Thread: Getting a visa for Shanghai in Hong Kong. How long will it take and how difficult?

We are New Zealanders who are planning a trip to Shanghai in early Nov. We have 6 days booked in Hong Kong. We don't want to purchase air tickets for Shanghai until we get to Hong Kong as not sure when or how long we want to go for. To get a visa before we leave home we need to show return tickets for China. How easy is it to get a visa in Hong Kong and where would we get it. We are staying at the Grand Hyatt on Hong Kong Island.

The usual visa procedures have been affected by the Olympics, and I'm not sure if they'll be back to 'normal' by the time you need them in November.

Usually the process only takes 3-5 working days in Hong Kong, but to be on the safe side, check with the Chinese embassy in Wellington (or even Canberra in a pinch) as well as the Concierge at the Grand Hyatt - hongkong.grand@hyatt.com. I was just there last month and the staff are helpful. Even if they don't immediately know the answer I'm sure they will happily do the research for you.

Either of these parties should have useful information for you about where to apply for the visa in Hong Kong as well as how long it will take.

If you are frequent travellers you should also look into getting an APEC card, which will bypass the need for a visa altogether! The one I got from Australia took about 2 months to reach me, so you still have time if you put in your application quickly. Try this site: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/apec/

You will like Hong Kong and Shanghai, they're two of my favourite cities and a lot of fun!

The rules have been changing pretty often because of the games. But now that they're over, things should get easier. This forum keeps an up to date list of the changes.

http://www.ctshk.com/english/useful/chinesevisa.htm

plz do ur enquiry w/ the above website....n u just need 1-day application time 4 ur visa. i mean u go there in the morning & u wil get ur visa the next day. actually most of the 5 stars hotel's concierge can do it 4 u. u dun hv to really goto the china travel svc urself. but if u do like to go, 1 of their ofc is quiet close to the Grand Hyatt. just abt 5 mins walk to the china resources bldg.....that's their visa ofc 4 all westerners. n after the Olympics, things should be back to normal. so no worry abt ur visa.

if u do hv a booking in the Grand Hyatt aldy.....try to email their concierge & ask 4 details. sure they wl help u as they r 1 of the good svc hotel in HK.