and then FLY out, can I apply for a chinese Visa while I am in HK and how long will it take. I already have the business invitation from the chinese company and am due on visiting them.
Please advise, thanks.
You can ask directly to the agency we suggest in this article