Entry to Hainan Island for Russians in 2021

Do Russians and Ukrainians need a visa to travel to Hainan Island in 2021? Rules for processing and receiving it at the airport upon arrival.

It may well be that, looking through the tourist brochures, you will choose Hainan Island.

On May 1, 2021, the Chinese authorities pleased Russians and citizens of another 58 countries with the abolition of the visa regime. The list of lucky ones also included Belarusians and Ukrainians. You can now stay on this beautiful tropical island for 30 days without paperwork.

Hainan Island in southern China.

If you are planning to relax in China, be prepared for the fact that you don’t need to think about paperwork, your task is to enjoy life to the fullest. The beautiful island is so positive that even those who went to work in China and not to relax manage to feel the taste for life on it.

How to relax on Hainan Island without a visa

According to the new rules, tourists traveling in a group, as well as those who purchased a ticket from a travel agency, can visit the island without a visa. The tour operator only needs a passport to process the necessary documents.

More details about this in the next video.

You are allowed to live without a visa in Hainan for 30 days. Previously, this period was limited to 21 days. For violating the visa regime, you can be deported, fined and even imprisoned. Keep in mind, the Chinese do not stand on ceremony with violators.

How much does a visa to Hainan cost for Russians?

A Russian tourist must pay about 400 yuan for a visa on arrival. Payment is made to the cashier in US dollars or yuan.

The applicant has the right to extend the visa that was issued at the airport upon arrival. Having collected all the documents (application, international passport, photo for documents, tickets with a new departure date, confirmation of where he will be staying), he must pay an additional 180 yuan (about $31).

If you apply for a visa through a consulate in Russia, the fee will be from 3,300 rubles (depending on the number of entries of the visa and the speed of its processing).

Those who have already been to China and Hainan several times note that for greater freedom of movement and opportunities, it is still better to apply for a visa.

Features of flights for easy obtaining of a visa

If you are interested in a visa, which you can get without delay at the airport in order not to be “locked” on the island, but to freely leave its territory and explore other provinces of China, keep in mind that there is an important condition for obtaining it.

Passport documents are issued only to those who arrived on a direct international flight. That is, if you have chosen a route with a transfer, you can’t count on the customs services to be lenient towards you. No transfers. If you are traveling from Russia, your ticket should include Moscow - Sanya.

There are two airports on the island: Sanya and Haikou.

Airport in Sanya.

Each of them has the rule of direct international flights. If you do not plan to comply with it, then you should contact the Chinese representative office at home and apply for a visa on a general basis. You will also have to do this if you plan to stay in Hainan for more than two weeks. Permits at airports are issued only for 14 days.

Do Russians need a visa to Hainan?

To make it easier and faster for visitors to Hainan to process documents, the PRC has introduced a special visa policy. It aims to support, deepen and develop reforms of both China in general and Hainan in particular.

Thus, Russians can get to the island either without a visa or obtain one upon arrival. The visa-free regime on Hainan Island is available only to package tourists, i.e. for those who purchased a ticket to Hainan through a travel agency. But independent travelers to visit Chinese Hawaii must apply for a visa upon arrival.

What do you need to get a visa at the airport?

Chinese border guards are not usually too picky. The standard set of documents that you will be asked includes:

• International passport. Please note that it must be valid for another six months;
• Color photograph, as for a passport;
• Application form for a visa to China, which is filled out in capital letters in English or Chinese. The ink must be black.

If the border guards want, they can ask you for a return ticket and hotel reservation. Have these documents ready with you. You must also pay a fee of $65.

Individual visa

When planning a trip to Hainan, it is advisable to obtain an individual visa type L. This can be done by contacting Chinese representative offices located in 6 major Russian cities, through a travel agency. The application is reviewed within a week. By submitting documents for express registration, the time frame can be reduced to 1 day (the price of an entry permit increases by 4.6 thousand rubles); at a travel agency the amount will be higher.

Questionnaire for those arriving in Hainan

The questionnaire is always a constant companion to the visa. In the Chinese version, it consists of two pages A-4.

The data in the form is transferred from the passport. One side is filled. You are asked to answer a series of simple questions and sign when completed.

Sample of a completed Chinese visa application form.

In order not to stress on the way and not waste time, it is best to fill out the form at home and fill out the form. You need to write:

• first and last name;
• date of birth (written backwards, year first);
• passport data (document number, date of receipt and expiration, etc.);
• the name of the hotel;
• type of visa (tourist);
• date and signature.

The questionnaire filled out on Hainan Island differs from similar questionnaires that need to be filled out in Chinese missions in its simplicity and conciseness. You also need to paste a passport-size photo onto it.

Once you receive your visa at Hainan Island Airport, you can travel with it throughout China.

Appearance of a visa to China.

Hainan visa on arrival - conditions for obtaining and staying

Russian tourists can visit the Chinese island of Hainan without a visa only as part of a tourist group (the ticket must be purchased through a travel agency). But the Chinese government gives independent travelers from Russia the opportunity to obtain a visa directly after arrival.

To receive it, you need to arrive at Phoenix or Meilan airports, which are located near the major resort cities of Sanya and Haikou, respectively.

These visas allow you to:

• Move not only around Hainan, but throughout China.
• Freely move around the country for up to 30 days.
• It is not necessary to leave the country from the same airport where the visa was issued. It could be any airline in China.

Under what conditions is it possible to obtain a visa at the border??

• The tourist must be a citizen of one of the countries for which a border visa policy is possible. At the moment, this list includes Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
• The flight to Hainan on which the passenger wishing to obtain such a visa arrived must be international or equivalent to it. He could be from Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan.
• Visa fees are paid in RMB. This is a different amount for each country. Russians will need to pay about 400 yuan for such a service.
• You must have a passport-size photo with you. If it’s not there, it’s not critical; border guards can take a photo on the spot. The price for such a service ranges from 5 to 10 dollars.
• Before traveling, be sure to check the validity of your passport. It must be at least 6 months from the end of the trip.
• You need to be prepared for the fact that at the border the immigration officer may ask you to provide confirmation of your booking of accommodation in Hainan (for example, a printout of your hotel reservation) and return air tickets.

Those who will apply for a visa at the border must take into account several factors:

1. If the passenger did not arrive in Hainan by air, he will be denied a border visa.
2. If passengers had a stopover in mainland China before arriving in Hainan, they will also be denied a visa on arrival.
3. Before departure, be sure to ask if there are any changes in diplomatic agreements with the country of which the traveler is a citizen.

In addition to the visa-free regime and a visa on arrival, you can obtain a permit to stay in the country at one of the Chinese Consulates in Russia. If there is a voucher, then the travel agency assumes the responsibility for issuing the entry document. Otherwise, you have to do everything yourself.

To apply for a Chinese visa, you need to prepare the following documents: 2 photographs for documents, an unexpired passport, a certificate from work, insurance, an application form, a certificate indicating financial solvency. If traveling with children, their passports and birth certificates are required. Documents must be submitted 10 days before the trip. The visa allows you to stay in China (in any province) for 30 days.

Other types of visas

If your purpose of coming to Hainan Island is not tourism, or you intend to spend more than two weeks at the resort, you will need a Chinese visa. You can get it at any representative office of the People's Republic of China in Russia.

The missions of the People's Republic of China issue four types of visas:

1. tourist L. Group or individual. The group must have at least five people;
2. business F. Can also be individual and group. In this case, the group must consist of at least nine people;
3. working Z;
4. transit.

Example of a tourist visa.

You can request either a single or multiple entry permit from the Consulate of the People's Republic of China.

Traveling with a group

Tourists visit Hainan most of all, so information about group trips is most interesting and relevant for them. Only if you are on the list of a tour group to Hainan Island, submitted by the official tour operators of the Celestial Empire to the border service, is it possible to relax on it for 30 days. If a person included in the group has an open individual visa to the country, she notifies the travel agency employee so that she is not included in the group list by name, in order to avoid its cancellation. Before the trip, the travel agency issues a special certificate for admission to the plane; for this, a week before the trip, you need to provide the travel agency with copies of your passports.

IMPORTANT: A vacationer on a tour package cannot, on his own initiative, apply for an entry permit upon arrival.

Is it possible to get a job on Hainan Island?

Increasingly, our compatriots are exploring employment opportunities in Hainan with interest. The island is chosen by both those who want to earn money and those who dream of living in a picturesque place away from the cold, bustle and worries.

Hainan Island.

If you are interested in working in Hainan, keep in mind that the island is a tourist island, most of its residents are employed in the tourism industry. With knowledge of English and hard work, you can open up a lot of opportunities. Most in demand:

• sales managers in hotel retail outlets;
• managers working with guests;
• tourism managers;
• property managers;
• translators;
• tourist guides;
• singers;
• musicians;
• dancers;
• swimming coaches, etc.

There are no problems with vacancies on Hainan Island. In addition, many of our businessmen live in the region. There is also a separate caste called freelancers.

A freelancer does not need an office.

They can work anywhere, but they prefer to live in the tropics on a wonderful island.

What is needed to get a job in Hainan?

If you are interested in the opportunity to work in China, the easiest way to find a job is through an agency. Find the offers that interest you most on the Internet and send your resume to the address indicated in the advertisements.

Those who already have experience working on an exotic island are advised to look for work while in Hainan. It is much more difficult to find the right vacancy from Russia. If you find an employer, you will be immediately asked to appear for an interview. The easiest way to find work in China is to have good connections. It will be ideal if you speak Chinese. There are many people who managed to successfully find a job without speaking either Chinese or English.

Most of our compatriots who got a job in China first visited the country on a tourist visa. In order to obtain a Chinese work visa, you need to provide one of the documents:

• permission for commercial tours, this document can be obtained from the country’s Ministry of Culture;
• work permit for a foreign specialist issued by the State Administration dealing with the affairs of foreign specialists;
• work permit for foreigners issued by the Ministry of Human Resources, etc.

Example of a work visa to China.

The first step to obtaining these documents is an interview with the employer. Only after both you and the company administration agree that you are suitable for each other, will the employer begin to issue a work permit for you. To do this, he will need copies of your diploma and passport, a translation of the diploma into English (preferably notarized), a work record scanner + its translation, a passport photo, a resume in English, a scan of the medical examination (here it is very important to decide what form of document the employer needs) .

In addition to permission to obtain a work visa, you need an invitation to China. It is also prepared by the employer. To obtain it, you must submit to the Department of Commerce the work permit you have already received, as well as a copy of your international passport and a request for a visit. An invitation and permission is given to the applicant for the vacancy; according to these documents, he can begin applying for a work visa.

Tourist visa at the embassy

When planning a trip to Hainan, a visa for Russians in 2021 is opened at the Chinese representative offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok.

You can contact diplomatic institutions directly or through a travel agency or visa center.

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Documents for diplomatic departments

To obtain an individual entry permit, you will need the following documents:

1. Application form (can be filled out in Russian). The form is available on the embassy website.
2. One photo 3*4 (in color on a white background). The photo is pasted into the application form.
3. International passport valid for at least six months at the time of entry. The passport must have at least 2 blank pages.
4. Copy of international passport (page with photo).
5. Copies of previous Chinese visas (if available).
6. Return tickets (preferably paid).
7. Hotel reservation (can be unpaid and cancelable) or invitation.
8. Additionally you may need:

• a copy of the Russian passport (first page and page with registration);
• certificate from work/study;
• bank statement or card account statement with a breakdown of expense transactions (at the rate of $100 per person per day);
• health insurance.

For a minor, the following is additionally submitted:

• a copy of the birth certificate;
• copies of parents' Russian passports;
• certified parental consent to travel (if the child travels without mom and dad).

Consular fee, processing time

Applicants will be issued a tourist visa L, which allows them to visit the entire territory of the PRC.

In 2021, a visa to China, including Hainan, for Russians costs:

• 3.3 thousand rubles. for a one-time document;
• 6.6 thousand rubles. for a double document.

Applications are processed within 5 working days. For urgent consideration (2-3 days), the visa price will increase by 2 thousand rubles. Express registration (1 day) will cost 4.6 thousand rubles. expensive.

Money is paid upon receipt of a passport with a visa. Payment by card only. An additional bank commission of 2.5% is charged.

All the above figures refer to cases where the document is requested at the embassy/consulate general. Visa centers and tour operators charge additional fees for their services.

Visa validity period and length of stay

You can stay in Hainan (and in any other part of the Middle Kingdom) with a single-entry visa for 30 days. Entry corridor (period during which you must arrive on vacation) – 3 months.

A double-entry visa will allow you to stay on the island and other Chinese regions for 30 days per trip. Entry corridor – 3 months. As a rule, multiple visas for tourism purposes are not issued. If you need to travel multiple times, you can apply for a business visa.

Other types of visas

To visit the Chinese island of Hainan for tourism purposes, you can apply for a visa as part of a group or on arrival.

But anyone who intends to stay here longer than 14–30 days must obtain permission for a long-term visit.

Visa categories

Educational . Russian students very often come to this country to get an education.

Type X1 and X2 visas have differences:

1. X1 is required if the duration of study exceeds 180 days. Then, after arriving in China, the foreigner is required to obtain a residence permit. Only 1 month is given for this.
2. It is easier to obtain an X2 visa, since it is issued for short-term courses or trainings. The period should not exceed 180 days.

Workers . Type Z visas are provided if the foreign citizen has an appropriate invitation from a Chinese employer.

Business visa . This document is drawn up in the presence of an invitation from a Chinese company, a cooperation agreement between organizations and other papers.

Transit . Tourists often ask whether they need a transit visa when flying to Hainan Island.

Citizens of the Russian Federation can enjoy the corresponding visa-free regime, provided that they do not leave the airport.

Typically, visa-free transit is valid for 72 hours, but at some airports (Beijing, Guangzhou) this period reaches 144 hours.

Required documents

Documents required by the Chinese Consulate:

• foreign passport (valid for at least 6 months);
• civil passport and copies of all completed pages;
• photos;
• a questionnaire filled out on a special form (Form V.2013A);
• booking tickets and hotel rooms;
• medical insurance (coverage amount – at least 15 thousand dollars);
• additional papers.

The Hainan visa application form for Russians can be filled out electronically, but then you still need to print .

Additional documents include an invitation from the host party, certificates from the university about admission.

Photos for a long-term visa must be taken accordingly. One photo is enough, but it must be taken six months before submitting to the consulate.

It is prohibited to be photographed wearing dark glasses or hats that cover most of the face.

Application procedure and cost

The procedure for issuing a visa includes several stages:

1. First, a citizen of the Russian Federation needs to decide on the type of document.
2. Then prepare the necessary documents.
3. Be sure to fill out and download the visa application.
4. Send all papers to the consulate or visa center.
5. Wait for an answer. The applicant may be refused if there are not enough documents or the application form was filled out incorrectly. In these cases, you need to eliminate the reason for the refusal and submit the papers again.

The cost of a Hainan visa for Russians depends on the type, period of receipt and other nuances:

• a single-entry visa will cost approximately 3,300 rubles;
• permission to visit the country twice – 6,600 rubles;
• The consular fee for a multiple visa of any type will be at least 10 thousand rubles.

For urgent processing (within several days) you need to add another 2 thousand rubles to the indicated amounts.