Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hong Kong is usually a reliable place to pick up visas, often with next day service, but
confirm with the companies listed below before you decide this is the route you will take to
obtain a visa.
A standard single-entry visa must be used within three months from the date of issue and
is activated on the date you enter China. There is some confusion over the validity of
Chinese visas. Most Chinese officials look at the 'valid until' date, but on most 30-day visas
this is actually the date by which you must have
entered
the country, not the visa's expiry
date. Longer-stay visas are often activated on the day of issue, not the day you enter the
country, so there's no point in getting one too far in advance of your planned entry date.
Check with the embassy if you are unsure.
It's possible to travel in Tibet with a visitor (L), student (X), resident (D) or business (M, F
or Z) visa, but not on a journalist (J) visa. For an M, F or Z visa the agency handling your
Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit may ask you to provide documentation showing your
place of work in China, or a letter of invitation.
Hong Kong
Single-, double-, multiple-entry and business visas are usually available at the following
places in Hong Kong. For reference, a single entry L visa costs HK$350 for four-day ser-
vice, HK$650 for next-day service.
China Travel Service
(CTS; 852-2315 7171;
www.ctshk.com
; 1st fl, Alpha House, 27-33 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui,
enter from Peking Rd)
TRAVEL AGENCY
Forever Bright Trading Limited
( 852-2369 3188;
www.fbt-chinavisa.com.hk
;
Rm 916-917, Tower B, New Mandarin Plaza,
14 Science Museum Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon)
TRAVEL AGENCY
Kathmandu
For the last few years the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu has not been issuing visas to in-
dividual travellers, only to those booked on a tour and then only group visas. If you turn up
with a Chinese visa in your passport, it will be cancelled.
Nepali agencies currently charge US$58 per person for a visa. US citizens pay US$142.
Allow at least three days to process; faster service is available for a premium.
The visa office at Nepal's Chinese Embassy accepts applications from 9.45am to 11am
Monday to Friday. Note that the main embassy is in Baluwatar but the separate visa office
is in Hattisar.
