'China Visa' ↓

This is a first-hand report from the China Travel Service (CTS) agent in Macau, from a friend of mine. No guess. Real experience.
 
The restrictions imposed on Hong Kong are now applied to Macau as well. Like Hong Kong, 33 countries’ citizens are banned from applying for a China visa in Macau, unless they are working or living in the city: Afghanistan, Tunisia, Algeria, Bangladesh ,Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, lraq,  Mali, Libya, South Africa, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan,  Malaysia, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Mauritania, Saudi Arab, Sierra Leone, Syria.

The ban is being vigorously implemented. A Nepalese trying to get a Visa in Macau had been going to the CTS for three days in a row, but each time, he told my friend, his application was turned down. There is no other alternative but he has to go back to his home country to apply for a China visa.

If your country is not on the list, do not assume that you can still get a 30-day or 60-day tourist visa. You will be given a 7-day visa only! And for this 7-day visa, you have to show the following:

1. financial statement
2. foreigners are required to show the hotel reservation during the period of travelling in China
3. a flight booking of leaving China is also necessary in order to prove their schedule of departure

You will get a small piece of paper with the above instructions (in the exact wording) when entering the Macau CTS office (the one in the city centre, not at the pier) for a China visa. So these requirements are “official”.

For item 1, you can choose to show cash equivalent to US$700, if you do not show your financial statement.

“I saw a European couple put down US$700, flight tickets and hotel coupon on the table, and the staff examined them. It is a serious business,” my friend reported.

For a 7-day visa, you pay 500MOP (Macau Pataca) if you want to get it the following day. Or you pay 210MOP for a normal service that requires 4 working days.

A Lebanese, in chatting with my friend, said he had business in Guangzhou, and could not extend his visa there. So he came to Macau to try his luck. He first went to the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Macau, only to be told that “it is illegal to issue him a visa”. So he came to the CTS office and was given a 7-day visa, a visa that is far shorter than he wanted, but then it is still a visa.

It seems that it may be easier to get a China (tourist) visa through the CTS rather than through the government channel, and Hong Kong and Macau may no longer be the haven for China visas, at least not until the Olympics is over.  

Related:

Get a China visa in Macau

Get a China visa in Macau (part 2)

I was asked by a visitor of this blog to provide some “real information” – and no guess - over getting a China visa in Hong Kong/Macau. Well, he may not know much about China and how things work there.

The recent visa restrictions imposed by the mainland authorities are a fact, but the mainland authorities have not been able to stipulate the restrictions, and how these restrictions will affect business people and tourists of different nationalities. All the news coming out so far have been bits and pieces, and information is not TRANSPARENT. There is no official announcement whatsoever!

Because of the lack of transparency, European business chambers in Hong Kong have been pressing mainland authorities to come up with clear information on China visas, but to no avail so far.

China is not a country that you can associate it with transparency. Not yet.

Report from South China Morning Post for your information:

Foreign Office asks Beijing to clarify changes to visa rules
 
Albert Wong
Apr 23, 2008          
 
Concerns about newly imposed restrictions on visas for travel to the mainland have been taken up at the diplomatic level, Britain’s top representative in Hong Kong said yesterday. But so far, China had provided no answers, said Andrew Seaton.

Exasperation has been growing among foreign businesspeople and chambers of commerce at the restrictions and at the dearth of official information about them.

The British consul general, who said fostering business ties was one of his priorities, revealed that the Foreign Office had taken up the matter with mainland authorities.

“The British chamber, I know, has been very concerned about the real impact it has on the ability of their membership to pursue business in China … We have also taken up the matter with Chinese authorities in Hong Kong, Beijing and indeed in London, to try to get as much clarification as we can on quite what the changes are,” he said.

Business chambers have received hundreds of complaints about what appears to be a tightening of visa regulations in the lead-up to the Olympics. Businessmen who need to make frequent trips to the mainland have been the worst affected.

Travel agents have said they were notified on March 27 that no new multiple-entry visas would be issued until October. On April 1, when the Commissioner’s Officer of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong took over issuing all visas, immigration officers at the border stopped issuing short-stay visas for Shenzhen.

Last week, the office confirmed that visa applicants must present return tickets and a hotel voucher to secure a tourist visa; business travellers need a “visa notification form”.

Beijing denies there has been any change in visa policy. Travel agents link the changes to the Olympics.
 

Hong Kong has always been an easy place to get a China tourist or business visa, either through the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong (Commissioner’s Office), or through travel agents, particularly the strongly-networked China Travel Service (CTS) branches.

However, because of the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer, this is no longer the case, at least not until after the Olympics. The Chinese Government has curbed China visa applications. From all the news coming in, here’s the latest situation:

It is LARGELY true that you do not need to reside or work in Hong Kong in order to get a China visa in the city, though the Commissioner’s Office put up a notice on its website on April 13, which says that only those residing or working in Hong Kong can apply for a China visa through the Office.

The fact seems to be that as long as your country is not on the following list, you can still apply for a China visa in Hong Kong: Afghanistan, Tunisia, Algeria, Bangladesh ,Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, lraq,  Mali, Libya, South Africa, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan,  Malaysia, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Mauritania, Saudi Arab, Sierra Leone, Syria.

The Guardian also reported on April 18 that 33 countries’ citizens are barred from applying for China visas in Hong Kong.

Procedure of applying for a China tourist visa through the Commissioner’s Office has been tightened up. You not only need to prepare your photo, passport, visa application form, but also to show an onward ticket and proof of hotel reservation. This is report from Hong Kong’s Chinese newspaper MingPao on April 19, quoting spokesman of the Commissioner’s Office.

This is also true with applying for a China visa through CTS or other agents. I reported on April 17 about the new requirement of showing onward flight tickets in applying for a tourist visa through CTS.

That means you are now required to prepare flight ticket and hotel reservation voucher if you want to get a China visa in HK, either through the Commissioner’s Office or travel agents.

And be prepared for a longer processing time (previously three days was the norm for normal visa service), as now more documents are required for visa applications and hence longer processing time is needed.

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Upon my posting of the above update on getting a China visa in HK, I saw this article in South China Morning Post, which confirms again my report:

New curbs on travel to the mainland 
Travel agents report fresh China visa hurdles; businesses worried 
Liz Heron
Updated on Apr 18, 2008 

New visa restrictions have been imposed without warning on travel to the mainland by the central government - causing fresh consternation among business leaders and travel agents in Hong Kong.

Travel agents say all travellers - including those taking trips to Shenzhen - must show return travel tickets and hotel vouchers to get a visa; that visitors from 33 countries can no longer get visas in Hong Kong but must apply in their home countries; and that a new visa has replaced the short-stop visa for Shenzhen.

At least one business traveller has been stranded in Hong Kong by the restrictions, which were disclosed on Monday to travel agency couriers and came into effect on Tuesday.

The rules have been issued by the Commissioner’s Office of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong.

Among the 33 countries whose nationals, travel agents say, can no longer get visas in Hong Kong are Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. The ban does not apply to people from these countries living in Hong Kong.

The changes come days after travel agents said they had been told on March 27 that no new multiple-entry visas would be issued until October. In addition, immigration offices at the border stopped issuing short-stay visas to Shenzhen on April 1, when the commissioner’s office took over the issuing of all visas.

The office said yesterday multiple-entry visas could still be issued.

The moves have provoked acute concern from chambers of commerce, who fear the interests of Hong Kong companies will be damaged.

Daryl Bending, senior travel consultant with Concorde Travel, said: “We were told late on Monday with pretty much immediate effect that anyone wishing to travel to any mainland destination was required to have a copy of the airline ticket and the hotel voucher before they apply for a visa.

“We were also told about a new visa for entering Shenzhen, which will effectively replace the on-the-spot Shenzhen visa that used to be issued at the border.

“Previously, if you went up to the border you could get a visa there, which was for approximately five days. We were told on Tuesday that the hotel voucher and proof-of-travel requirement would also apply to Shenzhen whether the passenger goes by boat, train or car.”

Mr Bending said: “I think the restrictions will deter some foreign tourists from travelling to China at all and … put an end to much of the casual traffic from Hong Kong to Shenzhen for shopping and recreation.”

Because of the notice put up by the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on April 13 about restricting visa applications to those residing or working in the city only, some of you may be hesitant to come to Hong Kong for a China visa.

But I am glad to report that I have made a phone call to the visa hotline of the China Travel Service (CTS) agent in HK (tel: 852-2315 7188). The staff who answered the phone confirms that you do not need to be working or residing in Hong Kong to apply for a China visa. But in applying for a tourist visa, you need to show your onward flight ticket.

It is obvious that to get a China visa prior to or during the Olympics in Beijing, is getting complicated. There was absolutely no need to show an onward flight ticket to get a tourist China visa before.

Also, please take note that you can get a China visa on the same day in Hong Kong ONLY IF you go to the CTS branch in Tsim Sha Tsui (1/F Alpha House, 27-33 Nathan Road, Tsimshatsu, Kowloon, open 9am-7pm weekdays, 9am-5pm Saturday). The CTS staff told me that you have to hand in your visa application before 9:15am and you can get your visa by 6:45pm on the same day.

Visa fee depends on what passport you are holding. Say, if you are from the UK, the rush service (on the same day) through CTS would mean a fee of HKD1000, and normal service (about 3 days) about HK500.

CTS branches process tourist and business visas only. If you want to apply for a work visa, you must go to the  Commissioner’s Office of the China Foreign Ministry in HK.

Although I posted it here that it is easy to get a China visa in Macau, but I do think that Hong Kong may be a better option. The reason is that, there are about 40 branches of CTS across Hong Kong. Those in or near the tourist areas, such as SheungWan, Central, Wanchai, Mongkok, TsimShaTsui, will accept China visa applications. On the other hand, there is only one CTS in Macau that accepts China visa applications. A long queue may be expected.

Related:
Get a China visa in Macau

On the heels of the ban of multiple-entry China visas, China is cutting off short-stay visas previously available at checkpoints. But this measure may not affect too many travelers/business people.

Here’s April 8 report from South China Morning Post:

Foreign passport holders will not be issued short-stop visas at border checkpoints as part of a series of entry restrictions imposed by mainland authorities last week.

The move, in addition to a ban on multiple-entry visas, was revealed by local travel agents as security tightens ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Travellers are now restricted to single- or double-entry visas valid for a month and three months respectively. Multiple-entry visas that have not expired are still valid. Travel agents say they have been told the ban will last until mid-October.

Michael Wu Siu-ieng, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents, said that, since last Tuesday, the Office of the Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong had been processing all applications for mainland visas.

“In the past, travellers could apply for short-stop visas when they arrived at the border. But we were told the authorities there were no longer handling applications,” he said.

Mr Wu said the new rules applied to travel agencies that applied for or renewed visas on behalf of visitors at checkpoints.

A spokeswoman for the commissioner’s office said the changes were due to “computer system upgrades”. She refused to say when the previous practice would be resumed.

According to the office’s website, updated last Tuesday, visa applicants will have to wait for at least one day for the “rush service” and two days for “express service”. Previously, same-day service was available.

“A longer waiting time is expected as all visa applications are handled by one office,” Mr Wu said.

Carole Howlett, a Hong Kong resident who holds a multiple-entry visa, said the restrictions were an inconvenience for foreigners who might simply want to do some shopping in Shenzhen. “The restriction is disgusting. Many of my friends will have to think again before crossing the border because they will have to apply for visas days before,” she said.

Mr Wu understands the tightening of entry restrictions is related to the Olympics. “Of course we hope they are merely temporary measures,” he said.

Travelers to mainland China are now issued single- or double-entry 30-day China visas only due to the concern of the Beijing Government over security issue during the Olympic Games, according to the report in South China Morning Post (SCMP). No wonder there are people coming to this blog asking about how to get a multiple-entry China visa after being refused one.

Here’s the April 6 report from SCMP, for your information:

Beijing has stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, risking major inconvenience to foreigners who travel to the mainland regularly, especially on business. Hong Kong travel agents say the ban will stay in place until after the Olympic Games.

Travelers are now restricted to single- or double-entry visas valid for 30 days. Multiple-entry visas that have not expired are still valid.  
 
Andrew Work, executive director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the ban would create serious inconvenience for foreigners living and working in Hong Kong.

“This is a real hassle for foreign small- and medium-sized business owners … it’s bound to slow business down and we hope that normal access to the mainland will be restored soon.”

One travel agent who declined to be named said: “People have been asking to renew their multiple-entry visas but no one can get more than a double-entry visa. We were told this was because of the Olympics and that the ban would be lifted in September after the Games had finished.”

Daryl Bending, of Concord Travel, said even permanent Hong Kong residents who had previously been given three-year multiple-entry visas were affected.

“No one is being given more than a double-entry visa. The reason given was the Olympics but there were suggestions that after the Games things would return to normal,” he said.

Agents said they were told of the move on March 27. Hong Kong-based China-visa agency Forever Bright says on its website the ban will apply until October 17.

The Office of the Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Hong Kong was unavailable for comment.

Mr Work said: “I found out at a chamber meeting for the chairs of all the chambers in Hong Kong. It’s headed by [Chief Secretary] Henry Tang Ying-yen. At the end of the meeting someone mentioned the ban on multiple-entry visas. It took us all by surprise. Even Henry Tang didn’t know.”

A senior source from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said: “We have got similar complaints and this will hinder business activities.”

A government spokesman said: “The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce recently raised concern about new visa arrangements implemented by mainland authorities and the administration is looking into the matter.”
Travel agents also said the cost of single- and double-entry visas had risen.

The typical cost of a single-entry visa obtained through a travel agent for a British passport holder is now HK$850 for a single-entry visa and HK$1,050 for a double-entry one. At the end of last year, a six-month multiple-entry visa cost HK$1,080.

Australians, Canadians and most Europeans can expect to pay HK$500 for a single-entry visa and HK$600 for a double-entry one. Six-month multiple-entry visas for these nationalities previously cost about HK$450.

Visas are taking longer to process. Paul Porter, a lawyer and regular mainland visitor, said he had been told a visa now takes four days.

To apply for a China visa in Macau, you can also go to the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Macau, besides the China Travel Service (CTS) agent mentioned.

The advantage of applying for a visa here is that the fee is lower. But it also means that speed will be compromised. It normally takes three days to process a visa, regardless of the type of visa applied for. There is express service, but extra fee has to be paid.

Take one-entry China visa. CTS charges 210MOP, but you can have it the following day. If you go to the Office of Commissioner, you pay only 150MOP, but it will take 3 workings days before the visa is ready.

The good news is that the Office of the Commissioner has an English website to explain all the China visa matters.

Web: http://www.fmcoprc.gov.mo/eng/lsyw/default.htm
Add: No. 992, Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues, Macau
Tel: (00853)7915126
Fax: (00853)7915102

Related:

Macau Visa

Multiple-entry China visas stopped