markcarter Posted January 6, 2016 at 05:23 PM Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 at 05:23 PM It appears this article is saying from next week UK citizens will be able to get 2-year Chinese visas (even as a tourist) for 85 pounds sterling. If true, this would be very helpful to many people. I would like to know duration per stay, though. Anyone else know more about this? http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35243763 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmayo Posted January 6, 2016 at 05:34 PM Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 at 05:34 PM Excellent! I was hoping this would be the case -- as the article says, it reciprocates what was put in place for Chinese visitors to the UK after Xi's visit last year. Excellent timing too, I need to get a visa in the next few weeks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmayo Posted January 6, 2016 at 05:45 PM Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 at 05:45 PM The only official announcement I can see is from the UK side and doesn't add much: Increasing numbers of British citizens are visiting China and will now benefit from these same arrangements, with the Chinese reducing their two-year visitor visa fee to the equivalent of £85 (an additional service fee will still be charged) and, for the first time, matching the UK’s offer of a 10-year visitor visa. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-home-office-launches-new-two-year-chinese-visa-pilot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted January 8, 2016 at 10:35 AM Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 at 10:35 AM I think generally they tend not to publicize these things, just quietly hand them out where they deem it appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmayo Posted January 11, 2016 at 09:42 AM Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 at 09:42 AM From Chinese embassy http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/visa/notice/t1330627.htm As of Monday, 11 January 2016, in line with the reciprocal visa arrangement between China and the UK, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK will issue two-year multi-entry visas to eligible British nationals who intend to go to China for commercial/trade activities, as a tourist and to visit family members/relatives. Five-year and ten-year visas will be issued to eligible British nationals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markcarter Posted January 11, 2016 at 09:45 AM Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 at 09:45 AM Hmm, as expected it looks like no chance getting one of those outside of the UK. Would be good to know the days-per-entry limit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVisa Ltd Posted January 15, 2016 at 09:01 PM Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 at 09:01 PM For those that are curious about the new 2 year multiple entry visa I would say that based on the number of visas we've processed at our agency many of our customers were issued 2 year visas with 90 days each stay. However, this is currently only issued to British passport holders. If you are holding a non British passport then you will most likely be issued either a single or double entry visa with 30 days each stay. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markcarter Posted January 19, 2016 at 06:31 AM Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 at 06:31 AM @govisa-ltd are those 2-year visas the same type (code?)? Or does it depend on whether applying for business or tourist visa? Are there any options for British passport holders outside the UK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVisa Posted January 19, 2016 at 11:39 AM Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 at 11:39 AM Hi Markcarter, Whether its tourist or business you'll still get 2 years visa with 90 days each stay. As far as we know applying outside UK may have different rules for British passport holders holders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmayo Posted January 19, 2016 at 03:58 PM Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 at 03:58 PM Yep I was told that officially today: standard visa for UK passport holders applying in the UK is two years, simple as that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmayo Posted January 23, 2016 at 07:50 AM Report Share Posted January 23, 2016 at 07:50 AM ... and as the proud new owner of a shiny two-year 90-day-stay multiple entry tourist visa, I can report that at the London visa office at least they were handing these things out as standard, even to people who'd just applied for say 30 days single ... "here is your two-year visa, it's the same price as the other visas so you might as well have a two-year one" was the repeated line from behind all the counters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markcarter Posted January 23, 2016 at 07:52 AM Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2016 at 07:52 AM Cool - thanks for reporting back. Any special documents required - flight tickets, accommodation, reference from China etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmayo Posted January 23, 2016 at 08:24 AM Report Share Posted January 23, 2016 at 08:24 AM I did the whole list, tickets, accommodation, itinerary, previous visas, the same as used to be required: this was to cover the length of my planned two-month stay. I think they are less stringent now: they still want to see a return flight and basic itinerary and perhaps a hotel booking for the first few nights, but they may no longer need proof of accommodation booked for the entire length of the visit any more. But the process is basically the same as before, assuming you're planning a visit of less than 90 days then you provide the information for that -- the difference is that now you should end up with a two-year visa instead. If you apply in person, I've always found the people there extremely good at saying if there are any additional hoops you might need to jump through to get what you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markcarter Posted January 23, 2016 at 08:28 AM Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2016 at 08:28 AM Hmm, for me (seeing as I'm in the UK maybe once every 3 years, I wouldn't be using the visa for the first 6 months anyway, so any flights/accommodation thing is rather tricky. I'll contact them nearer the time I'm in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVisa Posted January 23, 2016 at 11:46 AM Report Share Posted January 23, 2016 at 11:46 AM all the requirement stay the same. So if you are applying for tourist visa then you just need to provide flight and accommodation or if you know someone from China then you can just provide a invitation letter. If you going for business then you just need to provide a invitation letter from the company you going to in China. The only difference is that British passport holders will automatically get a 2 year visa whether it business or tourist and the prices has gone up. But for non UK passport holder, their requirement remain as the old rule where they will have to apply either single or double entries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVisa Posted January 23, 2016 at 12:00 PM Report Share Posted January 23, 2016 at 12:00 PM Hi Markcarter, To get a 2 year visa for business. All you need to do is just get a invitation letter from the company you are visiting in China. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted February 11, 2016 at 03:50 PM Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 at 03:50 PM So has anyone got one of these yet? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVisas ltd Posted February 11, 2016 at 04:57 PM Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 at 04:57 PM A lot of UK citizens has got 2 year visa now. It is because they can only get 2 year visa there is no other ways around it to get a single entries no more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmayo Posted February 11, 2016 at 07:47 PM Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 at 07:47 PM Me! see #11! or did you mean a business one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymoose Posted February 11, 2016 at 09:40 PM Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 at 09:40 PM How do you get(/qualify for) the 10-year one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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