{"id":3207,"date":"2019-11-20T01:00:01","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T00:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/?p=3207"},"modified":"2022-02-22T12:26:59","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T11:26:59","slug":"get-a-chinese-visa-in-hong-kong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/get-a-chinese-visa-in-hong-kong\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"chinese<\/p>\n

Need help to get your Chinese visa?
Click here to find out more!<\/a><\/div>\n
\n

How to get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong – Index<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Do I need a Visa to visit Hong Kong?<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Where can I get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong and how much does it cost?<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. How to travel from China to Hong Kong (the cheapest way)?<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

    <\/p>\n

    \n

    Before you begin<\/h3>\n

    If you can\u2019t apply for a visa in your country of residence because you already live in Asia or you\u2019re traveling, Hong Kong is still the best place to get one.<\/p>\n

    In the first part of this article, we\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

    In the second part of this article, we\u2019ll explain how to travel from China to Hong Kong<\/a> in the quickest and cheapest way in order to get a visa. <\/p>\n

    Note that all the information that you\u2019ll find in this article is the result of our own personal experience since we\u2019ve applied for many visas in Hong Kong, starting way back in 2012. <\/p>\n

    For more general information on Chinese Visa, I suggest you read Chinese Visa application: A complete guide<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

    <\/p>\n

    <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Do I need a Visa to visit Hong Kong?<\/h2>\n

    If you are an American, Canadian, Australian or European (from E.U, I mean) citizen, then you don\u2019t 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<\/a> to check whether you need a Visa or not.<\/p>\n

    Once you arrive in Hong Kong<\/a>, a customs officer will stick a \u201cVisa exemption\u201d ticket on your passport, which specifies for how long you can legally stay in Hong Kong without a Visa.<\/p>\n

    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<\/a>).<\/p>\n

    Where can I get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong?<\/h2>\n

    Option A: Using an agency<\/h3>\n

    First Update:<\/strong> At the moment, according to our readers, this is the easiest solution (unless you hold a Hong Kong resident permit).<\/p>\n

    Second update:<\/strong> 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).<\/p>\n

    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. <\/p>\n

    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). <\/p>\n

    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).<\/p>\n

    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). <\/p>\n

    There are a lot of visa agencies in Hong Kong. Personally, I like Forever Bright<\/strong>. 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). <\/p>\n

    The prices for the faster services (two or three working days) are 1,170 HKD and 1,720 HKD, respectively.<\/p>\n

    However, there are many exceptions; you can check the price for your nationality by following this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    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). <\/p>\n

    Here is their address and contact information of Forever Bright Agency:<\/p>\n

    Rooms 916-917, New Mandarin Plaza Tower B
    \n14 Science Museum Road,
    \nT.S.T. East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
    \nTel: 852-2369 3188
    \nWebsite:     www.fbt-chinavisa.com.hk<\/a>
    \n<\/em><\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    The other agency that seems to be quite good is CTS (China Travel Service)<\/strong>, located at the Hong Kong airport. I’ve heard that here, you’ll need at least three working days to get your Visa.<\/p>\n

    \"chinese<\/p>\n

    Option B: The Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC)<\/h3>\n

    If you don\u2019t want to use an agency, then you will have to apply for your Visa at the CVASC<\/a> (unless you own a special passport). <\/p>\n

    Here the address and contact information: <\/p>\n

    Address: 20\/F, Capital Center, 151 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
    \nBusiness Hours: Monday-Friday (closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)
    \nSubmission of Applications and Payment: 9:00 to 16:00 (Urgent service before 12:00)
    \nCollection: Regular Service: 10:00 to 17:00, Express and Urgent Service: 12:00 to 17:00
    \nTel: + 852 29921999
    \nFax: + 852 29891116
    \nEmail: hongkongcenter@visaforchina.org
    \nWebsite: www.visaforchina.org<\/em><\/p>\n

    Here<\/a><\/strong> 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).<\/p>\n

    Here<\/a><\/strong> you find the Visa fees. <\/p>\n

    Here<\/a><\/strong> you can schedule an appointment for your Visa application. <\/p>\n

    Option C: The Consular Department Office (not applicable for ordinary passports)<\/h3>\n

    Update:<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n

    Although we don\u2019t 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<\/a>. It’s close to Wan Chai subway station. The exact address is:<\/p>\n

    7th Floor, Lower Block, China Resources Building
    \n26 Harbour Road
    \nWanchai, Hong Kong Island
    \nTel: +852 3413 2424 (    here<\/a> you find working time and email address)
    \n<\/em><\/p>\n

    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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    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\u2019ll pay 200 HKD extra), or the rush service if you want to get the Visa within two working days (you\u2019ll pay 300 HKD extra).<\/p>\n

    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!<\/p>\n

    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\u2019ll end up spending more than the 300 HKD extra needed for the rush Visa process.<\/p>\n

    The list of necessary documents for obtaining a visa at the consular office<\/h3>\n

    Here\u2019s a testimonial from our reader, Enrico Penna (edited by me).<\/p>\n

    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\u2019t 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\u2019t even get it the next time around.<\/p>\n

    Between my direct failings and those of other unfortunate ones, I believe I\u2019m able to provide a complete list of necessary documents:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n