Expatriate Forums in Hong Kong

Hong Kong immigration · Guest Home Country: countryx

Passport/Visa requirements in Hong Kong

Passport/Visa:Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required?
British Yes No/1 Yes
Australian Yes No/2 Yes
Canadian Yes No/2 Yes
USA Yes No/4 Yes
OtherEU Yes No/3 Yes
Japanese Yes No/4 Yes

Entry restrictions: All visitors must show evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay.

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months after the period of intended visit required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) 1. British Citizens for stays of up to 180 days (British Overseas Citizens, British Subjects, British Protected Persons and nationals of British Dependent Territories may stay for up to 90 days);

(b) 2. nationals of Commonwealth countries for stays of up to 90 days (except nationals of Samoa, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uganda for stays of up to 30 days, and nationals of Bangladesh, Cameroon, India, Lesotho and Mozambique for stays up to 14 days): nationals of Grenada, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and the Solomon Islands do require a visa;

(c) 3. nationals of EU countries for stays of up to 90 days (except 1. British citizens for stays of up to 180 days);

(d) 4. nationals of Andorra, Anguilla, Bermuda, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montserrat, Norway, Romania, St Helena and Dependencies, St Kitts & Nevis, San Marino, Switzerland, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, USA, Venezuela and Zimbabwe for stays of up to 90 days;

(e) nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica (except holders of a provisional passport and holders of ‘Documento de Identidad Y Viaje’ issued by the Costa Rican Government, who do require a visa), Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru (except for holders of Peruvian special resident’s passports, who do require a visa), Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay (except holders of passports issued under decree 289/90, who do require a visa) and Yemen for stays of up to 30 days;

(f) nationals of Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoro Islands, Congo (Dem Rep), Congo (Rep), Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of), Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, (Federated States of) Micronesia, Mongolia, Niger, Oman, Palau, The Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, São Tomé e Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Surinam, Togo, US Territory of Pacific Islands and Vatican City for stays of up to 14 days;

(g) People in transit not leaving the airport transit area except for nationals of Eritrea, Iraq, Liberia, Pakistan (except holders of Diplomatic and Official passports) and Sierra Leone who do require a transit visa;

(h) all other nationals for stays of up to seven days (except for nationals of Eritrea, Iraq, Liberia, Pakistan (except holders of Diplomatic and Official passports) and Sierra Leone who do require a visa at all times).

Note: For clarification or further information, contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department, 2nd Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (tel: 2824 6111; fax: 2877 7711; e-mail: enquiry@immd.gov.hk; website: www.immd.gov.hk). Their booklet Do you need a Visa for Hong Kong? is also available from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (see Contact Addresses section).

Types of visa and cost: Tourist; Business (single- and multiple-entry); visas generally cost HK$135, but this varies according to nationality and nature of visit. Enquire at the Chinese Consulate (or Consular section at the Embassy) or the Hong Kong Immigration Department for details. Transit: HK$70.

Validity: Three months. Extensions are possible for about HK$135. Enquire at the Immigration Department in Hong Kong or at the nearest Chinese Embassy (or Consular Section).

Application to: Chinese Consulate (or Consular Section at the Embassy), Hong Kong Economic Office or the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Application requirements:
(a) Passport valid for at least six months with photocopies of the relevant pages of information.
(b) Completed application form.
(c) Valid travel documents (onward or return tickets, unless on transit to China (PR) or Macau (SAR), and accommodation bookings).
(d) Sufficient funds to cover duration of stay.
(e) Two passport-size photos.
(f) Evidence of employment (employment certificate, company letter etc).
(g) Fee.
(h) For business visas, a letter of invitation from a ministry, firm or an official Hong Kong organisation is required.

Working days required: Five (if the application is processed by a Chinese Consulate or Embassy); four to six weeks if the application needs to be considered by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Note that there is no refund if the application is turned down.