Getting a Visa for China in Hong Kong

Getting a visa to China or renewing your old Chinese visa when it expires can be a very stressful, expensive and difficult process so I've listed below the details of a recent Hong Kong China visa run.

With a visa set to expire on the 11th of this month and I was told on the 3rd that I would not be able to get it renewed through the normal channels. Very bad news. I had to get to Hong Kong ASAP before my old visa blew up in my face.

Normally I'd catch a train to Shenzhen and cross over to Hong Kong at the Luohu border crossing (because I'm cheap) but time was short so I had to fly. The cheapest flights were to Shenzhen so I arrived in Shenzhen Tuesday night and stayed at the Home Inn on Yanhe South Road 1062 for 210rmb.

Woke up early the next morning and crossed into Hong Kong ag Luo Hu. The hotel is only an 8 minute walk from the border so a great place to stay if you are on a visa run. Once across the border I took the KCR to Hunghom.

Normally with getting visas, you have two choices. Apply at the official government China Visa office OR at a visa agency.

The China Visa Office is in Wanchai and you can see the details here on the official website

The cheapest place in Hong Kong to get a visa (HK$200) but lots of queuing, form filling and waiting.

I was in a hurry so I went to the visa agent Forever Bright in Tsim Sha Tsui who are the best town. You can check them out on their website here.

Their website is joke but their service, prices and professionalism are outstanding.

It took me 10 minutes to walk from Humghom train station to Forever Bright’s office and less than 10 minutes to submit my passport and application. I was back at 1:50pm to pick up my passport and shiny new visa for HK$480.

For more information on getting a Chinese visa in Hong Kong, check out my blog post that is full of details, directions, prices and more.

Hi,
Its not easy to get a visa for china.

Hi Traveloworld, for most nationalities getting a visa for China in Hong Kong is very easy. This is one of the reasons why Hong Kong is such an ideal place to get visas for China.

I used Forever Bright last year. Very easy and quick. Same day service.

Only thing that was irritating was that they, or China, requires your passport sized photo to be taken on a light blue background. So I had to pay a few HKD to have them take a photo for the application.

Wait a minute:

I thought that any visa to China by an American required that you get your visa in your HOME COUNTRY. Am I wrong? Is Hong Kong an exception?

JasonT wrote:I used Forever Bright last year. Very easy and quick. Same day service.

Only thing that was irritating was that they, or China, requires your passport sized photo to be taken on a light blue background. So I had to pay a few HKD to have them take a photo for the application.

Hi Jason, it is annoying. You go in there with the correct white background photo but they need the ligth blue and charge youHK$20 to change it. I asked them about this and they say they submit the applications directly to the local PSB so different requirements

Ddrezner wrote:Wait a minute:

I thought that any visa to China by an American required that you get your visa in your HOME COUNTRY. Am I wrong? Is Hong Kong an exception?

Hi Ddrezner, if you are from the US, you can get a visa from a number of different countries. I've heard of people getting visas in Bangkok, Tokyo and a few other places. You definitely don't have to get one in your home country and Americans have no problem getting visas in Hong Kong. I saw a couple of American guys picking up their visas from Foreverbright when I was there.

One of my friend got Visa for Hong kong for 25$, I think it's not expensive. btw he is a Chinese.

Halley62373 wrote:One of my friend got Visa for Hong kong for 25$, I think it's not expensive. btw he is a Chinese.

Hi Halley, The procedure for mainland Chinese to enter Hong Kong is very different from everyone else and much more difficult. This is one reason why most Chinese travelling to Hong Kong join tours.

The Chinese prefer you to get your visa done in your home country but they allow you get them from Hong Kong with little problem, especially if you use a visa service. What used to annoy me was that they are issued in either Shenzhen or Zhuhai but you apply for them in HK. The cost of a visa varies between countries. Also the types of visa varies as well - Aussies can get a 5 day visa from LuoHu but some other countries can't. I think it is some sort of payback for how Chinese are treated when applying for visas to visit other countries. The easier it is for them the easier it will be for you.
It is good to see the system I was used to still operates as I may be going back there on business and if all goes well maybe applying for another Resident Permit.

Hi Chinamonty

Chinese must find getting visas for France very difficult I was speaking to a Frenchman recently and the French have visa condiations and limiations that most other countries do not have. For example proof of travel insurance.

Chinamonty wrote:The Chinese prefer you to get your visa done in your home country but they allow you get them from Hong Kong with little problem, especially if you use a visa service. What used to annoy me was that they are issued in either Shenzhen or Zhuhai but you apply for them in HK. The cost of a visa varies between countries. Also the types of visa varies as well - Aussies can get a 5 day visa from LuoHu but some other countries can't. I think it is some sort of payback for how Chinese are treated when applying for visas to visit other countries. The easier it is for them the easier it will be for you.
It is good to see the system I was used to still operates as I may be going back there on business and if all goes well maybe applying for another Resident Permit.