Cheapest way to get a Chinese Visa (single entry)

mariamunkey

Hi,
I have been looking at going to Shanghai in May but can't seem to get clarification on where's best to go to buy a Chinese Visa, I've been told prices range from anywhere between £65 - £159 depending on where I purchase from.

Does anyone have any idea where I'm best buying from and whats the cheapest please?

Many thanks to all the mse'ers who help as always!!
x

Pollycat

Here might be a good place to start:
http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/visa/

mariamunkey

Thanks, my automatic reaction was to look on the embassy site 1st but their service fees seem very high. Was hoping I could get it cheaper ;-)

PompeyPete

This v.recent thread [and links] off TA might explain things...

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g294211-i642-k9213258-China_visa_fee_and_charges-China.html

A few weeks ago I was looking at copying a Tour Group itinerary to China, and doing it DIY for a lot cheaper.

Then I looked at the Visa Fees for 2 of us, and immediately binned the idea. Looks like the visa is valid for 2 years and multi-entry, whether that's what you want or not.

So I looked at a few other tours from the same company [Travelbird], and am now doing a month in Nicaragua instead.:)

mariamunkey

So far in my research http://visacentral.co.uk/ seem to be the cheapest @ £108 per visa

PompeyPete

mariamunkey wrote: »

So far in my research http://visacentral.co.uk/ seem to be the cheapest @ £108 per visa

Can't see that amount mentioned on the link.

HotPotato

How long are you planning on going for? if memory serves you can fly into china at certain cities visa free for 72 hours if you're doing a stop over.

PompeyPete

HotPotato wrote: »

How long are you planning on going for? if memory serves you can fly into china at certain cities visa free for 72 hours if you're doing a stop over.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294211-c188665/China:Visa.Free.Transits.html

Ames

Can you trust the websites offering it cheaper? I want to go to Beijing at Easter as I'm studying Chinese politics, but pushing £200 for a visa is making me wince, especially as you have to have your flights booked before applying for it, so that's another £400 down the drain if it's refused.

mariamunkey

Service Fees
Consular fees and VisaCentral fees are charged per traveller. The total price of your order will depend on the services you select, the number of travellers and the number of business days we have to process your order, starting with the day we submit your application. Consular fees are subject to change without notice. VisaCentral fees are per application and are exclusive of Consular fees and third party fees. VisaCentral reserves the right to charge a 3.9% payment processing fee on all credit cards.

3 Working Days excl. VAT incl. VAT
Consular Fee: £165.00 £178.00
VisaCentral Fee: £135.00 £162.00

4 Working Days excl. VAT incl. VAT
Consular Fee: £140.00 £151.00
VisaCentral Fee: £90.00 £108.00

I was given the site http://visacentral.co.uk/ by a friend who works with Barrhead travel, thats where they do all their customers visas & Virgin atlanic use this site too I'm told. So should be all above board!!

Marmaduke123

mariamunkey wrote: »

So far in my research http://visacentral.co.uk/ seem to be the cheapest @ £108 per visa

Don't know where you got that from! By my reading its £250 if you go through Visa Central. They charge their own fee on top of the Chinese consulate fee.

There's no way of avoiding the actual consular fee. You can save a bit if you take your documents in person, and go back in a few days to pick up your passport complete with Visa. That way you can check its all Ok