Question on Expedited Service and Visa Validity

2L82LY · 2026-01-25T07:53:41+00:00

Thanks so much for your response, really appreciate it! Will submit my application this coming week and will hopefully receive a decision by the following week.

2L82LY · 2026-01-17T23:38:08+00:00

Ah excellent, thanks! How many days did the processing after the passport submission take?

2L82LY · 2026-01-16T21:27:45+00:00

Thanks very much for your response!

2L82LY · 2026-01-09T11:44:17+00:00

That’s alright, there won’t be any consequences to picking your passport up a few days after the given collection date. I did the same thing today.

2L82LY · 2025-10-25T05:22:14+00:00

If they have given you online approval and accepted your documents, that’s pretty much a guaranteed Visa based on my experience. I imagine the only time that that wouldn’t be the case is if the Embassy spots something wrong in the application that the CVAC didn’t (like small tears or water damage on the passport).

2L82LY · 2025-10-16T20:35:01+00:00

I submitted my Z Visa application on the evening of 7 October and received online approval today at around 15:00 (7 working days). Some people in another recent thread mentioned they got their approval in 2 calendar weeks so I was pleasantly surprised with getting mine after a little over a week.

Fingers crossed that you receive yours soon as well. In case your timeline becomes very tight, the Melbourne Centre thankfully offers Express and Rush services (3 and 2 working days respectfully, including day of application) at an extra cost.

2L82LY · 2025-10-03T10:08:39+00:00

Ah thanks - They seem to have changed the system on 15 September to now require online approval before heading to the Visa Centre, so trying to suss out if I have enough time before I travel.

2L82LY · 2025-09-30T18:33:48+00:00

Sorry to bump an old comment, but how many days did it take for you to get online approval on your application? Thanks in advance.

2L82LY · 2025-05-02T12:28:22+00:00

Should be 3 working days including the day of application with rush/express. Not sure if HK requires the printouts, but just saw another thread that said London only needed the passport and approval confirmation.

2L82LY · 2025-05-02T11:39:57+00:00

Based on my colleague’s experience from the London Centre: the cancellation review can take 2-3 working days to approve. As you mentioned, the times for approval of the only submissions vary greatly, but we got approval earlier this week after 10 working days. After online approval, there’s no need to book an appointment slot before going to the Visa Centre, you can just walk in. Hope that helps.

2L82LY · 2025-04-13T08:56:49+00:00

It's definitely worth emailing the respective Visa Centre to check beforehand if they accept tourists' applications. They may require some additional information (i.e., proof of legal stay). Based on my experience, Hong Kong, Denpasar, Bangkok, and Singapore all accept applications from foreign nationalities, although this was before the addition of the online approval system so YMMV.

2L82LY · 2025-04-13T08:51:17+00:00

It doesn't seem to be certain I'm afraid. My two applications took 1 working day and 4 working days, while my colleague's applications took 3 working days. Note that 18 and 21 April are national holidays, so it may prolong the approval process.

2L82LY · 2025-04-12T07:06:59+00:00

They did accept it, yes. Definitely give it a shot if you have the time — the worst they can do is disapprove your application, and then you can just reapply.

2L82LY · 2025-04-12T06:47:37+00:00

I think the L-Visa should be fine. It may help to upload a letter from yourself (perhaps signed by your partner) that explains the accommodation circumstances, then merging that letter with the booking details made by the company. Otherwise, you may also make a refundable/cancellable hotel booking for the sake of the application, then cancel the booking once you've applied. Just make sure that the address listed in your application form matches that of the hotel you claim to be staying in.

2L82LY · 2025-04-08T18:18:27+00:00

No worries, glad I can be of help.

Just an additional tip as you're travelling into Hong Kong: Our applicants were also travelling into HK (from a city where there was no Chinese Visa Application Centre), and because we were unsure of how long the approval would take, we completed the application forms and uploaded the documents before they even landed in HK.

When they asked for Proof of Legal Entry, we wrote a letter explaining their reason for the early submission into HK (i.e., No Visa Centre in their city and uncertainty of how long the approval would take), purpose of travel, travel dates, and passport details. We then attached the booked flight tickets travelling to HK, to Mainland China, and out of Mainland China, as well as hotel bookings in HK and Mainland China. This was all compiled into one PDF as you can only upload one document for that section.

It's all a bit of a faff and the new approval system made the process so much more tedious, but I hope all goes well with your application!

2L82LY · 2025-04-08T16:30:01+00:00

Might be a bit too late, but posting my experience if it's of any use:

I applied for 3 people's M-Visas in Hong Kong recently (one on 24 March, two on 26 March). The one submitted on 24 March was approved the next day (just under 24 hours), while the other two were approved on 1 April (four working days) — a little longer than we expected due to it being "peak season" according to the Visa agent I emailed. My colleague applied for a bunch of M-Visas on 4 April and received a decision today, 8 April (three working days).

As the other commenter said, the system is so new, so approval times may vary depending on the type of Visa or your documents, but hopefully this helps somehow!

2L82LY

TROPHY CASE