Editing Hong Kong (section)

== Visas ==
'''Warning''': This section is intended to help you understand the basics of Hong Kong and China Visas and give you a foundation from which to move forward and make decisions. However, China has a complicated visa policy that is constantly changing for various reasons. Prices, availability, conditions etc. are all subject to change without notice. Although we try to provide helpful, updated information here to help you navigate the process, you must do your own additional research. If you have updated info for us, please let us know and we'll try to incorporate it as soon as possible.
 
=== Visa for Hong Kong ===

Holders of many passports can travel to Hong Kong visa free.

Visa requirements for holders of different passports, please see [http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm#part2 this] list maintained by the Hong Kong Government:

If you intend to move to Hong Kong or to stay in Hong Kong for a long time, there are various Hong Kong visa options:
[http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_1.htm Hong Kong's Immigration Department website]

[http://www.hongkongvisahandbook.com/hong_kong_visa_handbook_2011_a_guide_to_immigration_employment_investment_work_permit_and_residency_applications.html A list of Hong Kong visa options] Note that this links to a business website not a government website and is for reference only.

[http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_10.htm Hong Kong's Working Holiday Scheme]

[http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_10a.htm List of eligible countries and basic regulations for the Working Holiday Scheme]

=== Visa for mainland China (ex HK/Macau/Taiwan) ===

Most visitors of mainland China require a visa to visit mainland China, except holders of Singaporean and Japanese passports and holders of Hong Kong Permanent Identity card with Chinese ancestry.

There are 8 types of Chinese visa. The popular types are: L Visa (for tourist), F Visa (for business), Z Visa (for work), X Visa (for study) and G Visa (for transit in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing airports).

China has a complicated visa policy that is constantly changing for various reasons. The visa requirements for holders of different passports are different. It is highly advisable that you check with the Chinese Embassy in your home country shortly before you visit China.

Hong Kong is a popular place for foreigners to apply for Chinese visas, because the time required for the granting of visa is relatively short compared to most foreign Chinese embassies.

'''L Visa: different sub-categories'''[[File:L-visa.jpg|300px|right|thumb|L Visa - All visas require one full passport page]]
(Note: If you plan to visit the Tibet region of China, you will need to obtain a separate permit in addition to the L Visa.
# Single/double entry in 3 months
#* available to all nationalities
#* '''this is the most common visa that most travelers are granted'''
#* application methods:
#*# via Chinese embassy in your home country (3-10 days)
#*# via CTS in Hong Kong (4 working days, expect to queue up for 1-2 hours)
#*# via visa agents in Hong Kong (0.5-1 working day, most agents charge ~HK$80 as handling fee)
# Single/double entry in 6 months
#* available to all nationalities
#* not a common visa, however, for overseas Chinese visiting relatives in China, it is sometimes granted
#* application methods: same as in item (1) above.
# Multiple entries in 6 months/1 year
#* only for holders of Hong Kong identity card (permanent or non-permanent), whatever passport the applicant is holding
#* application methods
#*# via Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong (about a week)
#*# via CTS (4 working days)
# Visa on arrival: 5-day visa for visit to Shenzhen only
#* for certain nationalities only (as of June 2010 - holders of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, Ecudor, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Panama, most EU countries passports) - RMB160 for most nationalities (Note: many exceptions, eg. RMB460 for British)
#* the visa only allow the holder to stay in Shenzhen only. Holder of the visa must exit Shenzhen to Hong Kong (by land) or to Macau (by ferry), you may not travel to any other part of China with this visa.
#* application methods
#*# via Luo Hu Border Custom Building (go up 2/F after crossing the HK-Shenzhen bridge at the Lo Wu border point) (30 minutes)
#*# via Shekou Ferry Terminal (go straight after landing in the Shekou pier) (15 minutes)
#*# Note (1): Not available in Huanggong, Futian (aka Lok Ma Chau), Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok custom points
#*# Note (2): The policy for the 5-day Shenzhen visa changes from time to time and from our past experience there is no announcement of change. If you intend to apply for this visa at the border, it is advisable that you call the Lo Wu border office (see contact number below) before your trip to check whether your passport is qualified under the latest version of the policy.
#*# Note (3): Further discussion - http://www.evisaasia.com/visa-guide/shenzhen-five-days-visa/
# Visa on arrival: 5-day visa for visit to Zhuhai only
#* for certain nationalities only (as of June 2010 - holders of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, Ecudor, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Panama, most EU countries passports) - RMB160 for most nationalities (Note: many exceptions, eg. RMB460 for British)
#* the visa only allow the holder to stay in Zhuhai only. Holder of the visa must exit Zhuhai to Macau (by land) or to Hong Kong (by ferry), you may not travel to any other part of China with this visa.
#* application methods
#*# via Zhuhai Jiuzhou Ferry Terminal (turn right and walk down the narrow corridor after arriving in the ferry terminal) (15 minutes)
#*# Note (1): Not available in Gongbei custom points
#*# Note (2): See Note (2) and (3) for 5-day Shenzhen visa on arrival above.

=== Contacts details ===
===1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs===
[http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm English visa info]
:Address: China Resources building, 26Harbor Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
:Office Hour: Monday to Friday (except public holidays in Hong Kong)
:Morning: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 a. m.
:Afternoon:2:00p.m.-5:00p.m
:Tel: 852-34132300(according to the website, it's a 24 hour Recorded Visa Information Service but experiences may vary), 852-34132424 (Live Answering Telephone available in office hours )

=== 2. CTS ===
(China Travel Service) - the official visa agent of the Chinese government
:Details: http://www.ctshk.com/english/useful/chinesevisa.htm
:Offices in HK: http://www.ctshk.com/english/aboutus/branch_hkgmac.htm

=== 3. Visa agents ===
: These are some visa agents that our CS-ers have had good experience using:

:* [http://www.fbt-chinavisa.com.hk/ Forever Bright Trading Limited]

:* [http://www.jta.biz/chinavisa/china_visa.htm Japan Travel Service Ltd] (with a list of visa fees for different passports)

:* [http://www.cosmicguesthouse.com/services/china-visa.htm Cosmic Guest House]

:* GuangZhou Guest House, Flat B1/10F Mirador Mansion, 54-64 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (phone 2311 3085): cheap and fast, for example: 1 day processing time and HKD430 for 3 months single entry, HKD550 for 2 entries (German passport)

=== 4. Lo Wu Custom ===
: Tel: 86-755-82327700 (speaks only mandarin)
: Service hour: 10am - 10pm.

=== Latest Situation ===

These are the latest visa conditions we heard from our CS-ers. (last updated: 27 June 2013):
:* China has imposed extra visa requirements for holders of Norwegian, French passports.
:* The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reduced the application fee for holders of Polish passports (RMB160).
:* [March 2011] There seems to be a quota on the number of Visa On Arrival granted each day - reason: The International University Sports Games is carrying on in Shenzhen
:* [15 July 2011] A headsup for everybody who intends to apply for a Chinese visa. The "International University Games" is going to take place in Shenzhen in the next couple of months and we are seeing that most CSers' Chinese visa applications for more than 30 days (Type L - travel) are being refused (ie. most people are granted only a 30-day visa - one entry)
:* [15 May 2012] Increased scrutiny of visa applications due to a 100 day action against illegal foreigners in China. See [http://shanghaiist.com/2012/05/15/beijing_begins_100-day_crackdown_on.php link] for more info.
:* [27 June 2013] 1) Time required for visa application processing increased from 1 day to 4 days.  2) Multiple entry F visa (6 months - 1 year) no longer granted.  3) Z visa no longer granted in HK. See [https://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=59854&post=14632805 link] for more info.
:* [8 January 2014] Single entry Tourist Visa fee increased to $680 for most EU nationalities (except the UK).  It definitely takes 4 days instead of 6 hours at the 3 agents above.  Travellers holding French passport can no longer apply for tourist visa in HK (except those who live in HK and holds a HKID Card).

'''''Recently it's been noticed that most people can only get 30 day visas. If you intend to travel in China for more than 30 days, do arrange your visa in the Chinese embassy in your home country prior to coming to HK.'''''