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
Hi do you have any idea of the cost for a student visa (x) for a British national applying in HK? I would like to do the one day service. Would that be possible?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Shall be less than 100 USD; not sure it’s possible to do it in 1 day
I’m Canadian in Cebu now I have invitation from Chengdu as an expert in PE I have no permanent resident in Philippines can I apply for F-visa in Hong Kong what are my chances thank you so much.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Your chances are good.
Hi! =)
I wanted to ask, do you need a statement from the bank that you have more than 3000$ on account to make Chinese VISA in Hong Kong?
Thanks!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello,
I never heard about this for US/EU passports. However, maybe it’s needed for some nationalities. I’m not sure
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello,
I never heard about this for US/EU passports. However, maybe it’s needed for some nationalities. I’m not sure
I’ve applied for a single entry tourist visa to visit Beijing on 26th August, arriving from Hong Kong. I have now added a cruise to my schedule (leaving Hong Kong 19th August, returning on 26th) which briefly visits a Chinese port (Xiamen) on 20th August.
I will be arriving in Hong Kong on 16th August so will have to time to apply before I leave on the cruise but won’t have time after the cruise ship docks on the 26th. Is it possible to have two single entry visas in your passport at the same time?
Many thanks for a reply
I’m a UK passport holder
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
No, it’s not possible. You may apply for a double entry VISA, which will invalidate your single entry VISA
Thanks. Unfortunately I won’t have time now before I leave. If I add 2 days to my stay in HK after the cruise will I be able to apply for another single entry then? I.e. is there any time limit between 2 single entries
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
You can try. However it’s not sure that you’ll get it
hello
so I recently applied and successfully got a single-entry tourist “L” visa for China. however, since then I have realised that I will need a double-entry visa so I can leave and come back. I am a British citizen but am currently travelling in Hong Kong – will it be possible to re-apply for a double-entry visa here?
also, for double-entry visas is it necessary to show reservations for your intermediate flight out of China and then re-entry before the final departure? I.e. do you just have to show the bookings for your initial flight into China and final flight out? Or do you have to show (i) your flight in, (ii) your intermediary flight out, (iii) your flight to return to China, and (iv) your final flight out.?
thanks very much for your help
x
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello,
it’s possible to re-apply but it’s risky. I’d rather go with the first VISA and then require a second visa in Hong Kong. It’s up to you though.
I dont think you need documentation for the VISA run after 30 days, however I’m not 100% sure
Dear Furio,
I hold a Dutch passport and want to apply in HK for a tourist visa or an X2 visa. I have two questions. Is the expedited service available to me?If I get a L tourist visa for 30 days, can I then extent it for another 30 days while in Beijing?
Thanks in advance,
Heleen
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Heleen,
please check FBT website to see if at the moment expedited service is available for dutch passports (it shall be but I’m not sure). Extension in China are possible although not guaranteed! they are handled case by case and there is no clear guidelines.
As for X2, you’d need an invitation letters from the school and more documents. Please read our main article on VISA for the details
Hi thank you this was a great article and very helpful.
Me and my friend are from the UK and will be flying into Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur. We are planning on spending only a few days in Hong Kong and then travel to Beijing and Shanghai most likely by train although we have nothing booked we only plan to spend a max 2weeks in China after Hong Kong .
We have not yet sorted our Chinese visa as we didn’t realize the process.
How possible will it be for us to get our visa in Hong Kong ? will we need proof of a flight out of China ? And where will be the best place for us to go to get the visa?
Any help would be great
Thank you
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello, it certainly possible to get a tourist VISA in HK. Get in touch with FBT, you find the link in this article.
Hello,
Americans to billions of dollars in trade with China but yet they have the audacity to refuse border entry from Shenzen. Instead you would think they would allow US citizens to enter 90 days like HK. As far
as I’m concerned they can take there polluted over populated country and stick it sideways. I refuse
to waste my time on a regular visa.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
You shall also avoid to waste time letting such a useless comments here : )
Hello,
I’ve been in China almost 3yrs. I’m currently in the process of switching jobs here in China and my residence permit (on a z-visa) expires at the end of the month. I’m in the process of submitting paperwork and all that stuff. My question is- if I run out of time to get my new visa processed, what are my options? Can I go to HK and come back in? How does that work?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi, you shall go to HK and ask for a tourist VISA, I guess.
Hi
I will be travelling to HK on a South African passport and was wondering whether or not it would be possible to obtain a Tourist visa for the mainland? I have a round air ticket and hotel reservation
You’ll have no problem to get a Chinese visa, but you’ll have to get it through an agency.
Hello The_Stig,
Did you have any problems to get a visa? They told me by phone I will get just one for max. 15 days… which is pretty short.
Piefko
Hi Furio,
An obscure question: I just applied for a Chinese visa in Hong Kong. Do you know what the code they write on the pick-up form means? Mine says “L-M-120-60”, which I assume means an “L” visa, Multiple entry, but what could the 120-60 mean? (perhaps 120 months, 60-days per entry?)
Also, the visa office now has signs at each window that say “No Same-Day Visas”, and they were pretty strict about demanding copies of flight and hotel reservations. Also, the visa form one can download from their website is “the old version”, but “new” versions appear to be available downstairs (if you get there early and queue up, there’s plenty of time)
Thanks!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello, it’s difficult to know what L-M-120-60 means without knowing what visa you applied for and seeing the visa you got
I applied for a 10-year tourist visa (as I have a US passport and have heard those are being issued). I’ll let you know on Monday, when I’m supposed to go pick it up.
For those who want to know what visa they will likely receive (after they receive the ‘pick-up’ receipt), I can confirm that the code used by the visa office in Hong Kong translates as follows:
L – M – 60 – 120
L = tourist
M = multiple entry
60 = days/entry
120 = validity of visa (in # of months)
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Thank you!
Hey Odilon, question:
I haven’t found a clear answer to wether US passport holders can successfully apply for a 10 year, multiple entry visa while in Hong Kong. I’ve heard that we need to be in our home country to get a multiple entry visa. Are you saying you got the 10 year visa through a Hong Kong agency? If so, can you share the name of the agency you used?
Hi, my company is U.S and Chinese joint company, conducting training consulting in China for the last 6 years, we just hired a staff from The Netherlands, having issues to get his work permit. China recently strict about issue visa for foreigners, can i send him to HK get a Biz visa for 6-12 month?
Please HELP, his visa expire on July 5th.
Thanks.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
You can try, it’s certainly not optimal but if you read through the comments other European guys were able to get the Z Visa in HK. Important: the Invitation Letter must state that the employee will apply for the visa in HK
Hi Furio,
I am visiting Hong Kong soon. I plan to get a same day 5 day visa for Shenzhen. Can I take a flight from there to Beijing? stay in Beijing for 1 day and then fly to Hong Kong? would the Shenzhen visa cover it as i am in china? or is it better if i get a visa from FB?
I really look forward to your reply
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
No, if you enter in Shenzhen with the 5 days VISA you must stay in Shenzhen. If you want to go to Beijing you need a real VISA
Hi,
I am traveling to HK in October. I would like to get a single entry visa whilst in HK. We will be backpacking around China for 3 weeks before catching a flight to Japan.
Basically I want to know if I need to book the trip into mainland china, flight to Japan and Hostels beforehand?
Thanks,
James
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
In theory, yes. In practice, there are agencies like ftb that don’t require the booking
Hi! Im travelling to HKG in a week and would like to know if someone has recent experience applying for the single entry tourist visa. I hold spanish passport and would like to know if there is any way to process it in less than the 4 working days. Thanks!
I’m not sure the situation with Spain now, I know in the past needed 4 working days because of the “bad” relations between the two governments (I think it’s better now), you should ask the agency we suggest in the article for updated information. Por cierto puedes seguirnos también en la versión en español de la web saporedicina.com/es/
Hi I am from the Philippines and I am planning to go to china.can I also go to HK right away and process my tourist visa there?
You have 14 days free visa stay in Hong Kong and you can get a tourist visa for China mainland in Hong Kong through an agency.
Hi our son graduates in Guangzhou in July this year and we have booked flights and hotel and want to travel into China for his graduation ceremony. Do we need to apply in the UK before we leave (24 hour visa) or can we get a visa from his uni or Hong Kong?
Many thanks in advance
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Lea,
if you are going to stay less than 72 hours, you have several possibilities:
1. If you are landing in Guangzhou and plan to stay in Guangzhou, you don’t need a visa http://www.saporedicina.com/english/how-to-transit-china-for-72-hours-without-a-visa-the-complete-guide/
2. If you are landing in Hong Kong and plan to only visit Shenzhen, you can apply for a 5 days visa at the border http://www.saporedicina.com/english/business-visas-for-china/
3. If none 1 or 2 applies, then you shall get a tourist visa in UK as if you apply in Hong Kong it would take you up awhile to get it (1 to 4 days, depending on the situation)
Hi , your article is really helpful but I want a bit more info , I’m a student here in china and going to graduate in May and my VIsa will expire on 15 June 2015 and my university gave me L visa in last months, my husband is also studying here in china and we came to know that he can sponsor me on his visa , but as em having L visa i have to exist from china so what you think is it a good idea to go hong kong and from there apply for S1 visa ? And how much time it’ll take ?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Only for 1 month? For this an L visa is enough. Sure, you can apply for S1 if your husband as a resident permit (or if he’s chinese). However this will require more documents
thanks alot for replying , I wanted to know how long it will take to get my passport back , means for how long I’ll have to stay there in hong kong … I have all documents ready, and yeah Em holding a Pakistani passport! Do I need to fill any forum online for applying S1 visa and my husband is also have a Pakistani Passport
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello Sarah, it shall take maximum 4 working days. I don’t think you need to fill anything online, just all the forms needed for the S1 visa
Hi
how can I renew my work visa? It will expire in August, I will renew my contract this month. What is the procedure, do I have to go to HK again or can I do it here?
Thank you
You can do it here, the only thing you have to do is renew your Foreign Expert Certificate and obtain the form with your company’s stamp on it, with these two documents plus a photo and the paper the police give to you when your registered, you can go to the Exit Entry office in your city.
Hi, i am an Indonesian. I will go to Hong Kong next week and just contacted FBT asking them if it is possible for me to get China Tourist Visa in Hong Kong via FBT but they said that it is impossible because i have no previous China Visa. So i need to make it in Indonesia :( Do you have any other suggestion? Because i am in France now.. So, i cant make the visa in Indonesia.
Thanks
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hello, can’t you make the Visa in France? I did my first Chinese visa in France! However I have an Italian passport so I’m not sure how it works for you