China, the world’s fastest-growing market with thousands of opportunities waiting for you, has been visited more constantly by global entrepreneurs in recent years. Since China Visa is an indispensable item now, we have summarized a few important notes below for you to get yourself well prepared before application:
1.   Which Category Should I Pick for Business / Leisure Purpose?

There are 16 China Visa categories, for which you can pick a suitable one based on your purpose of visiting China. Here are 3 commonly used categories for your kind reference:

Visa Category Eligible Applicants
L Foreigners who intend to go to China as a tourist
M Foreigners who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities
Z Foreigners who intend to work in China

According to the above, if you are going to China as a tourist, you should apply for the category L. On the other hand, if you wish to travel to China for business activities, you will need to apply for a China Visa in the category M.

2.   What Visa Types Are Available for Application?

You may choose the type according to your needs, however certain criteria apply to some specific types and each entry is allowed to stay in China for maximum consecutive 30 days:

[except -
For Multiple Entry Visa, each entry is not more than 60 days. 10 years Multiple Entry Visa (Argentine passport) is the exclusion by limiting to 30 days.
For 5 years Multiple Entry Visa (Brazilian passport), each entry is not more than 90 days.]

Visa Type Validity Remarks  
Single Entry 3 months
  • If you are coming from the particular counties listed in Q5 below, you will need to hold a HKID card or have a previous China Visa record issued by the Consulate outside mainland China to apply for the Single Entry Visa.
 
Double Entry Two entries are valid for 6 months
  • If you are not coming from the particular countries listed in Q5 below, even if you do not hold a HKID card and have not been to China before, you can apply for the Single or Double Entry Visa.
 
Multiple Entry 6 months
  • Only HKID card holder with a previous China Visa record can apply.
 
1 - 3 years
  • Must hold a HK Permanent ID card and have a previous 1 year Multiple Entry China Visa record.
  • The original passport is valid for at least 12 to 36 months.
 
5 years
  • Only Brazilian passport holder can apply.
 
10 years
  • Only US / Argentine passport holder can apply.
  • Canadian / Israeli passport holder can also apply for up to 10 years entry period. The actual entry period to approve is subject to the passport validity period.
 

3.   How Fast Can I Get the Visa?

There are 2 types: Ordinary and Express for you to pick, yet not everyone can apply for the Express Visa. Please refer to Question 4 below to know more about the requirements of Express Visa:

Visa Application Deadline for Submission Ready for Pickup
Ordinary
(2 - 4 days
processing time)
Before 09:00am on the 1st day Around 6:00pm on the 2nd - 4th working day
Express
(One-day pickup)
Before 09:00am on the 1st day Around 6:00pm on the same day
*The processing time is based on working day.
*Eligibility of visa application type mainly depends on nationality.
*For Ordinary application, the length of processing time mainly depends on nationality, previous China Visa record, etc.

For Express application, you can simply drop your passport and required documents at our Centre in the morning (before 9:00am) once you arrive in HK, and your China Visa shall be ready for your pickup in the evening (subject to the individual’s background and final approval by the China authorities). Please call +852 2159 9666 or email us at info@bridges.hk in advance for our FREE consultation on your case to assess the success rate of such application.

4.   Am I Eligible to Apply for the Express (One-day Pickup) Visa?

Express Visa [Port Visa (available now) / Group Visa (temporarily suspended by the China Visa Application Office HK until further notice)] allows single entry with duration of stay in China for no more than 30 days, and the visa must be used within 5 - 15 days (depends on the visa type) from the date of issue.

Citizens from the countries like Africa, Middle East nations, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Palau, Philippine, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen are not eligible to apply for Express Visa. Applicants with Africa / Middle East countries travel record on the passport within one month time are not eligible for such application too.

You are suggested to consult our specialists in advance to know your application’s success rate. After contacting us and receiving our assessment on your case, please come over to our Central location at 20th Floor, Central Tower, 28 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong to submit your Express Visa application.

5.   What Factors Can Affect the Processing Time of My Ordinary Visa?

If you hold a passport from some particular countries such as Africa, Egypt, Middle East Countries, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Philippine, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu and Vietnam, you will be able to pick up your China Visa in around 2 working days given that a previous record of China Visa issued by the Consulate outside mainland China can be provided; if you are not able to provide a previous record of China Visa, it is also feasible to apply for China Visa in HK now with maximum stay of 30 days, please feel free to contact our Visa Team here for more details and assistance on such application.

For countries like Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Palau, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen, we are not able to help their passport holders apply for China Visa at this point.

6.   What Documents Do I Need to Submit?

Generally, you need to prepare your original valid passport, duly completed and signed Visa Application Form, one recent passport sized photo, landing slip issued by the HK Immigration Department on your arrival, and previous China Visa record (if any), with supporting documents based on the purpose of your trip.

For those who wish to apply for the Visa Category M (Business Visa), you will be required to submit the application with a business card with your company name, address (not in China) and phone number, an invitation letter issued by a trade fair or trade partner in China, and a copy of the business license of the China trade partner.

If you would like to apply for the Visa Category L (Tourist Visa), documents showing the itinerary (if any) including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation shall be requested.

7.   What Are the Requirements for Passport and Photo?

Your passport with at least 6 months validity is required, with blank visa pages and in proper condition *. Regarding the photo, it should be a color, passport-type photo that is taken within the last 3 months against a white background and printed on high-quality photo paper, 1.5" x 2" in size and showing the full frontal view of your head without any headwear / accessories. Please click here for detailed photo requirements.

If you need our help in preparing your qualified photo, please come over to BRIDGES Central location at 20th Floor, Central Tower, 28 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong (Central MTR Exit D1) to make use of our China Visa photo taking service for submitting your application.

** As per the new guideline by the China Embassy, if your current passport was issued after 1 January 2015, it is required to provide the previous passport as your supporting document for the China Visa application.
8.   What Is Port Visa? How Can It Benefit Me?

Port Visa is a kind of Express Visa. In some urgent situations that you don’t have enough time to apply for China Visa from the China Embassy, we can help you apply for this type of 1-day pickup China Visa named Port Visa, issued by Huang Gang Port, Lo Wu Port or Shekou Port (which means the place of issue is not HK).

By using this type of Port Visa, the applicant must enter into China via the specific port (i.e. the visa’s place of issue), and cannot go China by plane, but the application’s processing time could be fast. Remarks: A color passport-type recent photo with white background and a valid contact phone number must be provided for application. Please contact us for details if you are interested in getting such visa.

9.   If I’ll Go with My Family or Partner, Can I Apply for Group Visa (Single Entry)?

Group Visa is another type of Express Visa too. Yes, the requirements of applying for the Group Visa (Single Entry) are the same as the Ordinary Visa stated above (excluding Africa, Middle East Countries, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Palau, Philippine, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen - announced by the China authorities time by time), just that all applicants in the group of minimum 2 persons must enter and exit China together, and their passports’ issuing country must be the same. If fitting these criteria, it could be a good option for travelling with family or going to China with your partner to do business.

Two huge benefits of this kind of Group Visa are that the whole application process can be faster and easier, for less paperwork is required when compared with the Ordinary Visa, and the cost might be lower since you can share the cost with your accompanier. Remarks: A color passport-type recent photo with white background and a valid contact phone number must be provided for application. Please contact us for details if you are interested in getting such visa.

** Updates in Mar 2019: The Express Group Visa is now temporarily suspended by the China Visa Application Office HK until further notice. However, if you are looking for an Express Visa for quick travel to China, please feel free to chat with our consultant here to check whether you are eligible for the Port Visa that can be picked up in 1 or 2 days too.
10.   Can I Apply from Overseas without Actual Presence in HK?

No, you cannot. You are required to be present in HK with the landing slip shown in your passport or a HKID card shown. However, if you are not able to drop the documents at our Centre in person, you can arrange your representative to deliver or courier the passport and documents to our office for the application, and we will notify you to come for pickup once the China Visa is ready.

All of the above information is for reference use only, which is subject to change and final approval made by the China Embassy.