Shenzhen visa - at the border?

S

starbucks2

Registered User
Hi

Anyone been to Shenzhen recently and can confirm whether you can still buy a visa at the border? Its been a while since I've been and I used to be able to get one there.

Thanks
SB2
 
I don't think you can get a visa at the border any more. Quickest way is to get one from China Travel Service before you go.
 
Thanks Cherina. I got one at the border in November so would have been a recent change if it has changed. I know it is only some passports that can get it at the border but will be going with a friend on a British passport and know she needs to get one in advance so don't want to muck her around by finding I can't get mine on the day. The China Travel Service is good but is so much more expensive than paying RMB 160 at the border.

Any Australians or New Zealanders who have been up there recently?
 
Depends on your nationality. I was there last week with a guy holding a Swedish passport and he was able to get a visa (or something like that) allowing him to enter. I am not allowed, however, as I have a USA passport. I think you should check with CTS or the Consulate to confirm the latest rules / regulations.
 
Canadian passport holder : I got one yesterday for 160RMB.

As far as I know, the rules about who gets them and who dont are not really documented and can change on a whim. The best bet is still to get it in advance.

HC
 
I think you should still be OK. US passports is definitely a no-go, and British can be hard at times. Other than that you shouldn't have major problems with the majority of passports!
 
My husband (Australian passport) also got one at the border about a week or so ago. He had an unplanned work trip up there. It is definitely better to get it in advance though.
 
I was talking about UK passports, didn't realise other nationalities could still get one at the border.
 
FWIW my friend and I crossed at Lo Wu. We got to the room 'with the lines' and I went off to fill in an arrival card. He stopped a Chinese border agent and asked 'where can I get an entrance visa" and she asked "what passport are you holding?" After he said "Swedish" she pointed back down the hall where we came from.

I got in line (about 10 people). By the time I got to the front he returned. He said something about having to go to a different level or something to get the visa but I wasn't sure exactly where.

I also crossed at Lok Ma Chau / Fu Tian crossing the other day. This is the other entrance on the spur of the East Rail Line and it was a bit less crazy than Lo Wu. It is also in a very nice / new facility. You can get directly on the Shenzhen subway from this crossing and it was simply an easier experience than Lo Wu.
 
Thanks everyone. Have now called up our work travel agent and they have confirmed that Aust/NZ passport holders can still get a "landing" visa in Shenzhen at the border in Lo Wu.
 
UK passport is fine to get a visa at Low Wu too. You just go upstairs and fill out a form. If you are there by 10am it takes about 15 mins. It is more expensive though than doing it beforehand. I have done it twice in the past 6 months.
 
Since others have mentioned the other crossings, let me add that this quick visa is *only* available at LoWu. You must already have a visa to go thru other crossings.
And I'll repeat : The rules change and they can change without any announcement. Just because UK/Canada is allowed today, there is no guarantee that they will be allowed tomorrow.

Strong suggestion ; Get your visas before you get to the border. Its cheaper, you have more choices of crossing points and you wont have to worry about waiting in line just to get rejected because the govt no longer likes your kind of passport.

HC
 
Thanks HC. On prices, for my passport anyway, getting a visa beforehand is double that which I would pay at the Lo Wu border. Perhaps it is cheaper for UK/Canadian passports to get it beforehand but certainly not the case for Australians/NZ'ders. I do understand that the rules can change overnight though.

Meanwhile, don't even get me started on the need to have a visa for China when I am a PR in HK ...
 
French passport holders can not get one at the border since May2010.
US passport holders can not get one at the border since... forever...
 
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