Job Discussion Forums

Angelfish · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 131

I've Googled this and tried to do a search on here (didn't wanna work).

I'm a Brit living in Japan on a regular Eikaiwa visa. I'll be travelling to Shanghai from Osaka on the ferry in October and obviously I'll need a Chinese toursit visa. I've tried to find out how to get one, need to go to the Embassy or Consulate, but it's not very clear exactly what documents I need. Some websites mention that you need a Certificate of Alien Registration. Is this the same as my AR Card or do I need to visit my ward office to get a full paper certificate? Also, I live in Hokkaido, can I get this done at the Embassy in Tokyo (I'll be down there in a couple of weeks) or do I have to go to the Consulate in Sapporo?

Thanks

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

I'm a Brit, and i did this last year. I live in Nagano City, and I went down to the Embassy in Roppongi a couple of weeks before my trip. You have to pay about 6,000 yen(?) and leave your passport with them. There is a travel agent next door which does a recorded mail service to return your passport with your visa. As far as I remember I didn't take any special documents, just my gaijin card and my passport.

If you google Chinese Embassy Japan you should be able to get at least a phone number.

Sorry this is a little vague, I can't remember much about it now.

Angelfish · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 131

That's great. Thanks so much. I was worried I'd have to go to my ward office and get a special certificate before I could get the Visa, but that's put my mind at ease. Cool

I'll go to the Sapporo Consulate on Monday so I can pick it up later myself.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

The official name of your gaijin card is "Certificate of Alien Registration" which is a direct translation of the Japanese. Your gaijin card is all they want.

Angelfish · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 131

Thanks. I tried to find an official website, but the official ones were in Chinese or Japanese only. The British version only gave me information if I wanted to get my visa as a British citizen living in Britain.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

In order to issue obtain a tourist visa the Chinese consulate require evidence that you do, in fact, live at the address on your ARC (gaijincard).

If you apply in person at the Chinese Consulate in Osaka you will need a letter from your ward certifying that the address on your ARC (gaijincard) is accurate and up-to-date. Without this letter the consulate will not process your application if you apply in person.

However,

If you engage the services of the young man in the Official Chinese Travel Agency directly opposite the entrance of the Chinese Consulate in Osaka in applying for your visa he will state his conviction that you do, in fact, live at the address shown on your ARC.

Obviously the services of the nice young man cannot be provided free of charge and so a charge of a few thousand yen is to be expected. Also, it will take a few days for your application to be processed but you will receive your visa. and this method is often easier and more convenient than getting the required letter from your ward office.

The situation may be diferent in Hokkaido or Tokyo. Get a Japanese speaking friend to ring the consulate in Sapporo to ask whether they issue tourist visas, and if they refuse to accept your application without a letter from your ward office then look for the official Chinese Travel Agency offices next to the Consulate. You know how it goes from there.

Welcome to China 101!