Get a China visa in Hong Kong: Latest and further update

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.”