There  has been a lot of ambigious information being offered in this thread.  But since  2007 no UK, French, USA, and apparently South African and Philipino passport holders were given a
Shenzhen Visa.  Not only can someone be fined for leaving HK and not crossing through to China, it reportedly takes over an hour to return back into HK even when there are a no lines at the stamping station.

Check about.com before you get your hopes up or waste time and money trying this out.

If Philipino's can not get a visa at the border why do so many of them take day trips there to renew their Hong Kong visa's
Also my business partner who travels on a UK passport has crossed that border 2-3 times after 2007 with no problems as Obe states I think you are talking bull shit.

[ Last edited by  cruman999 at 5-12-2013 15:47 ]

This thread will go into Rubbish Dump shortly...... RD or BS whatever.  Not making sense...

WHat are you talking about? Mod remove this thread! I just got a VISA. Im an american!

i think he's trying to comment on the fact that visas for various passport holders such as British & American , certain passport holders can't get visas on the day at the border anymore...not sure about other countries but UK & US passport holder shave had to deal with this for a while

I think he is pointing towards the visa you can apply for at the border just for the shenzhen district. Those can be issues the date if application. Your tourist visa is probably for whole china no restriction on travel. The shenzhen visa allows you just to travel to the shenzhen economic zone I believe.

Allow me to clarify further what Abalonelover said...


Back in the days past, Shenzhen District was really considered quite separate from the rest of mainland China. It was the zone where new economic, legal, political ideas were tested out on some trusted Chinese people. It was to be the place where those lucky mainland Chinese really got to interact with foreigners without restrictions from the government. Of course some of those new ideas were too liberal for central government's liking at the time and they did not want the rest of the country get exposed too early.

So what does the govt do, they set up a internal border check point between Shenzhen district an the rest of China. I remember those days whenever I was on the bus/taxi/car, we had to stop at the checkpoint to see if our travel documents had the correct visa to visit all of China when on the way to China or on the way back to Shenzhen, the locals were checked to see if they had permission to enter Shenzhen. If I only had the Shenzhen visa, I would not be allowed to proceed farther into China but told to return to Shenzhen.

For my US passport holder friends, I remember it was so easy at spur of the moment to pop into Shenzhen for a day trip because it only cost HK100 for anyone to get a Shenzhen District visa at the HK-Shenzhen border, no need to go days earlier to a travel agent. Then because of some globalpoliticking crap, the service was stop for Americans and they had to go to travel agent to apply for a regular China visa that costs at least $600 for single entry and took a few days to process back at that time. Now I think it costs at least $1000 for single entry.

I am not sure, but I think the Shenzhen visa is not available anymore as the government does not even stop vehicles as they zoom without stopping through the old Shenzhen-rest of China checkpoint. The rest of China is like Shenzhen in political, economic, social thought. I assume everyone just gets the whole China visas.

Hi Doghead,
As a matter of interest how far does the
Shenzhen border go,does it take in Zhuhai,Dansuiu,
and CP/

I realise the Acceptences is now irreveverlent
but just wanted to show my appreciation.

Cheers GP

Hopefully useful info about Visa:
Shekou Ferry Port - can issue visa on arrival from HK / HK airport / Macau for
US / GB / EU / CAN passport holders - 100%
Other countries would need to check BUT
Office opening hours are: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Ferry company will not let you board if arrival time is outside of these hours
Tel:+86 755 2686-5555 - some can speak English
Cost varies (Chinese for increase)
Cash only - US$ / EUR's / GB£ / HK$ but RMB best as poor exchange rates
Can only do 5 day visa - restricted to SHZ
Have had colleagues arriving and freely travel much further afield - only issue is if you want to fly internally - as doghead mentions above, there is now no 'border post' for SHZ.
Visa's still available from usual HK agents, but since changes in July 2013 can only offer limited service and most cannot do one day turn around.

There is/was a 3 day version of this for Zhuhai at the Macau border.  And Zhuhai doesn't have border posts between it and other cities.  But with just 3 days you can't get too far.  Last I heard of it was 2 years ago, so I'm not positive if it is still available.

I've been with friends who have done this visa before. The one for Shenzhen is good for 5 days. I've been there with UK, Thai, and Germans who've all done this no problem. From what i've heard it is impossible for Americans, but most other countries is fine including the UK, but they charge a lot more for UK passports.

Hi - think my above post misleads.....apologies

The phone number I gave +86 755 2686 5555 is for the visa office at Shekou port, not the ferry compnay. They will give you good uptodate information on cost / availability for visas they can issue