The lowdown on visas in Hainan
Australian passport holders do not need to pre-apply for visas at home. There are two types of visas available to Australian citizens upon arrival in Hainan. Hainan is the only place in China that offers these visas.
A - FREE LANDING VISA
This is a special visa than enables visitors travelling in groups of 5 or more to travel for free in Hainan for a maximum of 15 days. You must provide all your passport details to us 10 days before your departure to Hainan. This Free anding Visa only allows travelers to enter and depart from Hainan. It cannot be used in other Chinese cities for any departure purposes. If you want to travel through mainland China you will have to apply for another visa upon arrival or in Australia at the nearest Chinese consulate.
B- LANDING VISA
This visa is ideal for couples or individuals, or groups of less than five travelling together. It can be applied for upon arrival at Sanya Phoenix Airport or Haikou Meilan International airport, takes no more than 20 minutes and is valid for a maximum of 15 days. This Landing Visa costs RMB200 (approximately AUD$30).
This visa special visa is only available for visitors from 27 countries that have ‘diplomatic relations and official trade with China’. These include: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, Germany, Britain, the Phillippines, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Russia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, France, Sweden and Italy.
If you are travelling to Hainan via any international port rather than cities from China, save time and make your trip stress-free by booking a Priority Visa. The Priority Visa is only valid if you book with us, so plan your holiday to Hainan now by visiting www.visithainan.com.au.
What documents will I need?
To apply for your visa in Hainan you will need a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining, 2 passport sized photographs and the processing fee. It is recommended to carry a second form of ID like a drivers licence.
We also recommend that you make copies of your passport and bring spare passport photos in the unlucky case that your passport is lost on your travels. Renewing passports from overseas is a tricky business and having these documents will make it run more smoothly.
Can I travel throughout China with my Hainan visa?
As long as you start your journey in Hainan, the Landing Visa is valid for travel throughout China. This means you can travel to Mainland China after Hainan without getting a new visa and are free to leave the country from any port of embarkation (i.e. by ship or air at any departure point in the country).
Can I extend my Visa past 15 days?
The 15 day Visa can be extended for a further 15 days for a maximum stay of 30 days. This can be done at the visa section of the Public Security Bureau in either Haikou or Sanya.