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Hong Kong Visa Policy

Hong Kong Visa
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Hong Kong visa is not required for tourists from more than 160 countries. A stay ranging from 7 to 180 days is granted according to nationality. People from those Hong Kong visa free countries, however, need to get a HK visa if they intend to work, study, establish or join in a business there or if their tour is beyond the granted visa-free stay length. Also, other countries' citizens have to get a HK visa before leaving for HK as it's almost impossible to get it on arrival.

Although Hong Kong is a part of China, as a Special Administrative Region (SAR), it has its own entry regulations. This means the normal Chinese visa does not work for Hong Kong and vice versa.

Generally, Hong Kong is very open to foreigners who simply want to visit as a tourist to conduct business activities for an overseas business such as visiting clients and prospects, providing training, or attending trade fairs. Overall, the rules are essentially the same as under the British administration that preceded the SAR's return to Chinese control.

Always remember that all countries and Chinese SARs have the right to refuse entry to any person, whatever the regulations permit, and that even when you have a visa you can be denied entry at the border. Also, the information provided here is for people travelling on standard passports, not special ones like diplomatic or service passports, nor special or restricted passports.
 

Do I need a visa to visit Hong Kong?

Most tourists do not require a visa for a visit to HK. Please see the HK Visa Exemption for Foreign Countries/Areas. All visitors arriving at Immigration control points will be issued with landing slips in lieu of stamping on their passports/travel documents. Conditions and limit of stay in HK, as well as visitor’s personal information and arrival date will be included in the landing slip. Upon departure, no slip will be issued and the travel documents will not be stamped.

The most favored are British nationals who, provided they meet the basic criteria, may enter HK for 180 days without obtaining a visa in advance. USA citizens, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and most European nationals may enter for 90 days. Others are variously restricted to 30, 14, or 7 days, or in the case of a few countries will only be permitted to enter having previously obtained a visa. Most tourists can easily take the ferry from HK to Macau which has a policy similar to Hong Kong's and typically they will not normally require a Macau visa. They can exit Hong Kong and re-enter for another stay. There is usually no problem re-entering unless the immigration authorities feel you are breaking some rules such as being engaged in business. However, you may be allowed to visit for a longer duration by applying for a visa prior to travel - but it is at the discretion of the consular office whether to grant it or not.

 Note: From January 23, 2017, Indian nationals will need to make a success pre-arrival registration online before they can visit or transit and enter the HKSAR visa-free. Indians in direct transit by air and not leaving the airport transit area are not required to do so.
 

Basic Entry Requirements for All Foreign Visitors

• have a minimum validity on passport of 1 month beyond the intended stay, or the duration of the visa may be restricted so that there will be one month after the visa expiry
• properly complete the immigration card on arrival
• have a visa if your nationality is required to have one
• have onward or return travel arrangements
• have sufficient funds for your stay without working, based on Immigration's definition, not yours
• no serious criminal records and unlikely to be involved in crime, nor be considered a security risk


Most travelers, especially from western countries, are not checked for compliance with the last three but all travelers should allow for the possibility that immigration might choose to check you. You should also check with your airline's regulations as they may not allow you to fly if you do not meet the stated entry requirements.
 

Major Types of HK Visa

Tourist / Business / Transit / Employment and Investment / Training / Working holiday / Study / Residence as Dependants
 Where to Apply / Required Documents / Processing Time / Fees

Visitors are normally not permitted to change the type issued or move from a non-visa situation to obtaining one after arrival but of course it is easy to exit HK and apply for a Hong Kong Visa again.

There is full information on the HK Immigration Department webpage:

http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/immigration-entry-guideline.html
You can get all the forms and the guidelines from the website.

  Foreign Consulates in Hong Kong

- Last updated on Nov. 01, 2023 -
Questions & Answers on Hong Kong Visa Policy
Asked by Ida from IRELAND | Mar. 18, 2024 14:42Reply
Irish passport holder to Hong Kong, then to Shenzhen need to apply China VISA?
Hi, would like to know if I'm the Irish Passport holder (Ireland) who will travel to Hong Kong, then would like to take bus/taxi to Shenzhen, can I eligible to have 24, 72 or 144 hours visa-free transit? Thank you.
Asked by Hadeel from USA | Oct. 29, 2023 19:08Reply
Do I need to apply for HK visa
Hello, I am a green card holder with Yemeni passport. We want to visit mainland China and HK for total of 6 weeks (3 weeks each). I applied for visa to China, do I need to apply for visa for Hong Kong?
Answers (4)
Answered by Gloria | Oct. 30, 2023 02:07
00Reply


Yes, you do need to apply for HK visa in advance.
Answered by Hadeel | Oct. 31, 2023 17:21
00Reply


Thank you. I am applying to the consulate general of China in New York for my Chinese visa, where would I apply for HK tourist visa?
Answered by Hailey | Oct. 31, 2023 18:04
00Reply


Are you an American passport holder? If yes, you don't have to apply for a visa. You can visit HK visa-free for at least 90 days.
Answered by Hadeel | Nov. 01, 2023 07:44
00Reply


I have a Yemeni passport and I have a green card
Asked by Huang from MALAYSIA | Oct. 25, 2023 05:33Reply
Visa For Hong Kong and Macau
Hi, I'm a Malaysian who is planning to travel to Macau then Hong Kong. Do I need to apply for any Visa for any of these countries?
Answers (1)
Answered by James | Oct. 25, 2023 19:13
00Reply


No, you don't need any visa to visit the two regions. Generally, you can stay in HK visa-free at most 90 days and Macau for at most 30 days.
Asked by Alice from USA | Oct. 10, 2023 09:59Reply
Chinese passport holder entering Hong Kong from the US allowed?
I'm a Green Card holder and I hold a Chinese passport, can I fly to Hong Kong from the USA and enter China from Hong Kong?
Answers (1)
Answered by Flora | Oct. 10, 2023 20:56
00Reply


You can stay at most 7 days.
Asked by Elsa from UNITED KINGDOM | Oct. 04, 2023 06:31Reply
If I don’t have an invitation letter or itinerary to China, can I apply for a Chinese visa?
We will visit Hong Kong for 2 months next January and February, and we think during that time, we will visit China at some point but we haven’t decided it. We want to apply it in advance just in case.
Answers (1)
Answered by Emma | Oct. 08, 2023 02:29
00Reply


I'm afraid it is hard but you can have a try.
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