How do I, an American, get a Chinese visa while in Japan?

October 21, 2005 9:13 PM

Chinese travel visa for an American living in Japan...

I'm currently studying at a University in Osaka, and winter break is fast approaching. I'd like to go to Beijing for a week in mid-December. My question is, how do I go about applying for a visa? Is the only way to do it through the Chinese embassy in America, or can I go to the Chinese consulate in Osaka? Seeing as my passport has my Japanese visa in it, I don't really feel comfortable shipping it all the way to America through a visa service or my family. I know there are alot of Americans in Japan on metafilter, so I imagine someone has been in this situation before...

posted by MostHolyPorcine to Travel & Transportation around Japan (5 answers total)

I'm sure you saw this link for the Chinese consulate in Osaka. I imagine you could call them or just drop by to find out. I'd be very surprised if you had to send your passport back to the States.

Beijing in December will be COLD. Visiting the Forbidden City and the Great Wall when the wind chill is 20 below is not my idea of fun. But if you do go, be sure to eat a lot of Uighur food.
posted by alidarbac at 9:43 PM on October 21, 2005

I got my Chinese visa on an American Passport in Spain with no problem, I imagine the Osaka office shouldn't be any different as long as it does visa service. Just download a copy of the visa application and bring it with you (they will probably give you a different form anyway), they will keep your passport for a few days though.
posted by arruns at 10:22 PM on October 21, 2005

And make sure you get a re-entry permit on your Japanese visa.

(Hi! I'm in Nara!)
posted by emmling at 10:27 PM on October 21, 2005

I got mine in Hanoi fairly easily... it takes 4-5 days and costs about $40. Yeah, they'll keep your passport, but I'm 90% certain you won't have to send it back to the US. Figure out where the Chinese consulate is and just walk in, the guards will probably point you to the visa department.
posted by borkingchikapa at 11:11 PM on October 21, 2005

If possible, you should leave before the masses go on winter vacation. I just got a ticket from Tokyo to Orlando yesterday, and the price went from ~240,000 Yen to ~100,000 Yen if I returned after January 3rd!
posted by ejoey at 1:42 AM on October 22, 2005