A Chinese visa is not needed by most visitors to enter Hong Kong. If you want to visit Chinese mainland after your stay in Hong Kong, you need to apply for a Chinese visa. It is possible to get a Chinese visa in Hong Kong.
One way to avoid having to get a visa to enter Chinese mainland is to transit to a third country via a visa-free Chinese city.
You can spend up to 72 hours or 144 hours in China without a visa if you meet the requirements.
Which Types of Visa Can Be Applied For
It is possible to get a tourist visa (L), a business visa (M), a work visa (Z), a student visa (X), and many other types in Hong Kong.
You can apply for a single-entry 30-day tourist visa or a double-entry 60-day tourist visa (after 30 days you will need to leave and re-enter China).
Two Ways to Obtain a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong
Option A: apply in person at the Chinese Visa Office — economical but energy-consuming
Option B: apply via a visa agency — more expensive, but convenient and time-saving
Option A: Apply in Person at the Visa Office
It is possible to get a China visa in Hong Kong.Step 1: Prepare your documents (e.g. for a tourist visa, as below):
- A photocopy of your passport bio page
- A recent passport photograph
- A completed visa application form
- A photocopy of the arrival stamp or sticker that you received upon entering Hong Kong
- Your round-trip tickets to and from Chinese mainland
- Photocopies of all of your hotel bookings for the duration of your stay in China
You can get a visa application form in the visa office, or you can download it from the Chinese embassy's website or from our website. Online applications must be completed on a computer, then printed out.
If you don't have a passport photo you can use the photo booth at the visa application office for a fee.
Step 2: Go to the visa office.
To apply for a China visa, you will need to visit the Consular Department Office.
- Address: 7th Floor, Lower Block, China Resources Building, 26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
- Tel: 3413-242
- Website: http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/
- Opening hours: 9am–12pm and 2pm–5pm on weekdays
The timing of your visit is very important, since it can get extremely crowded. Generally, the best time to apply for a visa is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
The process for a visa application in the visa office:
(1) Fill in a visa application form if you have not prepared one beforehand.
(2) Get a waiting ticket with a number on it.
(3) Hand in your documents to the visa officer and receive a collection receipt.
(4) Pay when you go back to pick up the visa.
Step 3: Wait for your visa.
In general, it takes 4 working days to get the visa. If you wish to receive it sooner than that, you can apply for the express service of 3 working days (an extra 200 HKD or 25 USD) or the rush service of 2 working days (an extra 300 HKD or 38 USD).
If you have no interest in visiting Hong Kong, the rush service is more economical as hotels in Hong Kong are quite expensive.
Step 4: Pay the visa fee and collect your visa.
Go back to the seventh floor, proceed to the cashier, pay for the visa, and then collect your visa.
In general, a single-entry visa costs 200 HKD, a double-entry visa costs 300 HKD, and a multiple-entry visa costs 500 HKD.
But there are many exceptions. For example:
| Country | Single-entry | Double-entry |
|---|---|---|
| America | 1,100 HKD | 1,100 HKD |
| Canada | 630 HKD | 630 HKD |
| United Kingdom | 360 HKD | 540 HKD |
Option B: Apply Via a Visa Agency
If you want to save time and hassle, you can apply for a visa via an agency. Here are two recommended agencies for your reference: China Travel Service (http://www.chinatravelservice.com/) and Forever Bright (http://www.fbt-chinavisa.com.hk/).
Touring Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland with China Highlights
We can design a tour for you combining Hong Kong and Chinese mainland. We will take care of the transportation, accommodation, and sightseeing. All you need to do is have your passport and visa ready and tell us what you want to do.
Here are some of our popular tours including HK for your reference:
- One-Day Macau Tour from Hong Kong — taking you to experience Macau's fascinating mix of cultures
- 10-Day Imperial and Scenic China Family Tour — taking you to visit the highlights in Beijing, Guilin, Yangshuo, and Hong Kong