China visa in Macau?
 

Supposedly the cheapest place to get one and processed very quickly. Anyone had experience with this?

This is better suited for the China forum so I move this thread to where the experts are.

Not sure where you heard that. Macau has always had the reputation of taking longer than HK and can be more of a hassle. Fees are set by your passport and are uniform at all locations, so there's no "cheaper" in Macau--the only thing that might be different are rush processing fees, and if you use an agent, their fees. The Commissioners' office in Wanchai, Hong Kong routinely does next day service, as do agents. Some HK agents can do same day service if you give them a heads up and get your passport to them first thing in the morning. Try our Sticky at top of forum for additional info, visa post.

This assumes you were talking about a standard visa, not the 3-day special visa/border pass for adjacent Zhuhai.

I am assuming this was originally posted in the Qantas forum. In Australia you have to use an exclusive agent which makes the cost of a visa double to triple of what it would cost getting it somewhere else. So, for Australians, Macau would be cheaper. So would most locations in the world.

True. Using the now-required central visa agent in Australia will probably be more expensive vs Macau. But that seems to be a false dichotomy. Generally, people who need a Chinese visa and can make it as far as Macau, tend to have a choice between Macau and Hong Kong--in which case HK is normally easier and quicker, even with use of a 3rd party agent.

If this poster's choice is between these territories and Australia, however, one factor to consider is quality of visa--sometimes applicants in the home country can get better terms (longer overall, longer duration, more entries) than elsewhere. Which depending on one's plans, can save money in the long run.

Agents in HK typically can process a visa faster than can be done through the official commission in Wanchai, whether for express or standard service.

The agents have the visa processed at the PSB in Shenzhen.

I also thought that until I learned better. I get a one year multiple once a year (I am HK and Macau resident with a German passport).
In January Hong Kong increased the price from 600 to 800 HK$, not so Macau. There it was still 600 MOP when i applied (Not sure about now).
Normal processing time: submitted Tuesday afternoon, received Friday morning.

You have residency there? Even with a German passport, that could make a big difference vs a foreign traveler just passing through on quality of visa--I haven't heard of non-resident foreigners getting a one-year multiple. I suspect the difference in pricing was that Macau's Chinese mission just hadn't caught up to the HK fee increase yet, and you got lucky with your timing.

Of course the residency makes all the difference. I would have no way to get a multiple without. That is why I mentioned it. This is the only visa category where I knew the price (and that it was different). As I live very near the visa issuing office, I'll go and have a look tomorrow.

Just wanted to make sure that all the cards are on the table so readers don't get the idea that they can easily repeat your results. Excellent that you can pop over to office and maybe report back, since we don't have a lot of recent Macau datapoints. What would be useful for a non-resident/visitor/traveler to know:
--what lengths/terms are currently being offered on a regular basis for F's and L's
--how long processing takes, regular or rush
--fees (US passports expensive, UK passports middle, then all others standard and cheapest)
--if the Chinese are requiring flight/hotel bookings for the application

You're golden if you can add some fresh info on this for Macau. :)

Went there today and was shocked about the latest changes. Non residents (Australian) can only get 7 days and need a return ticket to Australia (From HK or China). Cost is 210 MOP.

Then I called Japan Travel in HK (They are one of the very reliable agents). They currently can get 3 months single or 6 months double for 340/450 HK$ for an Australian Citizen.

As the rules change all the time I strongly advise to call an Agent like Japan travel close to the date of application and get that day's set of rules.

http://www.jta.biz/chinavisa/china_visa.htm
The rules on their website are not always up to date!

Update and clarification from the OP
 

Here are the specifics - arrive Hong Kong on Saturday June 30 and there till Tuesday. In Macau on Wednesday and then Shanghai for the next three days. My preference is hong kong for getting the visa - re-entry is not a priority. But I arrive on a weekend. What is my best course of action?

Monday, 7/2 is public holiday in Hong Kong and the Chinese visa office is closed. Your itinerary may not work AT ALL. You should get your visa before your trip.

There are counters at the arrival level of the airport landside where you can get same day visa even on public holidays. But they don't come cheap.

Visa to where? Are you talking about TWOV?