Shenzhen 5-Day Visa on Arrival from Hong Kong
We'll be in Hong Kong for 10 days and planned to spend 5 of those days in Shenzhen using the 5 day Visa On Arrival (VOA) program for the Shenzhen area.
I have a couple of concerns regarding the VOA which I'm wondering if anyone has experience with.
- This article suggests that travellers with entry stamps to Turkey will probably result in a denial. My wife and I both have a Turkish stamp in our passports.
- The same article also suggests that if your passport is relatively new, eg. under a year old, you may be required to produce your old passport. We had our kids passports renewed and don't currently have access to their old ones. Their new passports will be approximately six months old when we plan to travel to Schenzhen.
I'm trying to make a decision on whether given the above it's worth trying, or if I should shelve the idea and simply spend those 10 days in Hong Kong.
I'm concerned about being denied and the cost of losing a booking for accommodation in Shenzhen, and having to book 5 more days in Hong Kong at the last minute.
Has anyone entered using this VOA who had a Turkish stamp or a newer passport? If so what was your experience?
Best Answer
I can only answer for the "new passport" part. I've used the 5-day visa facility in Luohu with a virgin passport - zero stamp in it. They only asked me in Luohu to produce the little piece of paper HK gives you in lieu of a visa stamp, to check that I indeed came from HK.
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Do I need a visa to visit Shenzhen from Hong Kong?
Once confirmed you do need a visa for Shenzhen from Hong Kong, eligible foreign visitors may apply a Shenzhen 5-Day Special Economic Tourist Visa on arrival at appointed border ports. Or you can apply a regular China Visa from overseas Chinese Embassy/Consulate beforehand.Can you cross from Hong Kong to Shenzhen?
To travel between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, passengers need to pass through customs at one of 11 "ports" or border control areas. The two busiest ports of entry to Hong Kong are the Luohu Border Crossing and the Huanggang Border Crossing.Do you need a visa to go to China from Hong Kong?
With a U.S. passport, citizens do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong, but travelers who plan to visit China's mainland while in the region will need a visa to travel from Hong Kong to China. 1 Visitors must apply approximately one month before their trip; they will not be granted a visa at the port of entry.Does China offer visa on arrival?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has recently introduced the China Business Visa on Arrival for citizens of over 23 countries. This Visa on Arrival allows travelers to enter the country for business purposes and it enables them to stay in China for up to 15 days Per Entry.Shenzhen Visa on arrival, day trip from Hong Kong
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Answer 2
According to a Ministry of Public Security contact in Shenzhen, visas on arrival will not be issued, regardless of nationality, to holders of passports with visas or stamps from countries whose nationals cannot obtain this visa on arrival.
That is: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Uganda, Yemen
Apparently, though, this may or may not be strictly enforced, depending on the officer and your overall appearance, so you certainly could give it a try.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Tim Samuel, Nextvoyage, Tim Durgan, Jimmy Chan