On March 10th and 11th, 2026, the British Consulate-General Shanghai, in partnership with BritCham Shanghai, hosted two Pop-up Consulate events in Ningbo and Hangzhou.
The events commenced with an exclusive closed-door roundtable. This was followed by a public session providing targeted consular guidance and UK visa support to both British nationals and visa applicants in China. Both events concluded with dynamic Q&A sessions and evening networking.
Representatives from a diverse spectrum of backgrounds, including universities and businesses, attended the pop-up events. Attendees had the opportunity to engage in direct conversations with the guest speakers from the Consulate, Alan Bryson (Vice Consul) and Ed Humphris (Visa Outreach Officer, UK Visas and Immigration).
Mr Ed Humphris, Visa Outreach Officer（UKVI）During the General Session, Alan Bryson walked through the available support that British nationals can access through the Consulate.
He underscored the UK’s commitment to delivering 24/7 global consular support, with a special emphasis on assisting vulnerable individuals. He highlighted the services that the Consular Section was able to carry out and signposted where to look and who to go to for specialist advice.
Alan encouraged people to use the 24/7 number: +86 (0)20 3279 2000 for urgent consular assistance, check out FCDO Travel Advice and ensure they have adequate travel or other insurance.
Additionally, he outlined the areas where British people most commonly fall foul of local law: drug and immigration-related offences; as well as the potential consequences of committing offences in China, local procedures around this and what Consular Staff can and cannot do.
General Public SessionEd Humphris then provided clear and comprehensive guidance on the visa application procedure. This was designed to demystify the UK visa application process for family, studying, business and visitor visas. The presentation demonstrated the entire application process step-by-step, with thorough explanations of different requirements and supporting documents needed for a successful visa application. Moreover, Ed mentioned the newly emplaced eVisas and Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs), offering attendees a clearer understanding of the latest advancements in UK visa services.
Both Pop-up Consulate Events concluded successfully. These events offered valuable opportunities to unite the British community in China and share essential information with those who may seek the Consulate or the UK Visa & Immigration’s services in future.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Venue Partner, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, as well as SHARES BAR Hangzhou, whose generous contributions played a pivotal role in making this event a resounding success.
Thank you and we look forward to welcoming you at our future events!
Key resources:
Visa Portal: http://www.gov.uk
Fraud Alert: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frauds-tricks-and-scams/fraud-tricks-and-scams
Consular Services: +86 (0)21 3279 2000 or use the web contact form to submit your query online.
Local emergency numbers:
Ambulance: 120
Fire brigade: 119
Police and all emergencies: 110
