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
Thanks for all the informative content in this thread! I have an urgent question “Invitation Letters”.
It seems that in most “Work Visa (Z)” success stories from recent months, the applicant is already equipped with all required documents when he/she arrives in Hong Kong. This includes an “Invitation letter” or “Confirmation of Invitation Letter”, which designates that the “Work Visa” should be applied for in Hong Kong.
In my current situation, however, the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office is saying that, in order to obtain the “Hong Kong designated Invitation Letter”, proof of Hong Kong residency is required (i.e. Hong Kong residency permit, work permit, or ID card [香港的居留证 、工作证、身份证]).
I have already called FTB about this issue, but it is out of their jurisdiction. Can anyone share their experiences regarding applying for a “Hong Kong designated Invitation Letter”? What alternative documents can I submit in order to obtain a “Hong Kong designated Invitation Letter”? Are there any other strategies to legally get around this?
I am a US citizen currently on an “Student Visa (X2)”, and the “Invitation Letter” is the last document I need before I am able to apply for a “Work Visa”, hopefully in Hong Kong.
Other helpful forums about getting China Visas in Hong Kong:
http://yourenotfromaroundhere.com/blog/applying-for-a-chinese-visa-%E2%80%93-hong-kong-china/
http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/41414-the-hong-kong-visa-topic/
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Christian,
in theory what you are trying to do, getting a Z visa in Hong Kong, isn’t possible as you shall get it in your country. In practice somebody is still getting it at the Immigration Office (see Yves comments on this thread)
Thanks very much FF for your reply. And also thanks vicariously for Yves’ experience.
It sounds like Yves got the “Hong Kong designated Invitation Letter” from a CN Gov’t office in Harbin. I called FTB again, and the customer service representative said (almost verbatim), “Usually foreigners who apply for an “Invitation Letter” from Beijing or Shanghai offices are allowed to apply for their “Work Visas” in Hong Kong. Very few from Shenzhen and Guangzhou [offices] are allowed to get a visa in Hong Kong.” (I highly recommend FTB for their honesty and promptness.)
Forum readers might be misunderstanding my previous question, so let me clarify:
I do not have Hong Kong residency (or anything related to HK at all). What can I do to get an “Invitation Letter” that allows me to apply for my “Work Visa” in Hong Kong? I will get the “Invitation Letter” from an office in Shenzhen.
My current (Stupid) checklist:
1) Bring all necessary documents.
2) Bring a proof of Shenzhen residency. SZ is right next door to HK, so maybe to Shenzhen foreign affairs officer will have pity on me.
3) Wear nice clothes. Nothing looks more professional than a nice tie, black/navy jacket, and leather shoes.
Hi, I’m a little confused about the address of the Immigration office. At the beginning of the article it says that option A is for HK residents and B is for applying with an agency. So where do I have to go if I will cone alone, no agency and I not a HK resident and I am coming from mainland China (now I have a business visa and I’m applying for work visa)?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Vesna, as far as I know you need to go to an agency; FBT is good.
Hi, thank you for replying. I’m still confused, for example I read the French guys comment, he is the one that got the visa and didn’t he go there by himself? What am I missing here?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Vesna, I don’t understand on what you are confused. Where you shall go? You shall go to an agency as FBT because at the moment you can go to the consular office only if you are HK resident.
Hi Furio,
This is a very informative and helpful article on visas. I am a citizen of the US and will be going to China on an 90 day S2 visa with multiple entries. The company that has hired me wants me to come and get the documents for the working Z visa and then go to apply in Hong Kong. Is this possible to do considering my situation? Thanks for the article and your time.
Jake
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Jake,
getting a Z VISA in Hong Kong isn’t easy as the standard procedure is to get it on your country. However some people reported that they will able to get it (see Yves comments from 27 June on this page, for instead).
I agree with author, foreverbright is good, I returned to china on an L, after previously having residence permit for mainland. two options, go to embassy and line up in hot sun, building facing east. or spend money, my case 1600HKD, drop off documents, photo. make sure you have all. in my case, I had visa the next day. it is worth it to pay for express, saving hotel cost. stay cheap in TST, about 15 min walk to foreverbright. spend your day at science museum, only 25HKD and well worth it. on return to border, go to koowloon station, Elements, 99HKD for bus to SZN airport
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Kevin, thank you for sharing your experience!
hello. i just arrived in hong kong with work visa for 3 months. can i apply for tourist visa for china for 3 months and when is the perfect time to apply? now? or when my 3 months is almost over here? Thank you
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Marco, I’d apply around 40 days before I plan to enter China.
My daughter will be leaving on Friday to study in Hongkong. She was denied a visa to China because she did not have her ticket and hotel. She has a single entry visa to Hongkong, but intends to visit other countries while she is there. Can she get a visa to China in Hongkong and can she leave Hongkong and be back after visiting other countries while she is a student until December.
She can get a Chinese VISA while in HK. Because he have a single entry student VISA in HK, if she leaves the autonomous region she’ll lose the VISA and will need to get a new one
She can get a Chinese VISA while in HK. Because she have a single entry student VISA in HK, if she leaves the autonomous region she’ll lose the VISA and will need to get a new one
Hi,
I asked a question here recently and I have another one :)
I have a tourist double entry visa for China..I got it in Ireland and it was due to expire on the 4th August so I went to the entry/exit agency in Suzhou and asked to get it extended for 30 days…they agreed ( I am still waiting on my passport to be returned though)…So as I haven’t actually left China and have only entered once, can I leave the country and return as I have a double entry visa or did this visa become null and void when I applied for the extension??
Also do you really need a bachelor’s degree to get a working visa in China??
Many thanks,
Jessica
As you apply for an extension, the old VISA become invalid, you can only have one active ´VISA
Thank you!!
Do you have a source for the claim that the old visa becomes invalid?
The reason I ask is because I read that these guys: http://www.visainchina.com/lvisa.htm offer a visa extension service, and they write that “From 1st July 2013, when we extend your visa stay here, your former visa will NOT be canceled, so it means if you still have entries remaining in your former visa, you can still use it next time.”
So it certainly seems _possible_ to get a visa extension without invalidating the previous visa.
I also just got an extension on my first entry here in Chongqing, and they didn’t make any stamp or mark on my existing double entry visa to make it clear that it’s invalid. Would you know how to confirm whether I can still use my original double entry visa to enter China one more time?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Samuel,
actually getting a new VISA will invalidate your old VISA; however I never heard of an extension invalidating the old VISA.
However, I don’t have first hand experience with your case so I can’t ensure you that your double entry is still valid after the extension.
hey everyone,
I am German holing a X2 student visa (less then 180 days) at the moment. It will expire end of August. I will do an internship in Shenzhen for three month from September to November and want to apply for a new visa in HK. Seems like a 3 moth visa does not exist anymore. So the agency told me I can apply for a double entry M visa (each stay max. 30 days). But then I have another month for which I will need a new visa.
Can a M visa bis extended in China?
Ican not apply for a one year visa because my passport expires in May 2015.
Or does it make more sense to try a tourist visa which I can extend twice for 30 days each time?
Any suggestions what I can do?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, are you sure you cant get a 3 month VISA with a letter of invitation from the company where you do the internship? It looks weird to.
I contected the agency you mentioned above and they said that there are no 3 month visas anymore since last summer.
I was surprised as well.
Maybe I should check with another agency or just try to apply for the visa myself?
You think it could be possible to get the three month visa?
What sgould I do?
Hi Lea, you can check in an other agency but many people agree that if this agency can’t, other agencies can’t. As far as I know, at the present moment the only three month VISAs (except working and student VISA) are the one year multientry business VISA with a maximum stay 90 days each time.
Okay, thanks for the advice!
Hey
I have a technical question, at the beginning of the article you wrote that “In general, if during last twelve months you already got one or two Chinese VISA in Hong Kong it’s going to be hard to get more than a 14 days tourist or business VISA.”
Now I have a L visa for 30 days which I got it from Hong Kong and it was issued at 9th of July and I would like to make another one due to the fact that will expire soon. Can I do it or not once again in Hong Kong. Or can you please tell me if I can extend it in China?
Thank you and I’m waiting with interest your response!
Hi Paul, is quite posible that you’ll have problems to get a new L 30 days VISA in HK, an other option is to extend the VISA in China, for that you need to make a 3000 USD (o EUR) deposit to a Chinese bank, get your police registration paper and then go to the PSB to apply for the VISA.
That sounds very interesting. Do you know if it’s a feasible option too in case of a residence permit that is about to expire?
I’m an American. I came to China in November with a 180 day F visa to do an exchange program for a gap year before university with intensions of leaving in May when the visa expired. I really enjoyed my experience, so I decided to do another exchange program with another organization that renewed my F visa for 90 days. My flight back to the United States is booked for the first week of September, but my visa expires in two weeks. I need about a month more and thought I could extend my F visa again, but wasn’t allowed to apply when I went to the visa office in Beijing today. Any clue of my chances of getting a 30 day L visa if I go to Hong Kong? I keep hearing that it’s difficult if I’ve been in China for awhile already. I have proof of my fight out Beijing to the United States and have no intensions of trying to stay any longer… I just need to be able to get back into China for the month in order to use my flight since I can’t reasonably get it changed to leave sooner on such short notice. Is there anything that could help for success?
Hi Lola, if you don’t have any VISA expedited in HK it shouldn’t be a problem to get a 30 days turist VISA, but you have to go through an agency.
If an agency says that I would get the result the next day, then would it have been expedited?
They keep telling me that it’s risky since I was here as long as my F visa was valid… is there anything that might help? Submitting proof of my flight? An invitation letter from the Chinese friend I’d be staying with? An itinerary of my sightseeing plans? The agency says they don’t need/want the documents, but they’d be required if I applied on my own so I’m confused. Just want to optimize the chances of success.
Also, they mentioned I can apply for a single or double entry visa… I only need the single if I wait a few days before returning, but if I return right away I’d need more than 30 days by a few. Is it better to apply for one over the other? Would applying for a double increase the chance of being given the single if they just downgrade what I’m asking for?
haha, sorry for so many questions! Just a paranoid teenager that doesn’t want to get stranded in Asia somewhere. >.< Thank you for your reply!
Hi Lola, the next day I don’t think you will have the VISA but probably the agency will know whether you can get the 30 days VISA or not, you don’t need to bring documents as I think they will use their own documents. Talk to the agency to know exactly what you need. I don’t know if you contact the agency we recommend in the post or not, if not, contact them as in my experience they are one of the most resourceful and trustful agencies. About the one or two entries, I would say to go for the one entry as it’s supposed to be more easy to get.
I don’t think you have to worry so much, but good luck and please tell us the result.
S.
Rejected…
any suggestions? I had used Forever Bright, and they only said I could get a year business visa for $7000… Which I totally don’t need and is out of my budget since I might as well get a new flight then…
would trying another visa agency maybe have different luck? What about applying on my own?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, sorry to hear that. I don’t think it will make a big difference. But if it’s important for you to get back to china you could try another agency
Hi,
I am in China on a double entry L Visa…my first 30 days are nearly up so I need to leave China next weekend…Is it ok to go to Hong Kong? I was on another website and it said I would need to go to another country..
Many thanks,
Jesse
Jesse, HK and Macau both are fine, don’t worry
Thank you :)
Hi there,
Just out of curiosity, how long you need to stay ‘outside’ the country before returning to China? thanks!
You just need to cross the border, no need to stay in Hong Kong
Ciao Furio, i’m Roberto from Rome (Italy), thank you for sharing such helpful informations!
Do you have any update about the chinese tourist visa?
Is it still possible to get it in Hong Kong for italian passport holders? I’ll be there in november and i need to travel overland to China so i don’t want to book A/R flight or hotels reservations!
Thank you!
Roberto
Ciao Roberto, you can go through the Italian version of that article (you’ll get info more specific to Italians), about the tourist visa in HK is still possible to get it in HK through an agency. The A/R to HK is valid to get the VISA, and about the hotels probably the agency can help you with that.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Ciao Roberto, sì, dovrebbe essere ancora tutto valido. Se vai sulla pagina italiana (www.saporedicina.com) trovi info un po’ più specifiche sull’Italia (ma niente di trascendentale)
Hi Alessandro ,
If your official invitation letter indicate that you have to do your visa in Hong Kong it will be ok.
Don’t forget to be insured for your stay in China.
Good Luck, Yves
Hi! I’m Alessandro from Italy. I need your help :)
I’m a student and now I’m in Hangzhou till 11 August. I have Visa F for 3 months (24 june/24 September) but i have to stay in China till december to study in a university, so i think i need a Visa X2. I couldn’t obtain an unique visa in Italy because from 30 june to 11 august i partecipate on a cultural exchange, then i have some days off to visit and on 20 august i have to go to the university.
I have the official invitation letter from the chinese university (from 20 august to 10 january), do you know if i can surely obtain it in Hong Kong? Otherwise i have to fly back to Italy for few days to get the Visa and come back to china again!
thank you very much!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Ciao Alessandro,
non puoi essere sicuro visto che la legge dice che dovresti richiederlo in Italia. Pero Yves ha appena fatto qualcosa di simile (leggi i commenti in alto per sapere come ha fatto).
Hi, i noticed while scanning the comments that you very often refer to the agency. So, my question is after submitting all the documents to the agency is it required to show up in the visa consulate or it is them who do all the job for you? Thank you!
Hi Dmitry, you don’t have to show up in the visa office, the agency will do everthing for you
Hi to all, here is my fresh experience.
So I went to HongKong to do a visa Z, previously i had a M visa Business and trade, double entry max 30 days per entry.
I was at the immigration office at 9 am last Monday, many people outside, about 150 , but I was inside the building after almost 25 minutes.
this are the document that was needed for a Z visa:”
Nationality:
French
Visa applied for:
Applied for Z, work visa.
Consulate or Agency:
Consulate
Documents required:
– Passport
– Two photos
– “Alien Employment License of the People´s Republic of China”.
– “Invitation Letter from Duly Authorized Unit”. The invitation letter mentioned specifically Hong Kong.
– The arrival slip that you receive when entering Hong Kong (they don’t stamp passport anymore)
–> Copy of all the above
– round trip ticket (expl Shenyang- HK, HK-SHenyang)
– insurance certificate, I’ve got mine thanks to my Visa card. Covered from three months starting from the day I applied for my visa. Make sure you are insured for CHINA.
Cost / Service:
200HKD on Thursday. No express or rush service available.
Reason for application:
Employment
So it was quiet easy for me, do not forget the insurance, mine was the Europe-assistance of my Visa premier. covering the travel in China.
French citizen and a lot of European passport holder have to wait 4 working days for the visa.
So believe my experience the Visa was very easy to get, more than an Hotel room in HongKong…
I spend a lot of money during this visa trip…
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Yves,
thanks for the update and congratulation for your VISA : )
Hi there, Is it possible to change from a business visa (that i will enter on) and change within Hong Kong to a student visa? X1 more than 180 days. I have been accepted into a university and they are sending me the jw202 form and invitation letter admission letter etc.
Do you know if this is an option, if so any idea about the process time and cost?
im a British passport holder also
Thanks in advance
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
I suggest you to read the previous comments by Yves: he has a quite similar situation and claims that it’s possible IF the invitation letter specify that you can apply for the VISA in Hong Kong.
Personally I can only tell you that, unless you apply in UK, they will decide case by case and you risk to be rejected.
Hi Furio,
Well after talking to a French Friend living in Shanghai, The thing important is that on the Invitation letter issued By the local immigration office indicate that the visa will be done in Hong kong, and apparently there will be no problem, so I hope hehe….
I need to ask you to things:
1. I will arrive in Hong Kong around 3pm (from Shenzhen) Can I apply for the visa at 3pm to 4pm?
2. I would like to find an Hotel not too far form the visa office but also near some happy place ;) Do you have an address that I can book from here?
Thanks for your help,
Regard, Yves.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Yves,
ok, interesting for the VISA; I didn’t know this about the invitation letter. About the time for applying, it should be possible but I’d ask to the agency.
About the hotel, Hong Kong is expensive so it depends on how much you want to spend. If you’re on a budget read here: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/best-cheap-hostels-in-hong-kong/
If you don’t mind to spend some money, the best place would be around Central station
Hi to all and thanks for the precious info.
I am French Citizen living in Vietnam.
Actually i am in China with a M visa.
I will go to HK Friday to do a Z visa. ( i have all documents needed)
My question is can i do my Z visa in HK ? or do I need to do it in my residence country Vietnam.
I see also that I can use an agency to do that.
Thanks for quick reply, I am on the rush…
Best regard to all,
Yves.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Salut Yves,
since you hold a French passport you shall do it in France. There are people that were able to do it in Hong Kong but, for what I understood, there is no a general rule and the officers decide case by case.
Good Luck!
Hi Furio Thanks for ur reply, yes seems to be really case by case in HK…
Anyway the immigration department here in Harbin, have done the invitation letter for the Visa office in Hong Kong, so i believe that they are not stupid, if it is impossible to do it in HK, they should not accept to do the official invitation letter with to HK.
I contact they agencies that u mentioned at the start of your treat and they say to me that there will be no problems, so Friday i will try to go alone there, and if any problem , i will use the agency.
Thanks, Regard, Yves.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Yves,
as I said it shall still be possible in some case; obviously in France it would be easier. Let us know if you get the VISA!
Good Luck,
Furio
Hi there!
I was wondering if your expertise on current VISA regulations could help my friend and I out…
The situation is this:
2 friends of mine, one with Belgian passport and 1 with Dutch passport are coming with me (French passport but living in HK) to China for less than a month (Shanghai, Beijing).
Their flights are:
Start of month: Amsterdam – Hong Kong
End of month: Beijing – Amsterdam
I usually use an agency in HK that provides me with single entry visa within 5 business days for 500 HKD. I just give passport and photo.
But for them, I am wondering whether they should apply in their respective countries, get the VISA done with all flights info/accomodation/letter of invitation (by the hostels? Can they write it for them?)
Or can they come to HK, do their visa through the agency I use and go in China single entry and leave the country directly back to Amsterdam?
Thanks.
ILJ
They can get the visa by themselves in their home country (also in HK through the agency), they only need to show the flight reservation (the ones you tell me are fine) and the reservation of a hotel covering the 20% of their stay in China, they don’t need invitation letter.