As of 1 May 2019, applicants who hold ordinary passports and apply for ordinary visas for Hong Kong/Macau SAR are required to submit their applications at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the U.K. will no longer accept such visa applications.

The detailed arrangements are as follows:

1. Contact details for Chinese Visa Application Service Centers

London Visa Center:

Address: 12 Old Jewry, London, EC2R 8DU 

Tel: 02077767888

Fax: 02077106001

Email: ukcentre@visaforchina.org

Official website: http://www.visaforchina.org

Manchester Visa Center:

Address: 71 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HR

Tel: 01612369619

Fax: 01612445883

Email: manchestercentre@visaforchina.org

Official website: http://www.visaforchina.org

Edinburgh Visa Center:

Address: Exchange Tower, 19 Canning Street, City of Edinburgh, EH3 8EG

Tel: 01312292519

Fax: 01312291598

Email: edinburghcentre@visaforchina.org

Official website: http://www.visaforchina.org

2. Processing time and Payment

Application submission and payment time: 9 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday exc. holidays

Collection Time: 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday exc. holidays

The Chinese Visa Application Service Centers will charge visa fees on behalf of the Embassy and Consulates. Extra service fees will also be charged. For more information, please visit the official websites of Chinese Visa Application Service Centers or enquire via telephone, email or fax.

Visa collection can be as early as 4 working days after the submission for standard visa applications. Applications via fast track need to be approved by the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the U.K., and extra fees will be charged. The above information is only for reference. Applications that need to be forwarded to Hong Kong Immigration Department or Macau Public Security Police Force may take about 15 to 30 days to process without any fast track or express service.

3. Additional notes

Chinese Visa Application Service Centers 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 Centers, or to Hong Kong Immigration Department or Macau Public Security Police Force directly.

For visa-exemption arrangement, please visit the official website of Hong Kong Immigration Department  or Macau Public Security Police Force.

If you would like to provide feedbacks or suggestions for the services of Chinese Visa Application Service Center, you are welcome to contact the Consulate Section of the Chinese Embassy in the U.K. by email to zj_uk@mfa.gov.cn.