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 so impressed by all the time you spent helping people like this. Thank you very much
My turn to ask for your help.
I’m french and living in shanghai. I used to work in shanghai and got a working visa for 2 years(extended one time). I quit my job and my previous company canceled my working visa more than 60 days ago. My resident permit expire this sunday and I plan to go to HK same day and ask for a one month tourist visa for china.
How long should I expect to wait to get it? is it still possible to do express, and get it in two days?
What documents should I bring expect my passport?
Thanks very much for your help in advance.
Mat
Hello Mat,
for French passport holders there is no express service. It will take you 4 days and only if you apply before 13:30! If you go with FBT (see link on the article) you will only need your passport and the arrival sticker (you’ll get it when you enter Hong Kong)
Hello Furio,
Thank you for all the time spent giving advice to people like me. I have two questions.
Firstly i am a British citizen here on a six month double entry business visa. Is it possible for me to get a new business visa in Hong Kong?
Secondly i have a friend that wants to get a tourist visa from Hong Kong but she is Lithuanian, Is this an issue, she seems to think so for some reason.
Best regards,
James
Hello,
1. It’s certainly possible but not sure 100% unless you have an invitation letter and a good reason to be there
2. Not sure why this shall be an issue… tell her to contact FBT (the link is on the article)
Furio, I greatly admire your attempt to reply to everyone. Thank you.
I just got hired through an agency under a student visa since I only have an associates degree. There is a loophole through the term ‘internship’ where it doesn’t specify that its illegal for you to obtain work with approval for the school.
This seems shady, have you ever heard of anyone getting into trouble this way?
have you ever heard of anyone getting a z visa with an associates degree and a misdemeanor from five years ago?
Oh, it’s not an attempt! We reply to everyone that ask a question we are able to understand : )
So, the only way to legally work in China without a Z visa is to hold an X1 (long term student visa) and get a written permission from your school that states you are allowed to work part-time. You can’t work full-time.
As for the requirements for getting a Z visa, what really matters is that you must be considered a “foreign expert” in your field. You need some kind of degree but degrees may vary greatly from a country to another and I don’t think they check the details. What really matters is that the company applying for your foreign expert certificate has the ability and the motivation to get it for you
Hi,
Very informative website. Thank you. I am traveling to HK in June. I would like to get a double entry visa whilst in HK. We will be backpacking around China for 2 weeks before catching the ferry to Japan and then returning to China for 2 more weeks after 30 days. My question is – do you need proof of hostel booking before the visa is issued as we have not booked anywhere in China yet?
Thanks
In general, yes, you need to book the hotels beforehand. However some agencies may get you the VISA without the hotel booking. FBT used to do so. Contact them to see if it’s possible
Hi,
Thanks for all the great info you’ve provided! I am an American married with three children living in China on an L visa currently. We are trying to switch to an X-1 visa for myself and an S-1 visa for my wife and kids. I have a school that is giving me a JW202 form.
In Hong Kong, can I get an X-1 visa for myself? Can I get S-1 visas for my family? Can we have the X-1 visa and the S-1 visas issued at the same time in Hong Kong, or would I need to get my X-1 visa, go back into China and get my residence permit, then go back to Hong Kong with my family to get their S-1 visas?
Hello Jeff, if I remember well the law says you shall go back to US to get an X VISA (as well as for Z VISA). However many people are able to get it on HK by asking the school to specify – on the invitation letter – that the VISA shall be asked in Hong Kong. However you can’t be sure this will work for you as they decide in case by case basis.
For S VISA, start from this article: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-visitor-visa/
Hi…thank u for all the info u provided… I have a small question… I’m flying from NYC to Hong Kong and would like to enter china mainland for 2/3 days..hiw do i obtain a same day visa? Or is there a way I can enter without a visa… also i wanted to either take the train from hong kong to Guangzhou or the car.. what do u recommend
Hello, I’m not sure you can get a same-day-VISA right now. It depends on on-going policies and your nationality. Contact FBT for details
Were you able to get a same day visa in HKG? if so how much and where did you get it?
I have a student visa that is expiring end of March .
I want to find out what visa I can apply for because I won’t be studying anymore and would like to stay in Guangzhou longer as my sister is still studying here.
My father is from Taiwan if that can be advantageous in acquiring a new visa?
You can try to get a Business Visa (1 year maximum stay 90 days), having Taiwan family won’t help. Taiwan people have some extra restrictions to enter to China mainland.
Hi Charlene,
please read this: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-visitor-visa/
Hi, nice to see some update info on VISA runs. I even remember it being tricky back in 2007. they weren’t happy about me changing my student visa into a tourist visa (my student visa was also not expired yet…. I still don’t know whether it was because I had a few days left or whether it was because they just didn’t like me changing visas).
Anyway, I was hoping you can shed your light om my ‘case’ this time.
I was invited by a foreign correspondent in China to do a internship, which is a great chance but I also need to do my thesis research in China.
The internetnship wil take 3 months and the research 2 months. I cannot do them on the same visa because the media agency is afraid of losing it’s accredation in China.
So it seems that I will get a business visa for my internship (arranged by the media agency) but after that I need to get a tourist visa for 60 days. Do you think they will refure my toursit visa?
I hope to hear from you!
Hi,
it would be your first tourist VISA in a while, so it shall be OK. However 1.) nobody can answer this question with certainty and 2.) I’m not sure about 60 days tourist VISA, maybe another business VISA would be easier
Hey Furio, hope you are well. I am visiting Hong Kong and also planning to visit china as well for 4-5 days. please can you suggest the best possible solution to get Chinese visa.. How easy is it to get visa from HKG and what documents do I require for the same.
BTW I am travelling on Indian passport.
Best
Hello, get in touch with Forever Bright Travel Agency, I have no direct experience with Indian passport!
thank you very much Furio :-)
I just wanted to add that when I am in mainland china I would be staying with a friend so I would not have any hotel booked. Will this cause me any problems as I read a previous post stating to get a visa I may need proof of hotel bookings?
Cheers :)
Ok, then get a letter of invitation from your friend with a copy of his passport and VISA.
Alternatively, you shall book an hostel for at least 2 weeks. Also, if you go with an agency like Forever Bright they usually don’t require the booking (not sure how they do)
First off, Furio Fu Thanks for answering so many question, its super useful!
I have a question regarding obtaining a tourist visa to mainland china for a 3 week holiday.
Heres my background.:
I was born in the UK and have a UK PP, I also have a HKID card (not 3 star) with RO status (R=right to land). I was planning on flying to HK and apply for a chinese visa when I get there.
My question is how difficult will it be for me to apply for a single or double entry to china while in HK.
And would it be better to apply using my uk PP or HKID card (not 3 star)?
Also is it still possible to get the visa sorted within 5 working days?
I have tried looking online but I couldnt make sense of it as everyone seems to say different things.
Thanks again
Hi Ben, if you have the time I’d definitely try in UK so that you are sure you get your VISA. I don’t see why the shall refuse it!
Hong Kong is also a good option and 5 working days shall be more than enough; contact Forever Bright and see what they say (you find the link on this article).
I’m not sure if it’s better to apply with a UK passport or an HK ID card; Forever Bright probably can answer this question too.
As for everybody saying a different thing, this is due to many reasons. Here some of the most common:
1. Rules change fast and many comments are outdated
2. VISA rules change according to your passport (EU, UK, USA, etc)
3. VISA rules change according to how many Chinese VISA you got on the last 2-3 years (if you already got 2 Travel VISA in a row, for instance, they will probably deny your request cause they will suspect you are illegally working in China with a Tourist VISA).
As I said, if you have an UK passport and you don’t have other travel VISAs, then you shall be fine
Hi guys, great blog, best on the net!
I just have a quick question, should be simple compared to other cases. I’m an EU born and EU passport holder (POLAND) but last 8 years I’ve been living in the UK, I don’t need a VISA here as it’s all EU. Anyway, that shouldn’t matter really but just so you know my background.
I’ve been to China in Ocotber 2013 on a Tourist 30 days ingle entry VISA. Now, in April 2015 I want to travel from London to HK, stay there for a few days, then go to Shenzhen/Guangzhou for a 15 days and then back to HK to catch my return flight to London.
Will I be allright applying for a tourist VISA in HK through Forever Bright for example? Last time I did it through London agency but on this ocassion it’s not really possible as due to my job I need to have my passport with me all the time on a standby mode. I can’t really do it back in my homecountry (Poland) as well.
I’m just concerned about what I read on the http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/
“4, If you don’t reside or work in Hong Kong permanently, you are required to apply Chinese visa from the Embassy or Consulate-General of Peoples’ Republic of China in your resident country.”
Thanks for all your help!
MArk
Hi Mark,
you shall be fine in HK as so many European passport holders get their VISA in HK. Just send an email to Forover Bright to know how many days it takes to get your VISA
I am so so sad. To get tourist chinese visa in the Phil’s holding Philippine passport is so hard I just want to visit my bf in China. I really feel sad.
Hi there,
I”m a US citizen hoping to get a Chinese single-entry tourist visa while traveling in HK. Is this possible for me?
Yes, it shall be possible
Thank you for the reply! How can I get the single entry tourist Chinese visa while in Japan? Should I go through the embassy or a travel agent? How long will it take? What do I need? And what is the cost to get a single entry visa in Japan?
Hi there, I have no direct experience on getting a Chinese VISA in Japan. I’d start by contacting the Chinese consular office in Japan: http://www.chinese-embassy.info/asia/jpn.htm
The other way is to land in Hong Kong and ask for a Chinese VISA there. This is certainly easier
Hmmm I was told yesterday by a travel agent in HK that as a US citizen visiting HK, I CANNOT obtain a single-entry Chinese tourist visa in HK, but that I CAN get a 10-year multiple entry Chinese visa (this would be my only option). This contradicts what you said about me being able to receive a single-entry tourist visa in HK….. Do you know anything about this policy? So sorry to keep bothering you!
I never heard about this policy… what travel agent are you talking with? Maybe they are trying to upsell a more expensive VISA to you!
where you able to get your visa in hong kong? if so how much and from where
I contacted the suggest agency by mail ( they are very nice an fast in replay ).
As for today info provided by them:
Max you can get 60 days as longest period of time ( tourist/business ) without any particular document, it will gonna take 2/4 day ( depending on your nationality, 2 days mean: “Application before 13:00pm and pick up by 16:00am next day (Monday to Thursday)”
Only if you want “same day service” you need an invitation letter and the registration prof of the company providing the letter. ( you will get only 30 days visa that case, business )
(Working visa ) As for my recent experience:
If you are applying for a working visa, you will have 30 days (single entry) as well.
Than, once you are back in China, you will need to get a residence permit. (the residence permit will take about 1 month to be issued so be fast to start the application, especially if plan to get out of China for any reason ).
Hi Francesco,
yes, you confirm the information we also know. As for the working VISA, you need much more documents and a letter of invitation that specifies that you’re applying in Hong Kong as normally you shall apply on your homecountry (and not in Hong Kong)
Hello! I have a question I was hoping someone could answer for me.
I am from Iceland and I am currently on a 90 day tourist visa (my first time in China). Is it possible for me to fly to HK and get a 6 or 12 month business visa (M) there?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Prez29
I think you have a good chance. I was just in Hong Kong last week on a final visa, and I was given a tourist for China, all this after FBT and various other agencies freaked out and refused to touch my passport.
Hi Prez,
it’s certainly possible; however nobody can assure you that you’ll get the VISA!
Wow I really like the information in this page, and I would like to ask you if you know where I can learn if I can get a visa on arrival from Hong Kong to Shenzhen with a Moroccan passport. i searched a lot online and couldn’t find any info. or do I need to go through the agency you have recommended?
Hi Ali, I suggest you to ask the agency we suggest, they’ll tell you if they can get you the visa or not. Cheers!
Great website!!
My question: starting work in Shenzhen soon, how can I help my unmarried partner (Thai) to stay long-term with me? Can I write an invitation letter to support her visa application? As a ‘worst-case-scenario’: can she just cross the border with a new visa every 14 days?
Hi Martin,
here you find all we know about visitor’s VISA: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-visitor-visa/
No, there is no such a “every 14 days cross-border” in China. I know there was – and maybe still there is – something like that in Thailand : )
Help! I’m in a similar predicament as that of T. I had a student visa, had it extended for 10 days at the PSB. I am in the process of applying for a German student visa, which I hope to get in a few weeks, I want to leave China, but I have planned to go to Germany from China. Do I have a chance of getting a 30 day tourist visa in Hong Kong?
Yes, you have a chance. But it’s sure that you’ll get it! Why don’t you get a flight ticket from Hong Kong to Germany?
I am waiting for my German visa to be issued, by the German embassy in Beijing. I have rented an apt till the 20th while I wait.
Hi I have been studying in China since 2007. I recently graduated and then went to apply for the students extension for ending their studies…..they (the entry and exit authorities) gave me ten days as of the time I applied. They also told me that the visa I would now be on could not be extended and I will have to leave the country. They didn’t make it specific whether or not I had to return to my home country or I could go to Hong Kong and get a tourist visa for 3 months while I processed my work visa situation. Then my new boss called me and warned me that the foreign experts bureau could not allow me to have a teaching certificate from them because I did not have full time employment experience of teaching in a school. Accumulative part time work over five years didn’t count either. Now i have come to the realisation that if I fly back home I may not be able to Come back to my job as planned and I have rent, bills and the likes.
So my question is this…..can I go to Hongkong and get my first Lvisa (for 3 months) or will they only grant me 15 days?
hi there,
we can’t answer to you because in Hong Kong they decide case by case: so either situation are possible!