Visa for China

Question

Hello. I am going to fly from the UK to Hong Kong, then get an internal flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai and stay for 2 days, before getting on a cruise that will be going to Okinawa, then returning to Shanghai and staying for 4 days. What Visa do I need? I have called the embassy and they won't answer. The Visa is a loop of recorded messages and no human. Would really love some help and advice.

Answer

For your planned itinerary, you are entering mainland China via an internal flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai and will have multiple stays in Shanghai, including after your cruise. Since Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR), travel from Hong Kong to mainland China is considered an international entry for visa purposes. Therefore, a visa is required for the segments in mainland China.

Here are the key points regarding the type of visa you need:

Type of visa: You should apply for a standard single-entry or multiple-entry China tourist visa (L visa), depending on whether you plan any other entries into mainland China during your trip. For your itinerary, a single-entry L visa is sufficient if you only enter mainland China once via Hong Kong and return to Shanghai after the cruise.
Application requirements: You will need a completed visa application form, your valid UK passport, passport-sized photos, confirmed hotel bookings in Shanghai, and flight tickets for both entry from Hong Kong and onward travel after your cruise.
Entry via Hong Kong: When flying from Hong Kong to Shanghai, you will go through Chinese immigration, and your visa must be valid at the time of this entry.

Additional advice:

If your cruise stops in Okinawa (Japan) and you return to Shanghai, you do not need a new visa as long as your initial China visa covers your return date. Ensure the visa duration matches the total length of your stay in mainland China.
It is important to apply for the visa well in advance, as processing times can vary. Using a visa agency can help if the embassy is unresponsive.
Carry all travel documentation, including cruise tickets, hotel reservations, and return flights, in case immigration asks for proof of itinerary.

In summary, you need a China tourist visa (L visa) issued before your flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai. A single-entry visa will usually suffice for this itinerary, covering both your pre-cruise and post-cruise stays in Shanghai.

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