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
Hello Furio,
I’m glad I ran across this website. Thank you for your work. The information is clear among so many confusing sites. I still cannot find a clear answer to solve my situation, which is the following.
a – I came to China 4 months ago with a 2-entry (90-day each) tourist visa. Its second-entry period expires in July 10th. I’m from Argentina and I obtained my visa in Buenos Aires.
b – I really like it here, I’m learning Chinese by myself very quickly and I made friends. I want to stay in Nanjing for at least 4 more months.
c – Even if I wanted I would not be able to work since I’m no native English speaker, plus I don’t have a bachelor degree. Spanish training centers won’t provide a work visa as far as I know.
d – I think studying Chinese in a school in order to get a student visa is a good idea to stay here for longer, but all schools I know of start classes in September and it’s not clear whether they would provide me the necessary documents to get a visa before July. In case they don’t I should find the way to have my tourist visa extended until September.
Given my situation,
1) do you think it is possible to go to Hong Kong to extend my tourist visa if I already stayed here for 6 months? Will I probably be granted it or I’d better take all my luggage with me?
2) Is there any difference between extending a visa or making a new one?
3) Should I do it through an agency or could I go to the Consular Department Office?
4) Will I have to exit China every 30 days?
5) Is Hong Kong the only place to do this or could I also do it in South Korea or Mongolia?
6) Will I have to go to HK again for the student visa?
Thanks a lot for your time.
Hello Juan,
many schools also have summer courses, so my advice is to find a public/private school that can provie a visa to you.
As for your questions about Hong Kong, the situation is the following:
1. Nobody can tell you if you will get the new tourist visa or not, as they decide case by case. However, it’s probable that you won’t get a new tourist visa as it will be clear that you are trying to live in China for a long period on a tourist visa. And this is against the law. That’s why usually they dont provide more then 2 tourist visa in a short amount of time.
2. I think that the result would be the same: why shall they extend your visa further? Statiscally, people that stay so long in China with a tourist visa are working illegally. That’s why they usually don’t allow consecutive tourists visa.
3. If you want to try it, I’d say you are better of with an agency. But I repeat: your best bet is to get a student visa
4. No idea, this depends on the visa
5. Hong Kong usually is easier
6. Yes, Hong Kong or Argentina. The third option is that the school manages to convert a tourist visa into a student visa in nanjing. This is theoretically possible but it depends on the school: not all schools will offer this possibility
Thank you very much for your reply!
I will try to find a school that can provide me a student visa before June or I will probably have to spend two months out of China before starting classes in September.
As for point 1, it would be the first time I ask for a visa in Hong Kong. My first ever Chinese visa was granted six months ago. Is that what you mean or it would be in case I had already been given a visa twice and wanted a third one? perhaps I can show that I have visited many countries in the last year and that I make my money abroad.
Thanks
yes, perhaps. There is no written regulations on the number of visa you can get. My answers are based on practical experience and, as said, you can’t know what will happen until you apply for the visa
Hello, i have German Passport. My flicht is tommorow from Geemany to Hong Kong.
I want go To China as a Tourist. I want To See the Country and i was bevor that never there.
I want stay there for max. 14 days.
I Need a invitaion oder somthing special?
I bring with me One Passphoto and my Passport and the Money for 24 Hours Processing!
I Need somthing more Or not??
Pleas help me
Hello,
you may get the visa without anything more (not sure about the 24 hours though!). However, I suggest you to contact the agency to confirm it.
Hi i am from philippines and we are planning to apply a chinese tourist visa in hongkong. How many days for rush and how much and what agencies. Please help. Coz we only have 7days stay in hongkong.
Hello, check the agency’s link for details
Hello, I have a question for you ! I am a french citizen who will be studying in HK next year for a semester but will definitely be travelling to Shenzen as I have family living there. What is the best way to get a multiple entry tourist visa ? Do I ask for one in France ? or wait until I get to HK ? Thanks so much for your answer.
Hello, you can do both!
It’s difficult to assess which solution is better
Hi
Reading all of this plus the homepage of the visa travel agency mentioned in this article, i still have questions: can i get the L visa without any proof of hotelreservations in china and returnticket? From the airport? From the agency? Because on the agencys website they write i need those documents like hotelreservations and returnticket.
What is proof of legal status? I travel around the world so dont have a home country. My passport is danish.
I need a chinese visa as soon as possible when ariving in hong kong, so i look for the easiest option, not cheapest…
Thanks so much for any help!
Hello Christina,
it could be possible, however we advise you to contact FBT agency (see link on the article) to know about the latest news on these matters
Hello,
it is possible to get student X2 visa in Hong Kong? I’m EU citizen and I have Adiministration notice.
Does anybody have actual information how it works now?
Vlastimir
I’m still reading more and more articles about getting visas in Hong Kong.
I don’t have Hong Kong residence permit.
I have Admission notice, where is NOT specified I will apply in Hong Kong.
It is necessary to have confirmation about money on my bank account?
It is necessary to have confirmation about appartement booking?
It is necessary to have JW202 form?
What documents do I need?
Vlastimir
Hello,
for what we know, if your admission notice doesn’t specify that you shall apply in Hong Kong, then it’s difficult to get an X visa in HK.
As for the general requirements, you find them in this article: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-visa-application/
Hello,
from the feedback we got from our readers, it’s possible, but not sure at all. The most important point is that the invitation letter shall specify that you must apply in Hong Kong
Hello Furio and Many thanks for such a detailed account! This week I got a single entry 30 days L type in Singapore as my girlfriend is relocating to Beijing for work in June and I want to get there before she does to look for an apartment and scout for job opportunities for myself – I used to also be based in Singapore but quit my job in end 2015, so my aim is to join my girlfriend in China under a proper work VISA. Got a couple of questions:
– if I need to extend my stay to continue my pursuit of employment, is it possible to extend my L VISA in Beijing or do I need to do it from outside China? Is there any way to get more than double entry 6 months L VISA from HK?
– If i decide to enroll in a Chinese language course, can I switch to the X VISA in HK?
– Lastly if I succeed in getting a job offer, can I switch to the Z VISA in HK?
Thank you in advance.
Hello,
– I think you can extend it once. Not more than that. Afterwards, it’s possible that it will become difficult for you to get more L visa in 2016 as they want to avoid visa runs
– Yes, getting an X visa shall be possible.
– Although the law says that you shall apply for an Z visa on your own country, we know from our readers that many people got an Z visa in HK. According to their feedback, it seems that in this case it’s key to have an invitation letter that explicitely says that you must apply in HK
I just applied for my Visa in Hong Kong
I read this article before I left for Hong Kong and thought I would throw in my own experience in case it helps anyone.
Today 19-04-2016 I just applied for a single entry tourist visa directly at the office, all that is required is your passport, entry slip, form (which you fill out there) and proof of flights and hotels.
I am a British citizen therefore it cost me 360 HKD plus I paid a further 300 for express so I can collect tomorrow morning.
There was also a polish lady in front of me who I saw applied with no issues and there was also a German couple in the que, not sure how they got on.
I would highly recommend going direct to the office first and if any issues were to arise you could contact an agency instead.
I am currently staying at Casa Hotel which is very nice and close to the visa application office and 5 seconds from the Metro.
Hello Lee, thank you very much for the update! It’s always nice and helpful to read the latest experience,
Cheers
Furio
I am currently teaching English on Z visa. In August 2016 I finish my contract and my employer is going to change my visa to L. From September 2016 I am going to study full-time at the University in China. Unfortunately they told me, it’s impossible to transfer from L to X1 inside China in this city, and I will have to leave the country in order to do it. Do you think there is a chance of getting X1 visa from in Hong Kong?
Also, I wonder if I really need to provide medical examination in HK or they don’t care about it.
Hello Dawid,
first of all, notice that working with a L visa would be illegal. Maybe you just plan to travel for one month, but I just want to make sure you know this : )
Changing an L Visa to X1 Visa seems tricky. Yes, although we have no direct experience, we have heard of people that were able to get a X/Z visa in Hong Kong. From the feedback we got, it seems that the most important part is to make sure that the invitation letter from the school/employer states that you are required to apply in HK.
Having said that, it’s not sure that you can get a X visa in HK
Hi. I am an Australian passport holder. I have been working international but resigned from work in Turkey. I travelled to Netherlands as a tourist and was prevented from applying for a travel visa to China because I am not Dutch. I am thinking of travelling to Hong Kong as a tourist and applying for a tourist visa to mainland China from there. Is this possible (some advice says that only people with work status in Hong Kong can do this), which agencies can do this quickly, what documentation do I require; a return ticket, travel insurance, etc. with thanks
Hello,
most likely you were not refused because not Dutch; if you were living in The Netherlands and had a residence permit, they would have probably granted you the visa.
Hong Kong is an “exception”, that is they often grant you a visa even if you’re not resident there. Having said that, there is no guarantee that you’ll get the visa.
As for the agency, the most common seems to be FBT (see the article for the details):
Hey Furio
Thanks for the amazing and informative blog!
Quick question, in relation to one of the comments mentioned recently about certain countries in which the first Visa application must be from your country of origin before you can apply for subsequent ones in Hong Kong, would you happen to know if Canada is on that list or are Canadian (and/ore American) citizens able to apply for China Visas in Hong Kong on their first time?
Much thanks!
Hello Sara, sorry but I have no idea about this detail : )
Hi Sara,
I’m in a similar situation as you. Do you have any update as to whether you can apply for China Visa in Hong Kong for first time?
Thanks and much appreciated.
Alice
Ahoj, I got visa in Slovakia (EU) for two entries, each of them 30 days. First entry 30 day is OK. After 30 day I need to leave China again. Its no problem. I got Artis in Residency for 2 month after I got this visa. As I understand well I need one more visa for 60 days what I do not have. I will be in HK at the begining. Is it possible to apply for single entry turist visa for 60 day (or one more double entry for 2×30 day) in HK while I already have double entry visa? I will fly monday and stay in HK 14 days. Than 30 days in Shenzhen and wanna pick up new visa while I still will have one for 30 days, what I need.
In Slovakia embassy they said is possible to have only one active visa in my passport. If its true than I have to fly from Kunming to HK when my visa expires, than stay several days in HK waiting for new visa. Is it possible to get again 2×30 day visa?
Hello, they are right in Slovakia. You can’t have 2 valid visas on your passport at the same time. If you get a new visa, the old one will expire.
Hi
I hold algerian passeport . And 2 visa on 12/2015 thé second 02/2016. May I hv New business visa in Hong Kong office .with invitation letter of m’y supplier
Thanks
Hello Amine,
it shall be fine, if you have a valid invitation letter
Based on my experience (I got my visa today), some of the info given in the original article is misleading:
1) Hotels in HK are expensive if you look in the wrong places. There are many hotels for under 200 RMB per night that are actually very high quality. The one I booked was only two metro stops away from the visa centre (Tsim Sha Tsui station) and I kid you not it was really nice, clean, spacious and it really felt like going home at the end of each day. I’m the picky kind. Yes there are some hotels in that price range that are disgusting and have a bathroom as big as an aeroplane WC. You just have to look a little further out, then take the metro to get to the visa centre.
2) Fights to Shenzhen are not always cheaper. My direct flight from Wuxi to HK cost me less than 600 RMB, at a time when the cheapest flight to Shenzhen was over 1200 RMB.
3) Don’t take a taxi from the airport, there are plenty of buses that in straight to the various hotels areas. The A21 stops 100m from my hotel.
4) Not all countries are eligible to rush service so I recommend you check online before you book your return ticket. Unfortunately I don’t know where to find this info and I learnt it the hard way, at the counter. I had planned my trip for two nights, which became 8 nights due to the Easter Friday, the weekend and the following Monday which was also a public holiday. So I had to re-book my return flight and stretch my budget for the additional 5 days.
5) If you don’t want to queue for the photocopier, there is a shop downstairs that charger the same per page but you don’t need to wait. I took my number then literally went downstairs and asked at reception nextdoor of the visa centre, and they said ‘right there’.
Another thing to point out is that the man who hands out the turn numbers is very rude and won’t even look at you or reply to any of your questions if you ask him. Instead of making the experience a happy one, I chooses to be a complete a-hole and takes his personal issues out on visa applicants, so be prepared to be treated with indifference and an overall poor customer service. They know we need their useless visa service (we’d all rather not have to apply for a stupid visa) and the fact that the ‘work’ they do is just bureaucratic bullshit that does nothing of use to humanity and they abuse the position of power that they themselves have created artificially.
Hello Manuel,
thank you for your great feedback : )
Hi
i have a two month z visa from a english language school in beijing that will expire mid may. They said they will extend it for another 10 months after the expiry date. However i am not really keen to work for the company anymore and want to resign immediately. I have spoken to some visa services who said i can apply for a 180 day student visa in south Korea or japan and not attend class. I want to stay in beijing until august and then go travelling. I have enough money saved to last me until august and have no intention of trying to work again in china or study. I also have some expired chinese tourist visas in my EU passport from last year when i came to visit my girlfriend who is chinese. I have been quoted 7000 rmb for the visa and this seems an ok price. Do you think this would be a way around my situation and the visa company can be trusted and that i will have no problems because of the cancelled Z visa or the tourist visas ? i want to stay until august to get married and then we can travel so another question is can i get married while on a 180 student visa if i am granted it ?
any help or advice would be appreciated
Hello,
I think that getting an X visa and then do not attend any class is illegale. We can’t suggest this solution!
As for the problems due to past cancelled resident permits or past L visas, they may be a problem or they may not be. This is very subjective and you never know how it will pan out!
The 6 months business visa is still available for non HK residents?
In principle it’s available.
I find this article very useful. Cheers to the author…
I’m currently on X visa in mainland China. I’ve been here for about 8 years. I just got my master’s degree and a job offer too. I have read from previous comments that it’s possible to apply for a Z visa in Hong Kong provided it’s indicated on your invitation letter that you’ll be applying from HK. However, i have less than 12 months validity left on my passport (valid until 15/03/2017). Some websites say the applicant’s passport must have at least 12 months validity while others say 6 months. I’ve looked up the chinese embassy’s website in my home country, Cameroon, and it’s states 6 months. Does passport validity at the time of application depend on the nationality of the applicant? Would I have a problem if I go to HK to apply? Thanks.
Hello Alfred,
we always heard about 6 months of validity. However I can’t confirm if there are exceptions for some countries. I suggest you to contact the Chinese Consular Office where you intend to apply for the visa
Thank you very much Furio. I guess I’ll have to call the consular office to confirm. Just in case…
Yep : )
Hello
I have an enquiry.I hold an ecuadorian passport. I have a 2 entrance visa for 30 days each entrance. I got my visa in Ecuador. Now I have used my 1st entrance and I will use my second entrance if I go to hong Kong, so while I am there I would like to have an extension for my L visa.
I want to have a L visa double entrance for 50 days. I have an invitation letter of a foreign person who has permanent residence visa. This person will cover my expenses and I will live in his place. My reason is to visit my boyfriend.
Hello, for extensions I think you are better of in China.
OK, is better to get a new visa.
Hola Alejandra and your question is? I you want to know if it is posible to get that extension you can ask any agency in Hong Kong directly.
Hello Furio Fu,
I’m a German citizen and currently staying in China with a tourist visa (2 entries, each 90 days). In June my visa will expire but I would like to stay for another 6 months or longer. I contacted FBT and they offered me a 1 year multiple entry business visa by sending my passport to Hong Kong. They said as soon as I get my passport back, I have to leave China with my old visa (tourist visa) and return with the new one (business visa). I don’t mind sending my passport to Hong Kong but I’m really worried that the customs will check my passport, see the new visa and don’t let me pass or even worse, arrest me.
Have you ever heard from anybody who has done this before or do you know the regulations about having 2 visas in a passport? Is this some kind of a grey area and it depends on the customs what they would do?
I would really appreciate your advice.
Thank you.
Hello Nico,
definitely a grey area. If I was you, I would go to Hong Kong myself to get my new visa!
okay, thank you for your help.
Hi I’m new here but i have been reading , there are loop holes in the system regarding china visa. and I’m not suggesting anyone should do this but applying for tourist visa first time around and you still can continue to get tourist visa after the first 90days .but it will be reduce down to every 30days.
and after the usage of all the 30days there other ways of retaining other type class visas port.
its a long story in how to do this but this is not the place to share this informations.
i just feel a lot for you that are traveling to china. and yes its a pretty difficult country to getting in and staying in. please don’t ask how its done. but just keep leaving ur questions on here. i be reading and pop few answers in the works.
I am a South African national working on a cruise ship. My ship will be docked in Xingang in April, in a province outside of Beijing. I would like to do the Forbidden City and the Square but need a visa to travel to the neighboring province. I would like to get a visa in Hong Kong and my ship is docked in Hong Kong on Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27. Before that we are in Vietnam. Is it possible to get a visa in Hong Kong on those days and within 24 hours?
Hello, I dont think 24 hours is enough but you may try to ask to FBT (see link on the article)