A few of the CW crew legged it to the little island of Hong Kong recently to get their Z visa. They came back with truckloads of knowledge about the whole process and a few tips about how to make the trip an easier one. Here is everything you need to know about the visa process.
What You Need
~ Passport
~ Formal letter of appointment from your company, complete with company chop
~ Health check report
~ Photocopies of the letter appointment (both sides) and the health check report
~ Z visa application form (filled out by your employer),
passport picture (at least one, but bring three to make sure)
and the HK$400 visa fee
Getting to Hong Kong
There are many ways of getting to Hong Kong. The quickest way is to fly direct to the Hong Kong International Airport. Air China, China Eastern Air and Dragonair fly there on a daily basis. Prices vary during the seasons, check out Ctrip for flight deals.
To do the visa run on the cheap, you can fly into Shenzhen with Air China. Shenzhen airport is far from the city, which will add some time to your total journey. The Kowloon - Canton Railway (KCR) terminates right in the center of Shenzhen city - literally - and you can immigrate there. This is the busiest crossing into the SAR, however, so long line-ups are inevitable.
To cut down on immigration time, there are Citibuses that run directly from Shenzhen Airport to Kowloon (HK$50). They go through a quieter border and the journey takes more than two hours in total. The other option is to take the boat from Shenzhen Airport (around RMB200), and the journey takes about one hour. You can complete immigration procedures on the boat, meaning you don't have to wait in line.
Money
You freely can change RMB into HK$ all over the city, although you should note that it is illegal to carry more than RMB4,000 cash into Hong Kong. The best rates are found in small RMB exchange booths, of which there are many in the China Ferry Terminus, and other places dotted around the city. For the current exchange rate go here.
Starting on the Visa Trail
Assuming that you are trying to get the process done as quickly as possible, head straight to the visa office. This is where you want to go: 7th Floor, Lower Block, China Resources Building, No.26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
If you're arriving at the airport, take the Airport Express train to Hong Kong Central. To say it's impossible to miss would be an understatement: it's pretty much the only obvious way to get out of the airport. The sleek airplane-style trains leave every five or six minutes, and round-trip tickets cost HK$180. If you're coming by bus, boat, or train (KCR) from Shenzhen, then you'll most probably be dropped near the station anyway.
From HK Central grab the metro to Wan Chai station (only two stops away). If you're feeling adventurous, grab a map and start walking to the office. It's not too far away and you can get there by foot in about five minutes. Otherwise, just grab a taxi and give them the address to the visa office.
Getting the Visa
The visa office is open Monday - Friday, from 9am - 12pm and 2pm - 5pm. The office will be shut during some holidays, check online here for more details.
To make the process as painless as possible, the trick is to get to the office early and line up. Depending on when you arrive in HK, get to the office at 8am or during the break around 1pm. Bring a book and get comfortable as you wait in line with everyone else.
The guards out the front of the building will pass you an application form before entering. Fill out the form, go through the security check, head up to the seventh floor and grab a number. When they call your number, give them your passport, passport photo and forms (plus the photocopies). If have forgotten your picture, they can take one for you (HK$40). If you have also forgotten to photocopy your documents, there is a machine on site (HK$1 per sheet).
It's important to note here that if you have come straight from the airport, you can't take bulky luggage up into the office. It will need to be left unaccompanied downstairs.
Same day visa pick up is no longer available, you'll need to spend the night in Hong Kong. There are plenty of cheap hotels littered around the area, check out Ctrip, wotif for the best deals.
When returning to pick up the visa, the same deal goes for lining up, get there early. Take your receipt and pay at the cashier counter. You will then be motioned to pick up your passport and the next counter. Provided that all your documentation was in order, you should now be a lucky holder of a entry into China. You can now return to the mother land…
Always check this website before leaving for any changes to the visa process.
When's the last time you went on your visa run? Do you have any tips or advice to other CW readers about to make the journey?
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Two amendments, as I just did this myself as well a month ago. You don't actually need the health check to apply for the Z visa. It's a bit confusing because some of the documentation says you should present it if you're going to be working for "one year or more" (read: getting a residence permit) which most of us will be, BUT it appears that this is in relation to those applying for Z visas to work in HK, not the mainland. You DO need the health check once you return to the mainland and are converting your Z visa into a residence permit (which you have 30 days to do). The other thing is that as of around April or May of this year, same-day pick up is NOT AVAILABLE. There is only a 24-hour pick-up option. If you drop your passport off at 10am one day, you can only pick it up at 10am the next. This message was being displayed on the screens in the visa office when I was there a month ago, as per a new law issued earlier this year. Meaning you have to be there overnight. This restriction isn't widely known among the local visa agencies that assist companies with arranging their documentation, so in true fashion, was probably passed and implemented quietly. It's also not written anywhere on the application forms you fill out; you'd only know about it if you get bored enough to read the flashing screens while you're waiting.
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Something else: If you're planning on taking the boat, it only operates on a fixed schedule and it doesn't start running until after 8am, so anyone hoping to do a 24 hour run from Shenzhen to HK via the boat better book a hotel in the SAR. Also, the buses don't run until 7:45 - 8am as well. So if you want the same day pick-up, go direct to HK.
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I think if you need to get the visa ASAP, it would be best to pay the extra money and fly straight into HK. Personally, I flew straight there and it was a breeze. Going through Shenzhen seems like it would be very time consuming. Has anyone else done the visa run by going through Shenzhen?
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I've done the Shenzhen route. It's not so bad, just take the bus to Hong Kong, it's something like 2 and a half hours to get to Kowloon, including the time you spend waiting in line at the border. But don't take a bus after sunset, or you'll notice that cockroaches start appearing from under your seat, above your head. Sometimes they even get up close and personal with you at the g*ddamn window. Shudder. Also, note that the line to enter the visa building is on a first-floor corner outside the building and not very well designated. Just look for the line of laowai. And whatever you do, don't go during the lunch break between 12pm-2pm! It's such a drag to wait 2 hours, also, if you apply in the afternoon, it takes a half day longer to get your visa. As for hotels, the non-Hong Kong motel initiated should be aware that any hotel/motel/hostel under RMB300 in this city is bound to be a roach motel. The establishment itself might be clean, but it will inevitably be located in a dingy old building that houses generations of roaches (grandpas - as long as your pinkie, roach juniors - small like a finger nail, but come out from under EVERYWHERE.) Better to shell out for a hotel in the RMB500 range at least. Check out latestays.com to book, they have really good discounts on HK area hotels.
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Also a question for clairebared: why does my profile say I "gain" a follower every time I leave a comment? I'm not that interesting. Is this some sort of false incentive to keep users commenting on blogs?
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I went to HK for a visa then I got lost in a gambling house. I had a blast.
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@Truffley our user pages will be getting revamped soon and you will have more options with your account. Including following, people, events and articles...
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@Truffley - That cockroaches comment is going to haunt my dreams tonight. You are right about the hotels too. It's best to spend a bit more money to get something that's a little nicer. I stayed at an place called The Walden which wasn't too bad. No cockroaches, well, that I could see anyway.
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Was there a Thoreau themed room in the Walden? >_< That would be sooo. great.
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I'm picking up what you're putting down there truffley. The Walden really should consider it on their next refurb... which is probably scheduled for 2018.
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I've done the visa run 4 times now! I usually fly into Shenzhen b/c it's the cheaper option. The bus to the border is about 45 minutes and only costs 20RMB. The border itself takes different times depending on the time of day and the crowd you're facing- anywhere from 20min to over an hour. From there I take the subway to HungHom (takes about an hour), and then transfer over to Tsim Tsa Tsui which puts you on Nathan Road where there's lots of restaurants, hotels, whatnot. The visa office is a quick ferry ride and 5 minute walk away. Easy peasy.
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Can anyone confirm that a US citizen is able to apply for a Z visa in Hong Kong? ShanghaiExpat.com's Z visa FAQ says you'd have to apply from your home country but it was written in 2008. And that visa office in Hong Kong never picks up their phone.
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The Z visa is a single-entry visa that lets you apply for a work permit and residence permit. The residence permit is a multiple-entry visa.
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Does the "Formal letter of appointment" have to be issued by the government, or can it be a document written and stamped by the company only?
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can you get the z visa going to macau? Has anyone tried that route?
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Flying into Hong Kong is pricey. But I was researching flights from China Spring Airlines - which doesn't list their flights on ctrip.com is much lower. Check it out - http://www.china-sss.com/en-US/AirFlights/index Also. . .Id rather fly to macau for a visa run, too. . .macau is more fun
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Thanks for the tip! I am going this weekend because I have no choice. Visa is due! Hello "May 1st" and the great china migration. I will post my experience about it. You want photos and juice details? It is Macau after all.
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Back from Macau. It was really easy and cheap. At the Zhu Hai airport, there are buses that take you across the border into Macau. Pay the 100rmb for express bus and save yourself the hassle. If you really want to experience border crossing, pay 25rmb and walk you way across the immigration offices. Have fun and keep us informed of your experience.
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@hambriente- those buses worked for you? I tried them with some friends and we got abandoned in the no-man's land between the Chinese and Macanese customs. It was a bummer. Glad it worked for you tho
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Great article. This should be a monthly feature :)