Hong Kong: Entry Rules for VisitorsLast check:Last update:Data statusLast check:Last update:
Hong Kong:Visa Requirement Map
Explore which nationalities need a visa to enter this country and which can enter visa-free.
Hong Kong: Visa and entry documents and requirements
Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.
Visa-Free Entry Requirements
- The traveler must hold a valid passport or travel document acceptable to the Hong Kong authorities and have sufficient document validity to allow return to the country of residence or nationality.
- The requirement for a biometric or machine-readable passport may vary depending on the type of travel document and the applicable visa exemption arrangement.
- The traveler must have a genuine and valid purpose of visit, have no circumstances that would constitute an impediment to entry in terms of security or criminal record, and must not be likely to become a financial burden on Hong Kong.
- Sufficient financial means to cover the entire planned stay without working must be demonstrable.
- Except for transit travel to Mainland China or Macao, a return ticket or a travel ticket to the next destination must be carried. Border officers may request to see documents supporting the travel itinerary, accommodation arrangements, and purpose of visit.
- The visa-free stay period varies according to the passport or travel document status and is limited by the stay permission granted upon entry. The traveler must depart Hong Kong before the expiry of the granted period.
- No paid or unpaid work may be undertaken, no business may be established or participated in, and no enrolment as a student at an educational institution is permitted under visitor status. Appropriate entry permission for employment, study, business establishment, or residence must be obtained in advance.
- Having a visa exemption does not grant automatic entry into the territory. The final decision on entry rests with the Hong Kong Immigration Department officer at the border.
- For general entries, a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and pre-travel or post-arrival COVID-19 test are not required. Travelers showing symptoms may be referred for health assessment upon arrival.
Electronic Travel Authorization Requirements
- In Hong Kong's official system, the electronic travel pre-authorization is implemented under the name 'Pre-arrival Registration'. The system is only usable by travelers falling within its official scope, and the application is free of charge.
- In the six-month multiple-visit arrangement, the applicant must register online with a suitable passport valid for at least six months. The planned visit or transit stay must not exceed 14 days. Registration may not be required for travelers making a direct air transit who do not leave the transit area of the airport.
- The personal information provided during the application must be exactly the same as the information in the passport. The system processes the application automatically and normally notifies the result immediately.
- The notification document generated upon successful registration must be printed on blank, white A4 paper, the information must be checked, and it must be signed by the applicant. For persons under 16 years of age, the document must be checked and signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- The notification document is valid only together with the specific passport used in the registration. If the passport is renewed, replaced, or personal information changes, a new registration must be made.
- The registration is valid for six months and may be used for multiple entries within that period. The maximum permitted stay per entry is 14 days. A new registration cannot be made before the existing registration expires.
- The traveler must present the signed notification document and the same valid passport linked to the registration both before boarding and at Hong Kong border control. Failure to present both documents together may result in denial of boarding or refusal of entry.
- In the two-month, two-entry Pre-arrival Registration arrangement, the first name and surname, other names if any, gender, date of birth, place of birth, identity number, and the number and validity information of the re-entry travel document must be entered. An authentication question must be selected and answered to be able to access the notification document later.
- The re-entry travel document used in this arrangement must be valid for at least six months both on the date of registration and upon entry into Hong Kong. The information must be exactly the same as the travel document.
- The successful registration notification must be printed on blank, white A4 paper, its accuracy must be checked, and it must be signed. The notification for persons under 16 years of age is signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- The registration is valid for two months and may be used for two entries. A maximum of 30 days may be stayed as a visitor per entry. A new registration may be made when the registration period expires or the two entry entitlements have been used.
- The Pre-arrival Registration notification does not constitute a guarantee of entry. The traveler must continue to meet the conditions of a valid travel document, genuine purpose of visit, sufficient financial means, and, where required, a return or onward travel ticket.
E-Visa Application Requirements
- The Hong Kong e-Visa is not an independent visa waiver. It is an electronic entry document in PDF format issued after an appropriate visit or transit entry visa application is approved and the required fee is paid.
- In the online application, the applicant and, if any, the sponsor in Hong Kong must complete the electronic form in full and sign it, confirming that the provided information is accurate, complete, and true. If the applicant is under 16 years of age, the form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- Pages of the valid travel document showing the applicant's personal information, issue and expiry dates, and re-entry visa if any must be uploaded.
- One recent photograph must be uploaded.
- Online documents must be uploaded in one of the formats JPEG, PDF, GIF, PNG, or supported TIF. Each file may be up to a maximum of 5 MB. Documents not containing photographs must be scanned in grayscale, and documents containing photographs must be scanned in color.
- Financial sufficiency may be evidenced by bank statements, savings account passbooks, tax receipts, or similar documents. Employed persons may submit an employer's leave letter, payslip, or similar proof of employment.
- A flight itinerary or other transportation arrangement must be provided. For tourist travel, a travel itinerary, tour registration, or visit plan is required; for business travel, an employer's letter, local company invitation, or commercial event document is required; for family visits, a document showing the family relationship with the sponsor is required. For other visit purposes, appropriate documents verifying the purpose must be submitted.
- The accommodation arrangement and address in Hong Kong must be declared in the application form.
- Providing a sponsor in Hong Kong is not mandatory; however, a local sponsor may facilitate the assessment of the application. An individual sponsor must be at least 18 years old, a genuine Hong Kong resident, and a person who knows the applicant.
- A company sponsor must submit the sponsor form and the company registration certificate. An individual sponsor must submit the sponsor form and the Hong Kong identity card. If the sponsor is not a permanent resident of Hong Kong, the personal information pages of the travel document, current stay conditions, latest entry or extension record, and the last e-Visa document if any may be requested.
- Documents not in Chinese or English must be submitted together with a Chinese or English translation verified by a sworn, court-authorised, certified, expert, or official translator.
- Travel health insurance is not listed as a mandatory document in the general application checklist.
- The Immigration Department may request additional documents, information, or clarification when deemed necessary.
- For persons under 16 years of age, signature of a parent or legal guardian is mandatory.
- The fee for a normal visit visa or entry permit is 330 Hong Kong dollars. Online payment may be made by Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, or JCB card; PPS, Faster Payment System, or accepted Mainland China electronic wallets.
- If payment is made in person at the Immigration office, cash, EPS, Octopus, Faster Payment System, accepted electronic wallets, or a proper cheque may be used. Cash should not be sent by post; where necessary, a bank draft or cashier's cheque issued by a Hong Kong-linked bank may be used.
- The normal processing time after all required documents are received by the Immigration Department is approximately four weeks.
- When the application is approved and the fee is paid, the e-Visa is downloadable as a PDF. Even if no fee is applied, the electronic document must be downloaded or printed via the official link or the Immigration Department mobile application.
- The traveler must store the e-Visa digitally on a personal mobile device or print it on white A4 paper. Upon arrival, the e-Visa must be presented together with the valid travel document, and the encrypted QR code on the document must be scanned at the border reader.
- The validity dates of the visa, the permitted duration of stay, and the number of entries are shown on the approved e-Visa document and on the stay record granted upon entry.
- Issuance of the e-Visa does not constitute a guarantee of entry into the territory. The final decision on entry is made at border control.
Consular Visa Application Requirements
- The applicant may apply to the Chinese diplomatic or consular mission responsible for their place of residence. At some missions, Hong Kong visa applications from holders of foreign ordinary passports are accepted by the officially appointed Chinese Visa Application Service Centre. The application channel may vary according to nationality, place of residence, and the local practice of the mission.
- Some applicant groups are required to submit their applications directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department instead of through the consular channel. The applicant must verify the authorized application channel before travel.
- In paper applications, the ID 1003A application form must be filled out completely in black or blue ink, in capital and legible letters, and signed. If the applicant is under 16 years of age, the form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- One recent photograph must be affixed to the form. The photograph must not be larger than 55 × 45 mm and not smaller than 50 × 40 mm.
- The valid travel document and copies of the pages showing the personal information, date of issue, date of expiry, and re-entry visa if any must be submitted. The original travel document must also be presented to the relevant diplomatic or consular mission at the time of application.
- The document must have sufficient validity to allow the applicant to return to the country of residence or nationality.
- For a physical visa sticker issued through the consulate or the authorized Hong Kong office in Mainland China, the travel document must contain at least one blank visa page. The sticker is affixed to this blank page and presented to the border officer.
- The applicant must submit proof of financial sufficiency, employment documents, and travel itinerary. Bank statements, savings account passbooks, tax receipts, employer's leave letter, and payslips are among the acceptable evidence.
- Depending on the purpose of travel, a flight itinerary, travel itinerary, tour document, employer's letter, invitation letter from a company in Hong Kong, certificate of participation in a commercial event, proof of family relationship, or other documents verifying the purpose of visit must be submitted.
- The planned date of entry, duration of stay, requested number of entries, accommodation address, arrival and departure flights, purpose of visit, and travel itinerary must be stated in the application form. In visit applications, single, double, triple, or multiple entries may be requested; the final number of entries is subject to the decision of the Immigration Department.
- If a local sponsor is used, the sponsor must complete form ID 1003B. A company sponsor must submit the company registration certificate; an individual sponsor must submit the Hong Kong identity card and, if required, documents of the travel document and immigration status.
- Documents not in Chinese or English must be submitted together with a certified Chinese or English translation. The requirement for notarisation, apostille, or legalisation of documents may vary according to the type of document and the mission to which the application is made.
- The consulate or Immigration Department may request additional documents, information, or an interview when deemed necessary.
- The form for persons under 16 years of age must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- The central normal visit visa fee is 330 Hong Kong dollars. For applications made through the consular channel, payment is made directly to the relevant mission or authorised application centre. The local currency, payment method, application centre service fee, and delivery fee may vary according to the mission.
- The normal processing time after all required documents are received by the Immigration Department is approximately four weeks. The additional time required for the consulate or application centre to forward the file may vary according to local practice.
- The validity period of the visa, number of entries, and permitted duration of stay are determined based on the assessment of the application and are indicated on the issued visa sticker.
- A consular visa may be used for tourist visit, family visit, short-term business visit, transit, or another proven temporary visit purpose. Visitor status does not grant the right to engage in paid or unpaid work, establish a business, participate in a business, or be a student at an educational institution.
Transit Visa Requirements
- A traveler requiring a transit visa must obtain the appropriate visa or entry permit before traveling to Hong Kong. Some travel document holders are required to obtain a visa in advance even if they do not leave the international transit area of the airport.
- The applicant must complete and sign the ID 1003A form in full. The paper form must be filled out in black or blue ink in capital letters, and one recent photograph must be attached.
- In paper applications, the photograph must not be larger than 55 × 45 mm and not smaller than 50 × 40 mm.
- Pages of the valid travel document showing personal information, date of issue, date of expiry, and re-entry visa if any must be submitted.
- A flight itinerary or other transportation arrangement must be provided. The destination after Hong Kong, the purpose of this travel, the reason for transit, and the travel itinerary showing arrival and departure dates must be declared.
- A ticket issued to the next destination must be available. If a visa or residence permit is required for entry to the next destination, whether this document will also be requested is determined according to the applicant's travel itinerary and the rules of the destination country.
- The applicant must demonstrate sufficient financial means to cover the transit period without working, by means of bank statements, savings documents, tax receipts, or similar evidence.
- In a transit application, single or double passage may be requested. The approved number of entries, the validity period of the visa, and the permitted transit stay duration are shown on the issued visa or entry permit.
- The transit visa fee is 170 Hong Kong dollars. For applications made directly to the Immigration Department, online card, PPS, Faster Payment System, and accepted electronic wallets may be used. The payment method and possible service fees for consular applications may vary according to the mission.
- The normal processing time for complete applications is approximately four weeks.
- A transit permit approved directly by the Immigration Department may be issued as an e-Visa in PDF format. The document must be stored on a mobile device or printed on white A4 paper and presented together with the valid travel document upon arrival.
- For a physical transit visa sticker issued through the consulate, the travel document must contain a blank visa page.
- The Immigration Department or consulate may request additional documents and information.
Update History
The requirement to obtain a visa before travel has been removed; visa-free entry is now available. The permitted stay is now 30 days.
The requirement to obtain a visa before travel has been removed; visa-free entry is now available. The permitted stay is now 30 days.
