Visa: China Visas from Hong Kong

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A more permanent update about buying your China visa in Hong Kong!

As from October 2008, the authorities have re-established the pre-olympic arrangement with ONE BIG MODIFICATION.

F visa are available again with little question asked, but ONLY TO HK RESIDENT! The HK commissioner office check the kind of visa you already have on your passport to make sure that you are not a tourist before issuing a F visa. This means that agencies have no way of getting around this and that tourist cannot get a F visa.

Currently HK tourist can can only get single or double entry tourist (L) visas, and even a double entry tourist visa will be hard to get. Maximum validity is now 30days for most countries.

There are no expectation of this situation changing soon as the new arrangement satisfy the HK business lobby (which was instrumental in the return to pre-olympic rules).

This information has been directly collected (and experienced) by me and my friends living in HK, or traveling regularly through HK.

Sorry

There are plenty places in Hong Kong that supply visas. Proven good are:

The Official China Visa Office in Wanchai:

Visa Application Submission hours:

9:00 am - 12:00 noon / 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Mon-Fri)

Visa Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in Hong Kong

7/F., Lower Block, China Resources Building,

26 Harbour Road, Wanchai District, Hong Kong

Enquiry: Tel : (852) 3413 2424

Website : http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm (careful, they change the URL quite often)

(Note: some long time visas are only given to permanent HK residents)

Special note to USA passport holders:

Regardless of the number of entries, the regular visa fee for individual applicant is HK$1020.

http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/blsjfy/default.htm

Japan Travel Agency

http://www.jta.biz/chinavisa/china_visa.htm

They offer 3-month visas for HK$460

Note: since 01-01-2008 6-month (or longer) F Visa will not be offered through travel agents. You need an invitation letter from a Chinese company (or a Hong Kong company with operations in China) and should apply through the Visa Office in Wanchai.

Wherever you go, bring passport pictures to reduce your waiting time. If you go to the official visa place in Wanchai, you should also bring a ballpoint pen.

Edited January 5, 2009 at 09:01 AM by guillaumeowl
accuracy