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China Visa Application Hong Kong – Planning a visit to China? If so, you will need a visa. And unfortunately for Americans, this visa can be a little tricky (
Unlike many other Asian countries, you cannot arrive at the Chinese border and apply for a visa on the spot. Applying for a visa can be a bit complicated and time-consuming; so make sure you apply for your visa at least one month before your planned trip.
China Visa Application Hong Kong
Many people will go to visa agencies such as China Travel Service or China Visa Service Center because they are less likely to be rejected. However, it costs extra money, and the visa itself costs quite a bit for an American, so I got the visa on my own, without the help of an agency, and you can too.
Visa And Passport Requirements For Hong Kong
Before you run to the China Resources Building, make sure you fill out all the official applications and collect your supporting documents. Here’s what you need to bring with you:
When all this is ready, you can go to the China visa office, no prior appointment is required.
Pro tip: Try not to go on a Monday or Tuesday because the wait is significantly longer on those days.
The China Visa Office is located on the 7th floor of the China Resources Building in Wang Chai (Hong Kong Island). The building itself is quite easy to find as it is right next to the giant convention center. You’ll want to enter through the door right on the corner of Fleming Rd. and Harbor Dr., otherwise they will try to direct you to a visa agency.
Uk China Hong Kong Passport Immigration Visa Identification Stock Photo
The website can be found here When: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM weekdays; closed on weekends and holidays
How to get there: Wan Chai MTR Station, Exit A5. Take the flyover to the Immigration Building. There are stairs to the right outside the immigration office, take them down to street level. The China Resources Building will be just beyond the next intersection (Fleming Rd. and Harbor Dr.).
Pro tip: If you can’t get to the office at this time, you can get someone else to apply for you (just make sure you trust them so they don’t lose your passport…). You will need to note this at the bottom of Form A (section 7).
Chances are, there will be some kind of line or at least some kind of waiting area near the main door. This was the longest part of my entire application process. I got there at 9:05am right after opening. There were only 5 people in front of me, but due to bad timing with only 2 elevators and airport security, it took me 10 minutes to get to the correct floor.
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. Everyone must go through a metal detector and all bags must go through an X-ray scanner. There is quite a long list of items that cannot be carried, obviously knives and other potentially dangerous items, as well as food and drink. This slowed down the line even more as everyone tried to empty their packed lunches.
Once there was a duty officer on the 7th floor handing out application forms. I was the only one (of the 7 people who got on the elevator with me) who had filled them out before, so he looked at them before handing me my number.
In addition to the official forms, photocopiers and photo booths are also available in case you forget any part of your application.
Fortunately, since I had everything ready, my number was next in line. I waited a full 2 minutes before my number was called for the next available counter.
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Unfortunately, during those 2 minutes of waiting, I saw another American girl angry that her application was rejected. I prayed that I wouldn’t be called to the same counter – and as luck would have it, of course I was.
I nervously approached the counter and gave the officer all the documents. She must have gone through my passport four times while I was standing there, trying not to look nervous. She gave me half of my documents back and said she couldn’t give me the visa I applied for (6 months multiple entry).
I worried for a minute in my head, but then she said that she could give me a dual visa.
Since I’m American and haven’t been to China yet, the most I could get was a double entry. However, once I use it, I can apply for a 6-month multiple login. The bad thing is that all visas cost the same for Americans at $140, so I doubt I’ll be paying that amount again to get another visa anytime soon.
China Visa Application
After stamping all my documents, she handed me a blue sheet of paper and it was over.
Don’t lose this paper. I cannot stress this enough. If you do, you need to write a letter explaining why you lost it in order to try to get your passport back.
A standard visa application takes 4 working days (but this includes the day of submission). There are also options for 2- and 3-day registration for an additional fee.
Be sure to bring the blue form they gave you and cash to pay for the visa ($1100 HKD). When you arrive, you don’t have to wait in line downstairs. Just show them your blue piece of paper and you will be taken to the elevator.
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In the same room where you applied for the visa, you will see a cash register on the left. First you need to come here and pay for the visa. After that, you can proceed to the adjacent counter, which is the actual collection point.
Pro tip: As soon as you receive your passport, check to make sure everything is correct. There is a no-return policy once you leave the building.
***Please note that Hong Kong has changed its Chinese visa application policy last year. If you are not a Hong Kong resident, you can no longer apply in Hong Kong and must apply in your country of residence. So don’t plan on applying for a visa while you’re here before you go to China***
Hooray…good luck! After months of trying to figure out how to get a Chinese visa (official hours were impossible due to my job), I finally got my visa ready. China, I have arrived!
Electronic Services For Visa Application
Special thanks again to Joanne for helping to fund part of my visa costs. Stay tuned next week to hear about my first experience with mainland China.
Originally from Chicago, Beth got her first real taste of travel when she studied abroad in Japan during her senior year of university. She ended up loving Asia so much that she returned right after graduation and now teaches English full-time in Hong Kong. Armed with a camera and a passion for travel, she now decides to photograph the world, proving that it is possible to work a normal “9-5” and still find time to travel. China is known for its architectural marvels, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, martial arts and exquisite cuisine that varies from one part of the country to another. China is also the largest exporter and importer of goods in the world, which is why it is visited not only by tourists but also by business travelers. If the pandemic has ruined all your plans to go to China earlier, then we have good news for you! China has recently resumed issuing all types of visas, and our step-by-step guide will help you easily apply for a China visa.
The first step is to determine whether you need a visa or not. According to the China Visa Center, citizens of 53 nationalities in transit through China can exit the airport and visit the country without a visa for a limited period of stay. Information on visa-free transit is provided below.
If you have a stopover in China on your way to another country, then China offers Visa Free Transit (TWOV), which allows passengers to travel without a visa for 24 hours, 72 hours and 144 hours. While the 24-hour TWOV is available to almost all nationalities, the 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transits are only available to citizens of 53 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Russia and Australia.
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Citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore enjoy a much broader exemption. They can stay in China without a visa for up to 15 days. If you do not meet any of the visa relaxation criteria due to your citizenship or travel plans, continue reading to learn about the entire visa process.
China, like any other country, has several types of visas. So the next step in this procedure is to determine the visa category you need, as this will determine the documents you need to attach to your application.
After you decide on the visa category, the next step is to fill out the application form
