Review : SETV – in Hong Kong

[jellybunny]

This is to review our experience of obtaining a single entry tourist visa in Hong Kong at the end of February 2016.

The reviewer does not take any responsibility for missed information or updated/new visa application information. The purpose of this review is for people who wish to apply for Single Entry Tourist Visa for Thailand.

Documents and fee prepared for SETV

1. A copy of passport (Data page) - Taken
2. Copies of all stamps/visa pages
3. A copy of Hong Kong Visitor – Permit ticket (Received at Hong Kong Immigration) - Taken
4. Bank Statements (6 months)
5. A ticket confirmation to Thailand
6. 1 passport size photo - Taken
7. Fee 300 HKD - Taken
8. Filled Application Form (Fill in details in capital letters) - Taken

Note : -

1. Applying and Collection took less than 5 minutes and no questions were asked.
2. Passport collection was the next day.

USEFUL INFORMATION : for those who travel to Royal Thai Consulate in Hong Kong

Address : Royal Thai Consulate in Hong Kong

Fairmont House, 8^th Floor. 8 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 25216481-5

Website

Application and Collection Time : Monday – Friday, 09:30 – 12.30 (collection next day)

If you use MTR :-
MTR Admiralty (Exit
MTR Central (Exit J3)

Both stations are on Tsuen Wan Line (red line) and Island Line (blue line)

Directions from MTR Admiralty, Exit B. From the Exit B, walk to the left and carry on, go straight on and also look on your right hand side, Fairmont House is opposite side of the road. You will need to use the walking bridge to cross the road.

Use this walking bridge to get to Fairmont House

Fairmont House

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION FOR HONG KONG TRIP

• Octopus card >> you can buy Octopus card to pay for bus fare or pay for food / goods in some places i.e. 7-11, Circle K, some restaurants.

(You can buy Octopus card at the Airport Express Train counter at Hong Kong Airport, Card Deposit 50 HKD and the first time top up is 100 HKD, next time top up minimum is 50 HKD, you can top up at MTR Station). When you return Octopus card, fee will be deducted from your deposit.

• Airport Express to town (24 mins), will stop at Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong MTR stations.

Hong Kong - Airport > single 100 HKD, return 180 HKD

Kowloon – Airport > single 90 HKD, return 160 HKD

Tsing Yi – Airport > single 60, return 110 HKD

• To get to Hong Kong Town without using Airport Express Train, use Bus no. E21 (daytime) or N21 (night time), the station is outside the airport. Just follow the signs through the airport towards the bus terminal. The bus passes many places in Hong Kong Town (i.e. Mongkok, Prince Edward).

• Most accommodations in Hong Kong have small rooms (6-12sq.m.) and on average are far more expensive than for something similar Bangkok.

• Adapter for Hong Kong is like in the UK.

• Hong Kong Immigration will not stamp on your passport, they will give you a small visitor – permit ticket, keep it safe as they do not staple it to your page.

(credit to : www.hongkongairport.com)

• If you need an international simcard, you can purchase it from the shop 1010 at Hong Kong Airport >> CSI toursit simcard 8 days 118 HKD, unlimited 4G.

• You should keep spare time for boarding or to get to Hong Kong Immigration,You will have to take a train from the airport to the immigration, it’s a short journey but you will need to walk a long way.

• The hotels may require a deposit 300 – 500 HKD.

• Some restaurants might charge for table fee and tea (6-10 HKD).

• In normal restaurants, a meal cost about 25-40 HKD.

• Worth to visit > Peak Tram (nice scenery) and alot of activities up the top of the hillside.

Hope this information is useful for you.

[lkv]

You took some effort in putting that together so thanks for that.

I confirm the same experience beginning of Nov 2015 so good to know it hasn't changed.

Thanks.

Edited March 5, 2016 by lkv

[lamyai3]

Good post, the pictures are very useful as finding the consulate from a map can be very confusing. Hong Kong is a wonderful city to visit. As you mentioned a trip to the peak is a must. Lots of good food options at lunchtime in the soho area where some very decent restaurants offer great 3 or 4 course lunch sets at a fraction of the evening cost. And concerning hotels, I've found HK to be one of the places where you can do a lot better on internet deals than walk in rates, unlike some other cities in the region.

Agree with the advice regarding the airport bus, some spectacular views on the way into the city. And get a local simcard, preferably at the airport, makes travel way simpler. Wifi isn't always guaranteed and internet cafes can be hard to find in HK nowadays.

Edited March 5, 2016 by lamyai3

[BritTim]

Based on what they actually took, the requirements for an SETV from Hong Kong appear more relaxed than a year or so ago. Did you have other tourist visas and/or visa exempt entries in your passport? What is your nationality?

[BangkokKen]

Gee

It's a lot of documents and a long flight for 60 days

[mrmattman]

Excellent review. Do you know if it is possible to get 2 SETV's over there?

As well, where did you stay - any hotel recommendations for a decent price?

Thanks

[jellybunny]

You took some effort in putting that together so thanks for that.

I confirm the same experience beginning of Nov 2015 so good to know it hasn't changed.

Thanks.

Thank you lkv.

We thought it might be useful for people who want to obtain SETV in Hong Kong.

[jellybunny]

Good post, the pictures are very useful as finding the consulate from a map can be very confusing. Hong Kong is a wonderful city to visit. As you mentioned a trip to the peak is a must. Lots of good food options at lunchtime in the soho area where some very decent restaurants offer great 3 or 4 course lunch sets at a fraction of the evening cost. And concerning hotels, I've found HK to be one of the places where you can do a lot better on internet deals than walk in rates, unlike some other cities in the region.

Agree with the advice regarding the airport bus, some spectacular views on the way into the city. And get a local simcard, preferably at the airport, makes travel way simpler. Wifi isn't always guaranteed and internet cafes can be hard to find in HK nowadays.

Thank you lamyai 3.

We have tried many recommended restaurants in Hong Kong but did not really like most of them. One bakery shop that we really recommend for anyone who like bake cheese tart, it's the shop called 'Hanjuku Kobo' in Tsim Sha Tsui, they makes really really good tarts there.

( Bake Cheese Tart, Credit to : photosnap.com )

Bake Cheese Cakes

We found the airport bus is cheaper but took about an hour to get to town.

[jellybunny]

Based on what they actually took, the requirements for an SETV from Hong Kong appear more relaxed than a year or so ago. Did you have other tourist visas and/or visa exempt entries in your passport? What is your nationality?

Hello BritTim,

1 x SETV - Kuala Lumpur

2 x METV - Vientiane

British

[sunnyjim5]

Based on what they actually took, the requirements for an SETV from Hong Kong appear more relaxed than a year or so ago. Did you have other tourist visas and/or visa exempt entries in your passport? What is your nationality?

Hello BritTim,

1 x SETV - Kuala Lumpur

2 x METV - Vientiane

British

METV ?

Do you mean double entry tourist visas ?

[jellybunny]

Excellent review. Do you know if it is possible to get 2 SETV's over there?

As well, where did you stay - any hotel recommendations for a decent price?

Thanks

Thank you mrmattman.

Based on their website, only SETV and METV are available.

We stayed at VP Hotel in Mong Kok ( close to MTR Prince Edward, exit C2 ). The hotel was ok and clean. But no heater so it was quite cold at night. There is 1 convenience store (Circle K), McDonald's and a few Chinese restaurants nearby.

We booked our stay online. If you will stay there on weekday and also weekend, try to book the room separate or do 2 bookings. It will be cheaper.

You can ask the reception to copy your Hong Kong Visit-Permit ticket there, they charge 10 HKD for 1 copy.

[jellybunny]

Based on what they actually took, the requirements for an SETV from Hong Kong appear more relaxed than a year or so ago. Did you have other tourist visas and/or visa exempt entries in your passport? What is your nationality?

Hello BritTim,

1 x SETV - Kuala Lumpur

2 x DETV - Vientiane

British

edit - DETV

METV ?

Do you mean double entry tourist visas ?

------------------------------------------------------

Yes, sorry.

1 x SETV - Kuala Lumpur

2 x DETV - Vientiane

[mrmattman]

Thank you mrmattman.

Based on their website, only SETV and METV are available.

We stayed at VP Hotel in Mong Kok ( close to MTR Prince Edward, exit C2 ). The hotel was ok and clean. But no heater so it was quite cold at night. There is 1 convenience store (Circle K), McDonald's and a few Chinese restaurants nearby.

We booked our stay online. If you will stay there on weekday and also weekend, try to book the room separate or do 2 bookings. It will be cheaper.

You can ask the reception to copy your Hong Kong Visit-Permit ticket there, they charge 10 HKD for 1 copy.

Good morning Jellybunny,

I got an triple entry visa before, I was referring to that one. A bit confusing with the new multiple 6 months visa now

Thanks for all the info - really good stuff.

Cheers,

Matt

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Great post and lots of really good info. Thanks for posting, i'm sure people will find this really useful.

[jerrybeirne]

thanks for taking the effort, good report.

[pjthefey]

Thanks for all the good info.   Were your visas all used back to back, or was there a bit of downtime between each of them? I'm thinking about going to HK next month  but I already have a number of visa exempt entries and 1 SETV used back to back. 

[Scott3000]

I have the fine print above my last Vientiane 2-entry TV, "holder of this passport travels to Thailand under tourist visa several times..." That visa is dated 2 Jun 2015 -- 14 months ago, 3rd 2-entry TV in a row from Vientiane, followed by two visa runs to Laos, in Dec, 2015, and Feb, 2016. 

 

When I left Thailand in April, 2016, the immigration officer (whom I had met on a previous trip) suggested that next time I wanted to come to Thailand, I should go to Hong Kong. From what I've read on this forum, that sounds like the best option for me.

 

So I'm thinking of going to Hong Kong or Kunming to get an SETV.

 

Should I expect any difficulty getting an SETV in Hong Kong in my current passport?

 

Thanks in advance!

[thaitero]

Good report, thanks

 

About 6 months bankstatements.

How much balance needed?, active account with something every month happening needed?, Printing of online statemens o.k?

Or maby best or best not to show thaiaccountbankbook?

Edited August 17, 2016 by thaitero

[jellybunny]

On 17/8/2559 at 2:15 PM, thaitero said:

Good report, thanks

 

About 6 months bankstatements.

How much balance needed?, active account with something every month happening needed?, Printing of online statemens o.k?

Or maby best or best not to show thaiaccountbankbook?

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello thaitero,

6 months Bank statements we prepared, just in case. They didn't require it.
They were online bank statements from foreign bank not from thai bank.

[Scott3000]

3 items of interest:

 

1. Directions to the Thai Consulate in HKG. If you're using the MTR, do NOT get off at Central. Get off at ADMIRALTY. The Fairmont house is NOT in between the 2 stops. It is literally just across the foot bridge from ADMIRALTY -- just follow the instructions originally posted above. My hotel gave me a free shuttle ride to Central. I wasted about an hour trying to make the so-called "10 minute walk", before finally returning to Central, buying a fare to Admiralty -- a scant 4.5 $HKD, and following the instructions.

 

2. Hotel. I like Caritas Oswald Cheung International House. It's near the peak, on the south side of HKG Island, so you're away from the action, but you get a spacious 26 sq m room, bathroom is separate from the room (MUCH less humid after you take a shower), everything is cheaper in this neighborhood than downtown, and they provide free shuttle to/from Central MTR/Airport railway station. Plus, they make all your photocopies (for Thai Consulate) and print any documents you need (instructions on how to get to Fairmont house) for free, saving you cost & hassle.

 

3. I got my SETV today -- I was so elated, I almost got lost exiting the Fairmont house & returning to Admiralty station (which is nearly impossible to do!)  :-)

[IMA_FARANG]

Thanks for the info.

I am minmally disabled however, and fly with a wheelchair from Airlines, so is it possible to take a taxi from airport to a hotel near to the Thai consulate.

I asume so, difficult for me to walk to far.

Rather pay taxi fee than wlk any long distance.

[BritTim]

6 hours ago, IMA_FARANG said:

Thanks for the info.

I am minmally disabled however, and fly with a wheelchair from Airlines, so is it possible to take a taxi from airport to a hotel near to the Thai consulate.

I asume so, difficult for me to walk to far.

Rather pay taxi fee than wlk any long distance.

 

Yes, you can get a taxi. Depending on traffic, expect a taxi one way from the airport to Central to cost around 300 HKD (1,350 baht).

[pjthefey]

We got our visas this week and everything in this post is still more or less true.   We stayed at Bishop Lei international House which was convenient because they have a shuttle that runs every hour that drops you off at Admiralty station.  From there it's a walk up and over the footbridge to Fairmont House.

[JayBird]

I may be blind, but I just went to the website for the Royal Thai Consulate in Hong Kong, and they do not mention the SETV.  Is this an omission of the website? Or am I just blind?

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, JayBird said:

I may be blind, but I just went to the website for the Royal Thai Consulate in Hong Kong, and they do not mention the SETV.  Is this an omission of the website? Or am I just blind?

I found it after selecting my country at the bottom of this page. http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4049

It does not state single entry tourist visa on the page but does have a list for the required documents for a tourist visa which would only be for a single entry visa since that is all I could apply for there.

[JayBird]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I found it after selecting my country at the bottom of this page. http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4049

It does not state single entry tourist visa on the page but does have a list for the required documents for a tourist visa which would only be for a single entry visa since that is all I could apply for there.

 

Ah, so that is what that subsection is for.  However it says a copy of 'Hong Kong / Macau I.D. Card' is needed.  So I presumed this was just for Hong Kong people and not foreigners visiting.

 

 

[ubonjoe]

14 hours ago, JayBird said:

 

Ah, so that is what that subsection is for.  However it says a copy of 'Hong Kong / Macau I.D. Card' is needed.  So I presumed this was just for Hong Kong people and not foreigners visiting.

 

 

They will not ask for the ID card since you are not from there. Your passport and the HK entry slip takes care of that.

[JayBird]

On ‎10‎/‎4‎/‎2016 at 10:19 PM, ubonjoe said:

They will not ask for the ID card since you are not from there. Your passport and the HK entry slip takes care of that.

Super, thank you kindly!

 

[Scott3000]

On 9/13/2016 at 3:22 AM, IMA_FARANG said:

Thanks for the info.

I am minmally disabled however, and fly with a wheelchair from Airlines, so is it possible to take a taxi from airport to a hotel near to the Thai consulate.

I asume so, difficult for me to walk to far.

Rather pay taxi fee than wlk any long distance.

IMA: I'm not sure if your question is still timely, but you should be able to take the train from HKG airport to Central station with NO PROBLEM, as I seem to recall that train is wheelchair-friendly, all the way to the Central station -- which is just one MTR stop or a short taxi ride away from Admiralty station & Fairmont House. (Thai consulate is in the Fairmont House bldg).

[BritTim]

26 minutes ago, Scott3000 said:

IMA: I'm not sure if your question is still timely, but you should be able to take the train from HKG airport to Central station with NO PROBLEM, as I seem to recall that train is wheelchair-friendly, all the way to the Central station -- which is just one MTR stop or a short taxi ride away from Admiralty station & Fairmont House. (Thai consulate is in the Fairmont House bldg).

 

I do not think he was intending to travel with his own wheelchair. Thus, your information is only useful if he can rent a wheelchair at the airport. Perhaps, he can by prior arrangement. Probably, though, taxis are a better solution if he can afford it.