As of May 1st 2019, applicants who hold ordinary passports and apply for ordinary visas for Hong Kong/Macau SAR are required to submit your applications at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres in London, Manchester and Edinburgh(hereinafter referred to as 'Visa Application Centres') . The followings are the basic information you need to read before you come to apply:
A) Please visit the official website of Hong Kong Immigration Department or Macau Public Security Police Force to check visa exemption or documents required for applying visa for Hongkong/Macau.
B) Processing time and payment
Regular service: the processing time is usually 4 working days if the Embassy will make the decision on the application. Applications via fast track need to be approved by the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the U.K., and extra fees will be charged.
For the applications that need to be forwarded to Hong Kong Immigration Department or Macau Public Security Police Force, the processing time may take about 15 to 30 days to process without any fast track or express service.
The visa centres will charge visa fees on behalf of the Embassy and Consulates. Extra fees will also be charged. Please click here for fee details.
The above information is only for reference.
C) Additional notes
The visa centres are only responsible for the handling of the application submissions. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the U.K. are in charge of the process of decision-making and visa issuing.
Diplomatic, service or official passports holders and applicants who are applying for diplomatic, service or courtesy visas for Hong Kong/Macau SAR, as well as the Chinese passport holders who apply for Hong Kong Entry Permits shall submit applications directly to the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in the U.K. as before.
Applicants who apply for visas for Hong Kong/Macau SAR, are not required to fill the online application forms, pre-book appointment time slots or have their biometrics information collected.
Applicants can either choose to submit applications via Chinese Visa Application Service Centres, or to Hong Kong Immigration Department or Macau Public Security Police Force directly. The applicant's passport will be kept in the Embassy or Consulate General if the applicant apply the visa via the Visa Application Centres until the final decision has been received.
Chinese Visa Application Service Centre
May 1st 2019
