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
1. I would be on 1 month business visa to China (HangZhou), is it possible to extend it in China with proper documentation from company I would be visiting? If yes, how much would it cost to me and how long would it take.
2. Is it possible to convert to Z visa from F visa in Hongkong, if yes, how?
Thanks in advance.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
1. I think so, but you need an agency. It’s often faster and easier to head to Hong Kong and get a new VISA!
2. I don’t think so… and what’s the advantage of doing so? Again, it’s much easier to get directly a Z VISA without any “conversion” on the middle
Cheers
F
Hey. Thanks for all the information! Great website.
I am from Scandinavia, and currently studying in Indonesia. Planning to go backpacking in asia (thailand) soon. It would be great to travle into china as well.
I can’t apply for visa in my homecountry since im not there.
Do you think it will be easy to get a 14/30 day tourist visa if i travle to Hong Kong?
Should i book hostels and order train tickets out of China befor applying for VISA?
I do not have an invitation letter, but i will meet a friend from Scandinavia in Hong Kong.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, you shall have no problems getting a tourist VISA in Hong Kong. If you go with an agency like FBT usually you dont even need to book hotels in advance
Hi, great website.
Quick question.
UK Citizen, residing in HK (have (HKID)
Want to visit China for about 7-10 days…single entry,
Problem my work means I can’t attend consular office in it’s working hours.
Can I send a representative (HK citizen) to submit the forms and then collect visa for me?
Thanks in advance.
Being resident in HK you can go to the consular office
I understand that.
My issue is I can’t attend the consular office during its opening hours due to work commitments.
Was wondering if it’s possible to send a representative to submit forms and subsequently collect visa.
P.S. I’m from Scotland UK
hi man, im going to hong kong for a tourist visa.
i don’t have any previous Lvisa on my passport but i just need a 30 days visa ,should be easy enough right?anything i should provide to the agency?maybe ill go to C.I.T.S
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Gaz,
yes, as long as you have a passport with at least 6 month of validity, a return fligh and an hotel booking for at least 30% of your stay, you shall be OK
I have a China 12 month Multi Entry Visa which I obtained thru the China Consulate Office in Wash, DC in 4 days from the West Coast of USA using Overnite mail in USA. I found Ferryboat going direct from Hong Kong International Airport to Shekou Port takes 30 minutes and has fast Customs check-thru. There is a Metro Station just out the front door and Metro also goes to Shenzhen airport as well as all over city and is fastest and least expensive way across town. Change machines in Metro Terminals.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Thank you for your contribution Phillip!
thanks for this information! I am in china on a working visa and would like to change it to a student visa. Do you think these companies can do this for me? Would I have to quit my job first before I go to Hong Kong to change my visa?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Your situation is unique. Ask to the agency!
Hello, I am not sure if this has been answered before, but I am guessing not because my situation is a little different. I am Italian/Brazilian but I am In Spain right now and intend to go to China to study for a month at the end of february.I dont have any intention to go back to either Brazil or Italy between now and february, as i am traveling around. I already saw that I wont be able to get my visa here in Spain, so I dont know what I should do now. Do you know if I can also get a X2 (Student) visa in hong kong? Or is it just tourist visas? Since I am going to be there only for 30 days, does it really matter if I have a student or tourist visa, since they both cover the number of days that I am going to stay?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Yes, both woul work. However if your school can send you an invitation letter for applying for a X2 VISA in Hong Kong, it’s better. Remember to tell them to specify that you want to get the VISA in Hong Kong. They must write it on the invitation letter.
Dear Mr. Fu,
I am currently doing some research about the Chinese visas for a school project that i’m doing. I understand that when you say 60 day two entry visa, you mean the visa holder can enter china twice but has to exit China every 60 days. But what about a 180 days multi entry visa? Does that mean people can stay in China for up to 180 days without having to leave and can enter as many times as they want to as long as it is still before the “enter before” date? Does this type of visa still exist because i thought most people had to exit every 30 or 60 days.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Sam,
it depends: usually 180 multi entry means that you can stay 180 days without leaving; however you can leave and come back as many time as you want. The VISA will expire after 180 days (from the first entry).
The “new” VISA released in Hong Kong are a bit different: with them you are forced to leave every X days and then entry again.
Thank you so much for replying. i am a bit confused because looking at the comments above, some people seem to in corroboration with what you are saying, while others like Fred said that he had a 6 month multiple entry visa but still have to leave every 30 days. so it seems that people sometimes people are in fact talking about the “enter before” time period, and sometimes they are talking about the time allowed to stay. so what is this new visa? do you mean that despite that the visa says you can stay for 180 days, you still have to leave every 30 days? it seems then that the 180 days is meaningless.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
There are two kind of VISAs, this is why it looks confusing: they are talking about different VISAs.
Yup, every month you take a train to Hong Kong, you go out five minutes and you come into China. It’s a pain in the ass, but not meaningless if you need to stay in China and this is the only VISA you can get!
Hello!
This blog seems the only useful one i´ve found so far…. thank you!
I´m heading tomorrow to HK because my Chinese visa is expiring, and I would like it renewed but I don´t know how much are the chances…
My situation is as follows:
I´ve been living in China for the past 8 years without a break, always on one year student or working visa (all legal, my record is BSFU, Fudan, Spanish Embassy in Beijing, China.org, and Tsignhua University), until July 2014. Then I went back home and I came back on a 30 days L visa in September. Then I extended for 30 more days, and now I need to leave the country.
I´m waiting for the papers from a company to make my working visa, but they are taking way too long, so I need to survive on this by now. I´m Spanish national, officially registered in the Spanish embassy in Beijing since January 2007.
What are the chances to get a new visa, and which type, now in HK? Would it be easier in other countries like Thailand, for example? Any difference “before or after APEC” application to get any chances?
Thank you very much!
Best
Hola Nuria,
Thank you for the comment, if you want you can go to spanish version of the web http://saporedicina.com/es/
About the VISA, I think you won’t have any problem to get a tourist VISA (30 days), but it’ll take around 4-5 days because you are Spanish (you are not allowed to do an express VISA).
If you need more time you can also get a one year business VISA multiple entries (each one 3 months) without leaving China through the FB agency.
About other places I think would be difficult to get a VISA if you are not resident in that country.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hola Nuria,
in Hong Kong you’ll probably get a 15 days VISA. If you’re lucky, you may get a 30 days VISA. The problem is that you already had a L VISA this year so they will assume that you’re working as a teacher (or whatever else) without a working VISA (and in fact this is true, for what I understand).
The fact that you had a resident permit before, in my experience, doesn’t really matter.
I don’t think that apply for the VISA in Thailand or any other Asian country is better than apply in Hong Kong.
FBT told me today, that i can’t get China visa if i didn’t have it before and if i don’t have invitation letter from friend or company.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
I don’t know what you VISA asked for nor your nationality, so I can’t really answer to you! But yes, for some type of VISA, especially longterm business VISA, you do need to have some Chinese VISA already
I asked for Tourist visa L – 30 days, i’m from Europe
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hmm It looks so weird because, as far as I know, you don’t need previous VISA in order to get a 30 days L VISA. What you need is a flight reservation, an hotel reservation and a valid passport
Guys it’s just a waste of time keep on going to FBT. Personal experience. All they can offer you is 14 days or 30 days rubbish visa unless you have an hk ID…how many of you have that?!
Things are going to be tough for all of us without the Z visa since the visa laws changed last July.
I just got a 1 year business visa through my girlfriend (关系：:-D) but it’s quite expensive. If you don’t have chinese friends or the right connections it’s nearly impossible to get a long stay visa nowadays. Last year was easy peasy to get anything you wanted.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Jo,
just a question. Did you have any recent travel or business VISA? This may explain why they only offered a 15/30 visa in Hong Kong to you
Yes I did, I had a 1 y business visa previously. I clearly remember many of the guys doing the line at FBT complaining about this and worring they might had to get back to their own country.
Honestly how many
foreigners have a proper work visa/resident permit in China and how many are just on tourist/business visa?
China is getting too fussy about waiguoren , I’m sure many will leave in the coming years
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
OK,
there we are. If you’re living and working in China with tourist or business VISA, then it’s becoming more and more difficult to do so. It doesn’t really matter if you go to FBT or any other agency; it depends on the fact that China started to enforce the law (working in China with a tourist or biz VISA is illegal).
About China “getting too fussy”, I disagree. Just think about US, Australia or EU: Do you know many foreigners working on a tourist VISA there? Because I don’t! China is just going on the directions of more developed countries.
Want to work in China? Get a working VISA as you’d do in US or EU!
Hi I have a resident/Work Visa due to expire in Nov, (3 years resident), the company I have been working for will not be renewing it, what type of Visa can I get in HK to enable me to stay ? (British Passport)
Thanks
Jonah
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Jonah, M or L visa, so far as I know. But this will only be for a short time. Then you’ll need to find a new job and get a new Z visa, if you want to stay longterm
hey, I have read in a forum that it is possible to buy a 5 day visa for Shenzhen on the Hongkong-Shenzhen boarder.
Can someone confirm that?
Hello Furio Fu,
First of all, thank you very much for your help here for those who having questions regarding Chinese visa!
If I get you right, you saying, that if tourist already have one tourist visa and need to issue one more, then he don’t have much chances to get visa directly in embassy and he need to apply for it through the agent? My situation is like this: I have 2 month double entry visa that I got in my home country which is Russia. It will expire after several days and I need to get one more tourist visa, now for 30 days only. What do you think could be my chances if I come directly to Embassy?
Thank you very much!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
I suggest you to go to FBT agency. I don’t think it’s much more expensive and you have more chances to get the VISA.
Hi,
probably the most useful info I found until know, thanks!
But I have some questions and I’m starting being very worried :(
I’ve been working in China with my Z visa since March 2013 but my contract will end at the end of December and my Visa will expire actually the same day that I’ll arrive to Shanghai from my Xmas vacation in January (I bought the ticket before I knew the company will not renew my contract).
I’m looking for jobs but it’s not that easy and I want to stay here because right now my life is here, so…
My boss offered me the invitation letter that I need for a 12 months Business Visa (Visa M, right) but I find several problems with that Visa:
+ It’s expensive and If I find a job before the year ends, I would have wasted a lot of money
+ I have to leave the country every 30 days, right?
+ it’s not 100% sure that I will get the visa
+ Is it true that when I go to renew for 30 days more they can maybe give me only 14 days?
So I was thinking about applying for the Tourist Visa (L), multi entry, but it’s not sure that I’ll got that one either, but anyway, my question is:
Can I send all the documents, passport, etc now to my country (there is a postal service in the embassy to apply for Visas) and apply for a tourist Visa for next year, starting on January 5th when my Z Visa expires? Then I could get the Passport with the new Visa and come back without problem from holidays to continue searching for jobs. But I’m not sure if I can do that, apply for a new (but different) Visa when I still have the old one in my passport, and of course I don’t want them to cancel my current Visa, I need it to can stay until I leave for Xmas.
The point is that I won’t be able to go to my country to can arrange the Visa and of course I need my passport to can leave the country for Xmas, so if I could do this option, sending everything now, it would be a perfect solution. What do you think? Can I apply for a new L Visa having my current Z Visa still there?
Thanks!!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
every solution you listed has pros and cons. So you’re the only one that can choose. An important point: For multi entry VISA, you may need to go out the country and come back but this doesn’t imply you need to ask for an extension. You just go to Shenzhen, cross the border with Hong Kong and come back in China after 5 minutes.
The important is the stamp on your passport.
If you apply for a L visa and get it, the Z visa won’t be valid anymore. So be careful with it.
Hi, I am currently on a double entry tourist Visa in China but it expires on 12/10/2014 so I am heading to HK to extend it. I will have an invitation letter with me so it shouldn’t be too difficult for it to get extended, right??
Also, another question, as my visa expires on 12/10/2014 I am travelling over to Shenzhen but because the train is an overnight sleeper I won’t actually arrive in Shenzhen and HK until 13/10/2014. Would this mean I need to change my ticket to avoid a fine?
Any other information that might help me would be wonderful.
Thanks in advance, Gareth.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Gareth,
I’m not sure you can extend a tourist VISA; I’d rather go for a new one. What means an “invitation letter” for a tourist VISA? from a friend? This is only good for avoiding to book an hotel beforehand, however it doesn’t help much on getting a VISA. Of course if it was an invitation letter from a company in order to get a business VISA it was different.
Yes, I suggest you to re-schedule your trip and avoid to overstay your VISA as, if you overstay, your change to get a new VISA will be lower.
Hi, I didn’t understand if it’s possible or not to extend the chinese visa.
I was thinking to get a single entrance and then extend it, otherwise a double entrance, but if I’ll be close to Shangai it will be a ptoblem to exit there.
Thanks!!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi,
VISA extension is possible sometimes but at the moment there are so many exceptions that we can’t forecast whether you’ll succeed or not.
Thank you very much for your kind reply.
Hi Furio, thanks for all the helpful information! I am American, and I would like to get an L tourist visa (preferably 6 months multi entry but will be fine with whatever) but unfortunately I have no residency permit in Hong Kong – will just be in HK as a tourist.
It sounds like it was possible and not too difficult to do this at the end of 2013, but is that still the case? Have you heard of people having success with this recently?
I plan to fly specifically to Hong Kong to get a Chinese visa, and I’d like to know what to expect that my chances are.
Thanks again for all your informative and help!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Nathan, if you aren’t already in China (for instance, you’re coming from Thailand) then your chance to get the VISA are great (with FBT agency). However most you can expect is 2 months VISA.
If you’re already in China and you’re just doing a VISA run, then it’s probable that they’ll deny the VISA to you.
Hope this helps
Thanks Furio! I appreciate the help!
Hi,
I am a filipini my bf and I will be visiting HK tomorrow, then his family is requesting me to visit them at guangzhou, where can I apply china visa entry to China in HK, is there any chance that I can get china visa for the first time. Please help
Thanks
You can get it in the agency we metion on the article
What agency is that CTS in the airport?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
It shall work too but I never used it
My other concern is Im not a resident also in HK or dont have any relatives living there, Is there really any chance that agency will issue me a china visa (L) for sight seeing purposes.
I appreciate your help
Z-visa, my experience
I did this myself, I didn’t use an agency. I’m Slovenian (EU/EEA). I got it at 26 Harbour road, HK (I don’t understand why it says at the beginning of this page that this address is only for HK residents). And I’m going to teach in China.
The documents I had with me:
• Visa application (I applied for express-next day service)
• Invitation Letter from Duly Authorized Unit”. The invitation letter for Hong Kong. (I got mine in Nanchang, Jiangxi)
• Invitation letter from employer
• Work permit (from The state administration Foreign experts affairs)
• The small paper you get when you enter HK (you need to make a copy of this paper next to your passport, if you don’t have, you will have to make a copy at the visa office)
• Photos (they only took one)
• Passport
• Physical examination record (they didn’t take the copy of this nor the original)
• Medical insurance (they didn’t take the copy of this nor the original)
• I had copies of everything
I arrived on Tuesday morning, at 8:30am and there was already a line of 20 people. So if you don’t want to wait for a long time be there early. Because of a typhoon he office didn’t work in the morning, so we had to come back in the afternoon. They check everything, every word in all of the documents. I god my visa next day, you have to pay with cash, my visa was 500 HKD).
So this really isn’t that hard to do on your own if you have the right documents (But I don’t know if the rules are different for non EU people).
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Vesna,
thank you very much for your comment! We are starting to see a pattern: if you have a letter of invitation that specifies that your VISA shall be done in Hong Kong, then there is hope to get the VISA.
We’ll update the article soon, the regulations for VISA change fast.