China Tourist Visa Help - even Gov.com is confused!!

Question

Please can I have you help - dear forum? We are travelling to Shanghai on 13th October and on to Xian and then Beijing and Hong Kong to pick up a cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore. We will be in China for 6 days and Hong Kong for a day before picking up the cruise. We will not go back to China. Even the Foreign and Commonwealth Office gov.com says we need a visa but I am told we don't by a vias company. Who do you trust?? Thank you for your help everyone.

Answer

For your itinerary—Shanghai, Xi’an, Beijing, and then Hong Kong for a cruise—you will indeed need a visa for mainland China. Hong Kong operates under a separate visa policy from mainland China, so your entry to Hong Kong does not automatically grant you entry to China.

Here’s a breakdown to clarify:

Mainland China (Shanghai, Xi’an, Beijing): For UK citizens, a tourist (L) visa is required prior to arrival. There is no exemption for short stays or transit unless you are specifically eligible for a transit visa (which usually requires flying in and out via the same city within 24-144 hours and only certain cities qualify).
Hong Kong: UK citizens can enter Hong Kong visa-free for up to 180 days, so you do not need a separate visa for your one-day stay before boarding the cruise.
Transit visa services or travel agencies may sometimes miscommunicate or assume eligibility for transit visa policies, but official government sources—like the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Chinese Embassy—are authoritative. Always trust the official guidance when it conflicts with private agents.

Additional advice:

Apply for a standard tourist visa for China well ahead of time, especially if you are visiting multiple cities.
Check that your passport has at least six months’ validity from the date of entry into China.
Prepare the itinerary and hotel bookings, as these are usually requested during the visa application process.
Do not rely on third-party websites claiming no visa is needed, as overstaying or entering without a visa can lead to fines or denial of entry.

In short, for your 6-day mainland China visit, a tourist visa is mandatory. Hong Kong does not require a visa for a UK citizen, so that part is fine without a separate visa.

China Tourist Visa Help - even Gov.com is confused!!

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