Hong Kong Passport / Visa

Hong Kong Travel Guide - Passport/Visa

Passport Note

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 and Uganda for stays of up to 30 days, and nationals of Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Lesotho and Mozambique for stays up to 14 days); nationals of Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Grenada, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands and Sri Lanka 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 Argentina, Andorra, Anguilla, Bermuda, Brazil, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean territory, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Falkland Islands and Dependencies, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, Norway, Pitcairn Henderson Ducie and Oeno Islands, Romania, St Helena and Dependencies, St Kitts & Nevis, San Marino, Switzerland, the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uruguay (except holders of passports issued under decree 289/90, who do require a visa), USA, Venezuela and Zimbabwe for stays of up to 90 days;
(e) nationals of 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, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru (except for holders of Peruvian special resident's passports, who do require a visa), Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen for stays of up to 30 days;
(f) nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoro Islands, Congo (Rep), Croatia, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, 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).


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).


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.


Applications 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, accompanied by a copy of the sponsor's Hong Kong identity card.


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.


Passport and Visa Information

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the UK
6 Grafton Street, London W1S 4EQ, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 9821.
Website: www.hketolondon.gov.hk

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the USA deals with enquiries relating to Hong Kong (see China (PR) section.)

Hong Kong Immigration Department
2nd Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: 2824 6111.
Website: www.immd.gov.hk