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 Furio
I´m Peruvian with residence in Peru I will apply for a L visa to China in HKG but my dude is i will get due PERU is not in the list of countries mentioned, I have a round trip air ticket HKG/PEK/HKG paid and an hotel reservation. I only go for 6 days to PEK.
I will arrive in HKG May 5 and leave May 9 then south east of asia and arrive to PEK Jun11.
I was rejected at the embassy here in Peru, they said Im planing to go to there to stay.
Regards
Hi Furio,
I am a Guatemalan Citizen, currently on a student visa in the US. I will be doing an internship in Shanghai (got an two-entry, 90-day-per-stay M visa approved), and after that I will be on an exchange student program in Nanjing University (starting school sometime between the last week of August and first week of September).
I’m planning on applying for a visa (I think I will need an X2) in Hong Kong, to save money and time. Do you know if that would impose any difficulties? I looked at the visa application and I don’t have a Hong Kong Residence Permit as other people who apply for Chinese visas usually have. It is also different circumstances because I’m not just randomly wanting to go to China, but got accepted in a program by a Chinese university. I will have a letter from Nanjing University inviting me to study for 5 months as well as accommodations guaranteed, which should help in the application. Also, I doubt they will turn me down and ask me to go back to my country and get a visa, since we don’t even have a PRC embassy in Guatemala (we have Taiwan).
I can use any help. Thank you!
Hello Oscar, many people have successfully applied for a Z or X visa in Hong Kong – see other comments in this article.
What seems to be very important, is to have an invitation letter for the school that specifies that you shall apply in Hong Kong.
Just make sure if you need a visa for going a couple of days to Hong Kong – not sure about Guatemala’s citizen.
Hi again Furio,
I visited Hong Kong last year and my passport doesn’t need one ( I get a 30 day visa-free stay). I just got back my letter from Nanjing University and the visa application signed and sealed by the school and the Jiangsu Province Government, so far so good! Do you know by chance if processing a student visa takes the same as a tourist one (five business days normal fee)? I will probably be in Hong Kong for two weeks
Hello Oscar,
yes, if you have all the documents, the time to get the visa is the same, no matters the type of visa you’re applying for!
Hi Furio,
Thanks very much for the information in your article!
My situation is a little unusual. I am going to Hong Kong to apply for a Q2 (family reunion) visa. Do you know what documents I need for that? I have the invitation letter from my grandfather, copy of my grandfather’s Chinese ID, application form, copy of my passport, photo…
Also, in my passport I already have a Residence Permit for Foreigner, issued by my employer (I originally came to China on a Z visa). It is valid until July but I resigned from my job before my contract ended so my company is going to cancel the residence permit and give me a 30 day L visa (which would allow me to stay until the end of May). However, I want to stay until August so I can spend more time with my relatives in China, which is why I am applying for the Q2 visa. However, I have to get the Q2 visa *first* (before the L visa) because I only have a limited number of blank visa pages left in my passport. I want my Q2 visa to start in May. Do you know if the consular office will deny me the Q2 visa because I already have a valid residence permit in my passport?
Sorry for the long (and probably confusing) explanation… Any information you can give me would be incredibly helpful. Thank you!
Hello Julie,
all we know about Q visa is here: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-visitor-visa/
As for the resident permit, usually what happens is that they expire if you get a new visa
Hi! I’m an EU citizen who’s been in China for three months on an L visa (yes, I was granted a visa this long in my home country and haven’t extended it while in China). Now I want to get a new visa in HK (basically I’m applying for university and have an interview coming up after the expiration date of this visa). I thought that would be an easy feat since this was my first Chinese visa and it wasn’t obtained in HK, but now some agencies are informing me that since my previous visa duration was so long, I might not be able to get a visa, at least not a double-entry, in HK. Does anyone have experience of this or any suggestions? Fortunately this should be my only visa trip to HK!
Hello Kate,
the agencies may be right. However, if you just need a short term visa for the interview, you can probably get at least a 7 days visa in Hong Kong.
I’m not saying you won’t get 1 or 2 months; what I’m saying is that many people, after a long L visa, were granted a short term second visa.
It also possible that they deny you the visa, although not so probable
Hi I’m a Cameroonian citizen, I presently living in China with X 1 visa, I ve been in china for about one and a half year, I’ve a job offer to work in a company here in china, my company is going to provide documents and also indicate on to get visa from HK, I wish to find out if I come to Honkong will I be able to get the working visa
Some people manage to get the visa in Hong Kong but theoretically you should get in Cameroon
But I learned some cities in China, no need to exit
The Chinese law says that you can only get a Z visa in your home country (or country of residence), and you can only get it outside China. China law always have some exceptions but in this case it’s almost imposible you can get it without leaving China
You guys needs to update yourselves, in china rules change every day. In Shanghai no need to exit, other cities will take that starting 1 April
What you mean “no need to exit”?
Sure, you can get a visa extension in Shanghai, according to the conditions. It’s not a news though.
Hello Furio, Hope you are well. I need to know. I am Bangladeshi. Now i am living in shanghai i am working here. I have 1 year working visa and residence permit in shanghai. I want to go Hong Kong for travel. Do i need visa for hong kong?
Plz advice
Thanks
Hi there, I don’t know if people from Bangladesh need a visa to travel to Hong Kong, please check the Hong Kong Consular Office website
Hi i am going to school in Kunming in June. The school only sends out our documents 4 weeks prior to the start date. The month on May i will be in Taiwan though. Will i be able to attain my X2 visa 1-2 weeks prior to my program start date in Hong Kong? I think from reading this article i can but im just looking for some clarity. Thanks.
Hello Bart, it shall be possible. If you have all the required documents, it shall not take more than 4 working days to get the visa!
I am an Egyptian citizen living in Egypt. I have an opportunity to have an internship in a company in China for 6 months and I got an invitation letter stated that, But the embassy refused my application and the counselor stated that I can get 30 days visa only. So, could I apply for a visa in HongKong after finishing these 30 days?. Please I need your support as soon as possible.
Hello Omar, we have no idea.
Hi,
i have a question and would appreciate if you could help me.
I have a chinese Visa X2 valid for 6 months with only one entry since i am an EU citizen. I need to leave China ad come back after 3 days. That means i need a second entry for China, which is quite diffiult to get in Shanghai. Could it be done somehow through HK?
Thanks
Hello Thomas, if your visa is 1 entry, as soon as you leave China the visa will expire!
If you need a second visa (for a second entry) make sure that your school provides you with a second invitation letter etc. You may then get the visa in Hong Kong (even if, of course, it’s not sure you will get it).
Hi, I have a question. I just finished a contract with a university and received a 3 week humanitarian extension. Due to the spring holiday the new university that has offered me a job is just now back and the contract will be signed tomorrow. The problem is, my visa expires in 4 days. Do I need to leave the country while they process the new z visa, and they need my passport to give me a new Z visa, so how would this work? Someone told me I should try to go to HK to get it, but if my university submits the papers to the FEB before my current visa expires, would they accept them?
Honestly, I don’t know. I would ask to the PSB, ie. where they renew your residence permit.
ps. I don’t think that at the PSB they will give you a visa, most likely (unless I misunderstood the situation), they will renew your resident permit (I’m supposing you already have a resident permit, which you got through the Z visa the first time).
Thank You. It seems my university doesn’t know either. I am trying to avoid returning to the USA, just to turn around again. Maybe HK is an option, just don’t know who to contact. Any recommendations?
Well, according to our readers (see old comments) it’s possible to get a working visa in Hong Kong, altough the law say the opposite.
All people that got a Z visa in Hong Kong say that it’s very, very important that, in Letter of Invitation, is specified that you shall require the visa in Hong Kong
Hello, and thanks so much for the great site.
I am a Canadian citizen planning on coming to Hong Kong later this month in order to get a Chinese visa. Have you heard anything about Canadians getting the new 10-year multiple entry visa in HK? Or would it just be the standard 30 day?
Thanks again.
Hi there,
please contact the agencies we recommend
Hi,
great article! I was wondering if it is possible to get a double entry in Hong Kong (I’m a non resident from the Netherlands on holiday there in april)
I Will travel to China in march with a single entry visa obtained in Holland. From there I will travel around Asia and want to go back to China twice.
I heard stories that it will be difficult to get new visas if you have a few recent previous ones in your passport. Do you think I will get the double entry in HK after the recent single one?
Hope to hear from you and thanks in advance.
Hi there,
it’s certainly possible, however it’s quite difficult because, as you said yourself, they may see too many visas too close and thus deny the second one to you
thanks for your comment. Anybody here with some experience with a similar matter? much appreciated…
Hello,
I have 2 questions hoping can get advice!
#1) Do you know how much a multi-entry tourist visa will cost for same-day or 2-day (with US passport) at the HK Consular Dept Office? I have a tight budget so trying to compare!
* Forever Bright is quoting 2200 HKD for 2-day service, 1900 HKD for 4-day service.
* China Travel Agency (the one that is available at the HKIA Terminal) is quoting 3900 HKD for same-day.
(I can only do multi day tourist visa because my passport expiration is more than 14 months).
#2) Is it still the case that HK Consular Dept Office WILL accept applications for non-HK residents? I guess they never update that website, and I tried calling them the past couple of days and impossible to get through. So want to get the most up to date information!
Thank you for advice.
I hold a US passport and am looking to get a visa to China in HK (can’t do it at home because I’ll be traveling already).
Hello Cathy,
1. Check our article, it shall be there. However also check the consular office website to verify that there were no changes in the last weeks
2. Yes, however the process is more complicated – again, read the article
hi,
im australian and wanting to do exchang in mainland china, i am travelling with my husband around asian and europe for 6 months then wanting to do the exchange. since i will be travelling before i can apply for a student visa in my home country, do you know if i am i able to apply for a student visa in Hong Kong? Also do you think my husband would be able to get a tourist visa for 90 days?
we have already obtained tourist visas and are visiting china this jan for 3 weeks, im not sure if that will impact on the process?
any help will be much appriciated
thanks,
katherine
Hello Katherine,
in principle it could work to get a student visa in Hong Kong, as long as the school you chose provides you with the right documents, including information on where you shall apply for the visa (Hong Kong, in this case)
Hello Dear,
I am Bangladeshi. I have work visa residents permit in Shanghai 1 year. Still i am working here. I want to travel in Hong Kong.
Do i need visa for HongKong?
If need Hongkong visa, What is the requirements to get Hongkong visa? Please advice.
As soon as possible
Thanks
Sorry, we don’t know about requirements for Bangladesh passports
I have followed the advise on this website after dubai visa issue with the chiness emb, it was spot instructions on the vis app process, coasted $US100 and got it within 2 days, way i went to mainland china, How I survived in HK for 4 days is completly different story that needs an essay :).
Thank you Furio and the team very helpfull information
Glad we could help! Cheeers
Hi
We are from Canada. We are planning on traveling to China through Hong Kong. We will obtain our China Visas while in Hong Kong. From what I understand we need our itineraries to be in both English and Chinese. Is it best to use a travel agent to do this or is there another way. Thanks TOM
Hello Tom,
I never heard that you need a travel itinerary in Chinese language, where did you find this information?
It’s not compulsory to get an agency: it suffices to have the list of cities you want to visit and hotel bookings
Greetings!
I am a Canadian passport holder and have been in China for nearly 14 months on a 1-year L visa multiple-entry, every 60 days. Gotta get out in 6 days. I need to extend my stay another 3 weeks or so. What are the odds of getting a new tourist visa from an agency in HK? Is it a straightforward process or a tricky one? Thanks for the precious infos. Have a good day.
Hello Eric,
the process is simple, however it’s not sure you’ll get the visa. The problem is that, when people stay so long time on a tourist visa, they may suspect that you’re working (on a tourist visa, which is illegal). that’s why often they deny too many consecutive tourist visas,
Cheers
Hi Furio,
I have a job offer to work for a Hong Kong company with a start date on January 2017, me and my fiancee are from Peru, I’m supposed to get the Z Visa before travelling to HK, but which visa should my fiancee get to live with me in HK? I’m planning to stay there or at least two years… And I’ll marry her next year.
Thanks in advance for your urgent help kn this matter.
Hi,
you are going to work in Hong Kong or Mainland China? The regulations are completely different. This article focus on Mainland China visa (in Hong Kong), not in working visas for living in Hong Kong
Can i get a tourist visa directly in the embassy? Im a sweden citizen. This is not my first time. I want rush service.
The short answer is “yes, you can get a Visa at the consular office”. See the article for the details.