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
British Passport/HKID with no stars for Chinese VISA
Hello all,
First post. I have a British Passport and a HKID card with no stars and wish to get a visa to China. I’ve always done my visa application to China direct here in the U.K. but as I will be travelling to Hong Kong first, I want to know how will they process my visa application if I do it in H.K.
My flights have been booked so London to H.K., H.K. to Beijing in between, Beijing to H.K. and then finally H.K. to London. But when I come back from Beijing to H.K., I wish to book a flight to Xiamen so I don’t know whether I should book now or book when I get to H.K.
I have done my visa in H.K. before with my parents but this was long ago so I do not know what has changed.
I know I am not entitled for a home return pass as I have no H.K. passport (my brother has one grr!!) and I am not entitled for the 72 hour free transit (although I am only staying for 3 days but I will be returning back to H.K. so this not apply).
So how will this work and how much will cost and how long does it take? I believe they won’t take my HKID into consideration.
The prices for China visas in the U.K. are around £119.00 for a double entry which takes about a week (I don’t fly until end of July) .
Many help appreciated, thanks.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi there, shall be cheaper. Please read the article and then, if you have any doubt, ask a specific question cause “How to get a VISA in HK” is too general. What you can also do is to write an email to FBT agency (link on the article)
Question:
I am a Singaporean, on a tourist visa for 1 month. I would like to stay in China for another 2 months. I am contemplating whether to extend my visa in China (which I would probably given 30days), or to go to Hong Kong and look for an agency to help me get a double entry L or M visa. I have no bad visa records with China and it is my first time in China.
Any thoughts or experiences on this?
Thanks in advance
At the present moment the M visa in Hong Kong it’s difficult to get, it takes quite a long time and is quite expensive (for example, 1 month and 8.000 Yuan for a 1 year visa multientry), about the L VISA double entry I’m not sure how difficult it is but you can ask the FB agency.
I went to chinese-forums.com and I found some information indicating that it’s possible to get a Z visa without going through and agency. Here’s one example: http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/41414-the-hong-kong-visa-topic/?p=323167
Yes it’s possible, in China everything is possible if you have good contacts, but your invitation letter have to specify that you have to do it in Hong Kong and this isn’t easy to get.
Question: Can I apply for another visa if I already have an effective visa?
I am holding an old L visa which was issued Jan 2013. It will expire on Jan 2015. I will enter China this July, and I want to stay for longer than what I am able to with this L visa. Am I allowed to apply for S or Q visa now? I am in my current country.
Yes you can apply.
As you have a long term L visa, I guess you have Chinese Family or Family with permanent resident permit, so in this case you are allowed to apply for the Q visa and then you’ll have to change it to resident permit.
Hi Furio,
i’m Maxime Amercian citizen . i have been studying now in Zhuhai mainland China for the past three weeks my student program ends last week of August 2014 .I have a student visa with one entry .
My question is : before i leave china 10 of september (plane ticket allready booked) i would like to visit Hong Kong and Macao . my only problem i have a one entry visa to China .
What is the best option for me, to be able to visit MC an HK before coming back to Zhuhai to take my plane back to the us .
thank’s for your time
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi there,
You don’t need VISA for HK or Macau. I would go to Macau, then take the ferry to HK, where I would also apply for a tourist China VISA.
Of course you can’t be sure to get the new Chinese VISA but, since you had a student VISA before, the risk your VISA application will be deny is very low (bring copy of your flight back to US when you apply and explain you only need to go to China to take your flight)
Hi there,
I’m Divine,I’m from Philippines and weeks staying in Shenzhen China now living with my husband his an American holding Permanent resident Permit,but i only have single entry(S2)issued from Philippines and i can’t able to get Permanent Resident Permit if I don’t have S1 Visa or Tourist Visa…But i can just extend 30 more days only…Where i can possibly apply for an S1 or tourist Visa???????please need your advise.
Thank you
If your husband have a Permanent resident permit you should apply for a Q visa not and S visa (for temporal resident permits). The place you should apply is your country or the country you are legally resident. For the tourist visa (and maybe the Q visa) you can apply in Hong Kong. Tourist to Resident permit can be a bit difficult, and most of the cases not possible.
Hello. I have just gone to HK as my 90 day M visa was expiring.
When I submitted my application for a 30 day L visa to the agency (Forever Bright) they said many such applications are being rejected, or only 14 days L visa granted. This would happened when you exhaust your time allowance and reapply for entry immediately.
I was eventually given a 14 day L visa and when I asked Forever Bright whether I could extend through PSB in China such a short visa they said “it is very bad if you do. They gave you 14 days because by the look of things I may well be working in China illegally”, and they advised me not to reapply.
This does seems a little implausible to me though, or I may have misunderstood, and I wonder whether you would confirm this.
Just as importantly, would I be able to extend through PBS a 14 day L visa for 30 more days or can the extension never exceed the visa length?
Many thanks in advance.
Riccardo
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, this looks quite normal to me.
No matter what you do in China, your VISA profile looks like the VISA profile of somebody working in China with M or L VISA. This is illegal and they’re cracking down on people that stay in China for longtime with L/M VISA.
If you want to live in China, the only solution I see is to get a real job (and thus a Z VISA) or become a student and get a X VISA.
Hi,
I am from Portugal and I’m spending some time in China with my girlfriend that has an X visa. I have a L visa of 2 entries of 70 days which will be finished soon. I extended the first entry for 20 days more. So in total, between october 2013 and now, I spent 90+70=160 days in China, with a break of about 3 months in-between, traveling in south east asia.
Do you think that I can have a 2 entry visa again? Just want 30 days each. Can anyone send me an example of an invitation letter?
If I apply on a tuesday morning, for example, is it possible to have the visa the next morning, wednesday?
Thank you very much
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
yesterday an Italian guy got his VISA within 24 hours. However it depends on your nationality. Also, nobody knows whether you’ll get a new VISA or not cause you already spent a lot of time in China with and they are cracking down on people that want to live in China without the proper VISA for longterm stay (X or Z).
I just wanted to say that you can get your visa application done at the consular office mentioned above if you are not a resident of Hong Kong. I went to the consular office last week and got a 30 day single entry M visa without a hassle. I also met many people who got their visas there.
The official website states that you cannot apply for a visa if you are not a resident of Hong Kong but this MAY not be true depending on your circumstances. I had a legal invitation letter mentioning Hong Kong.
However applying yourself is a hassle and it is stressful so a visa agency can be a good thing!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, thank you for your feedback! Generally speaking it’s not possible (although there may be exceptions). Also, it’s more difficult and it doesn’t seem to be much cheaper.
So I would go to an agency myself
Hi everybody,
Does anyone knows the required time out of China before re-entry on valid L type double-entry visa?
I have to stay out of China for a minimum hours or I can exit and re-entry the same day?
Thank you all
Giulia
You can just cross the border the same day.
Hello,
I plan on going to China this summer to visit my boyfriend, but because his job schedule is unpredictable it will be a short notice trip. Would it be easier to fly to HK and apply for the L visa there? Or should I just take my chances and apply ahead of time? About 2wks out from flying.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
once it has been issued, the VISA is valid for 3 months. So if you know that you’ll be there from June to August you can safely apply on middle March
Hey,
I noticed you said it’s impossible to apply for Z visa in Hong Kong. Is it possible to apply for a Student X1 visa? I will have JW202 visa form, acceptance/enrollment letter, etc.
Thanks,
Jordan
Hi Jordan, first of all in China nothing is impossible especially with visas, answering your question, student visa should no be a problem, but I’m not 100% sure, it’s better if you contact the agency we mention in the article, they’ll tell you for sure, if you can or not.
I have personally met a British guy who just got a Z visa in Hong Kong. You can do it (if you have all the required papers and qualifications)! I don’t know why people say you can’t get visas in Hong Kong. There is so much misinformation out there.
If you don’ t fall in one of the following groups it should work :
unfriendly or suspicious looking, do not have the needed papers, do not have the needed qualifications, do not come from a favorable country, too many visas to China/ overstayed in China.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
The Chinese law states that you must apply on your homecountry. Thus, if you have a British passport in theory you can get a Z VISA only in UK. Then there are exceptions, but since last year they are fewer and fewer.
Yes, you need all the right documents. Without all the docs there is no way that you get a Z VISA.
hi,
me & my wife is working in China on Z visa. my wife is from Philippines & I’m Indian. We want to apply S1 Visa for my wife in Hong Kong. Her residence permit will expire on June 18. So, can we apply Visa for my wife in HK? Because, I heard China & Philippines relation is not good. If yes, then should I go to agent or consulate? please help me . thank u!
You should go through an agency, I suggest you to contact the agency we metion in the article to be sure if it’s posible
Hello,
I visited China last month as a tourist and would like to visit again in May. I had single entry L-type visa for 30 days stay. Can I get double entry visa with 6 months validity or atleast single entry visa for 30 days stay if applying in HK ? I need to spend atleast 15 days in Shanghai. I have an Indian PP and will be in HK as a tourist. Do I need to show air tickets and accomm bookings ?
thanx.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi there, we can’t forecast the result but I think you shall be ok
Ive been in China for 90 days on tourist visa, (I had 60 days and one 30 days extension). I dont work here, my wife is a student here (she is not chinese), I need to go to HK for a new visa. I have all documentation that my wife is a student here and has everything in order. Will it be hard to obtain a visa? I mean I have not been THAT long in China and my wife live here, so I have a reason to come back.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, nobody can answer to this question. You have to apply and see what’s up. Good luck!
Hi JorgeP,
Can you please share with your experience? I have almost the same condition, except my wife has Z visa. What type of visa did you apply for? What documets did they require for you to obtain the visa? How long did it take to get one? Thank you!
Hello, I was born in Hong Kong but I am a British citizen with a UK passport. However I have lost my Hong Kong ID card. Do you know whether I will be able to obtain a Chinese Tourist Visa at Forever Bright without my ID card?
I really appreciate your help in this pressing time! Thank you.
Hi Jennifer, Yes you will. You don’t need to live in HK to get a Chinese Toursit Visa at Forever Bright.
Hi and thanks for this nice website.
I am Belgian and currently working in Canada. In December I will be going back to Belgium for the holidays and afterwards I will be going to China probably with a double entry visa. I am looking for the best option to spend as much time in China as possible. I wanted a travel visa for one year but apparently that doesn`t exist. Now my question is when that double entry visa expires could I get another double entry visa in Hong kong? Or what is the best option to spend as long as possible in China?
Thanks for yout time.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Going to Hong Kong is the best option. Of course you aren’t sure to get a new VISA. Nowadays nobody is.
Hi!
Nice website, lots of interesting info.
I’ve got 3 questions regarding my situation.
I’m on a toruist visa now in China, school has all documents for me for a Z Visa run to HK. But it’s not possible if you aren’t a HK resident ? Or… ?
I’m a Belgian (EU citizen), is there any problem for rush service ?
Lastly, I plan to go beginning of May, around Labor day. In China, there will be a 3 day public holiday. But will the visa center also follow this regulation, or do they only have the 1 day public holiday (HK rule). I tried to contact the visa center, but failed many times…
Thanks for your help.
Hi,
Z VISA run? Looks super dodgy in 2014… you may succeed, but don’t be surprised if you need to go back to Belgium for getting it. About the holidays, I have no idea. You shall check the website,they usually notify holidays there
The school is pretty sure about it…. Strange…. Well, I hope it will work :)
Thanks!
Koen, I use to be in the teaching field. A few things you reminded me about:
1) To work in the education industry in China you need a “Foreign Expert Certificate” which the school I worked for (New Oriental, NYSE: EDU) said I had to go back to my home country (USA) to apply. This is especially the case if is the first time in your life to apply for a foreign expert certificate. I’m not sure about subsequent foreign expert certificate renewals.
2) There are plenty of schools in China that aren’t really schools per se. Some may not be a registered business in the first place while some might be registered, but not have the required “Work Permit for Foreign Experts” that every school must have before you can legally get your foreign expert certificate which will then be registered with your school.
Source: http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8e2df305-3079-4554-bcb2-3f500eccc812
3) If you really want to test the school’s credibility, ask them to show you their Work Permit for Foreign Experts license.
4) Be smart and do your due diligence on the school. Ask other foreign teachers at that same branch of that same school how legit it is. For example: Do they pay on time? Do they pay how much was promised? Do you really work the hours promised or is it more because of extra stuff they ask you to do on the side? Most bad experiences are the result of a lack of understanding between school and teacher while other times the school really is trying to pull one over on you and take advantage of your ignorance regarding how things work in their home country.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
John, thanks for the great comment. And I totally agree with you.
Hi Furio,
I’m a British citizen currently on a student visa in China. I graduate this June and would like to continue to stay in China. What’s the situation for British getting a tourist visa in HK?
Thanks
Hi Peter,
I’m quite sure the situation doesn’t change much since the last update of this post, you can get one moth tourist visa in HK only through an agency (English citizens aren’t an exception). Anyway, you can contact the agency forever bright (contact details in the post), they’ll know for sure if something have changed.
yup, you shouldn’t have problems with your first tourist VISA. Two in a row may be tricky.
So maximum is 30 days? that’s super short. Are there no other options to attain one which can last longer?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Send an inquiry to FBT, they will tell you what VISA they can get to you, according to your nationality. You find the link of their website on the article
When you apply for a visa through a travel agency, do you still need to leave China if your visa hasn’t expired yet?
Also, how can I guarantee that I will get a 12 month M business visa? Are 12 month M business visas only issued if you apply from your home country? If I do apply from my home country, do I need to include a round trip plane ticket receipt in my application?
If I quit my job but the work visa isn’t cancelled or transferred to a different company, can I be fined for just living in China? Everyone I’ve asked has said the work visa is technically void after 30 days anyway so what really allows you to live in China is the residence permit which should be independent from any job you get anyway. My assumption is as long as I’m not working any other job I am still “permitted to reside” in China until the permit expires. Is this correct?
Does having that previous work visa hurt or improve my chances of getting a new M business visa?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
The resident permit is associated to the firm that hires you. If the firm tells the authorities you left your job, the resident permit is not valid anymore, technically speaking. Having said that, I don’t know if they really enforce this rule. As for M visa, you can’t be sure to get it, you need to apply and see what you get.
Okay, thanks! It seems like the best way to go to maximize the probability of success would be applying in my home country. I have a Canadian friend with a new M business visa that applied in Canada and got a 12 month M visa.