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1. Article 22(4) of the Basic Law of the HKSAR stipulates that, for entry into the HKSAR, people from other parts of China must apply for approval. The provisions of this Article, in accordance with the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in 1999, mean that Mainland residents who wish to enter Hong Kong for whatever reason, must apply to the relevant authorities of their residential districts for approval in accordance with the relevant national laws and administrative regulations, and must hold valid documents issued by the relevant authorities.

2. Mainland residents who wish to settle in Hong Kong must apply for One-way Permits (OWPs) from the Public Security Bureau Offices where their household registrations are kept.
3. The process and issue of OWPs are administered by Mainland authorities in accordance with Mainland laws, policies and regulations. There is a daily OWP quota of 150 places. According to the laws and regulations of the Mainland, Mainland authorities announced that Mainland residents under one of the following situations may apply for OWP to settle in Hong Kong:
   1. His/her spouse is settled in Hong Kong; may bring along children aged under 18.
   2. He/she is aged above 18 and under 60 and needs to come to Hong Kong to take care of his/her parents settled in Hong Kong both of whom are aged above 60 and have no children in Hong Kong.
   3. He/she is aged above 60 and has no children in the Mainland, and has to depend on his/her children aged above 18 settled in Hong Kong.
   4. He/she is aged under 18 and has to depend on his/her parents settled in Hong Kong.
   5. He/she is a child of a Hong Kong permanent resident and holds a Certificate of Entitlement.

4. Mainland officials and personnel who wish to enter Hong Kong for visit are required to obtain an Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao for official purposes and an appropriate endorsement relating to the purpose of entry at the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office.

Visit relatives

5. Mainland residents who wish to visit their relatives in Hong Kong are required to obtain an “Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao” (EEP) with an “endorsement for visiting relatives (Tanqin)” from the relevant Public Security Bureau Office.

Group tours

6. Mainland residents who wish to come here for sightseeing may join group tours organized by designated Mainland tour companies. Group tour members need to obtain an EEP and an “endorsement for group visit (Tuandui Luyou)” issued by the Public Security Bureau Office. As group tour visitors, they must arrive and depart together as a group.

Individual visits

7. Mainland residents from Guangdong Province and 30 cities, namely Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Taizhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Tianjin, Chongqing, Chengdu, Jinan, Shenyang, Dalian, Nanchang, Changsha, Nanning, Haikou, Guiyang, Kunming, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Changchun, Hefei, Wuhan, Xian and Qingdao who wish to come here for sightseeing purpose in individual capacity are required to obtain an EEP and an “endorsement for individual visit (Geren Luyou)” from the relevant Public Security Bureau Office.

Business visits

8. Mainland residents who wish to make business trips to Hong Kong in their private capacity are required to obtain an EEP and an “endorsement for business visit (Shangwu)” from the relevant Public Security Bureau Office. (Click here for "Notice to Mainland Residents holding Business Visit Endorsement")

Exchanges and Visits

9. Six categories of Mainland talents (including outstanding talents, scientific research talents, education talents, healthcare talents, legal talents and other talents) who meet the eligibility criteria set by the Mainland authorities and wish to enter Hong Kong for exchanges and visits are required to obtain an EEP and an "exit endorsement for talents (Rencai)" issued by the relevant Public Security Bureau Office.

Other purposes of visit

10. Mainland residents who wish to enter Hong Kong as a visitor for other purposes such as treating an illness, attending a funeral or participating in proceedings, etc are required to obtain an EEP and an “endorsement for other purposes (Qita)” from the relevant Public Security Bureau Office.

Side Trips

11. Under current arrangements, Mainland residents who wish to visit Hong Kong are required to obtain an EEP and an appropriate exit endorsement from the relevant Public Security Bureau Office. In general, a Mainland resident who is in possession of a valid EEP bearing a valid exit endorsement may be landed in Hong Kong as a visitor, with a limit of stay in accordance with the exit endorsement, provided that normal immigration requirements are met. The number of journeys to Hong Kong will be stated in the exit endorsement, i.e. single-journey, double-journey or multiple-journey.
12. To facilitate those EEP holders who may take side trips to neighbouring places (e.g. Macao ^{Note 1} or the high seas) and return to the Mainland via Hong Kong, the Immigration Department has implemented the following procedures:
    1. If an EEP holder travelling with a single-journey or double-journey exit endorsement enters Hong Kong again after a side trip before the expiry of the limit of stay previously imposed, he/she will be given permission to land with the same limit of stay as that given in the previous trip, provided that normal immigration requirements are met (e.g. if the limit of stay previously imposed is until 8 May and the EEP holder enters Hong Kong again on 4 May, he/she may be landed until 8 May).
    2. If an EEP holder travelling with a single-journey or double-journey exit endorsement enters Hong Kong again after a side trip on the last day of the limit of stay previously imposed, he/she will be given permission to land for one more day to facilitate his/her return trip to the Mainland, provided that normal immigration requirements are met (taking the above example, if the EEP holder enters Hong Kong again on 8 May, he/she may be landed until 9 May).
    3. If an EEP holder travelling with a multiple exit endorsement (except the multiple-journey (one trip per week) exit endorsement for Individual Visit valid for 1 year (abbreviated as “one-trip-per-week” exit endorsement) and the "Tanqin" exit endorsement valid for three months) enters Hong Kong again after a side trip, he/she will be given permission to land with the limit of stay as specified on the multiple exit endorsement, provided that normal immigration requirements are met.
    4. If an EEP holder travelling with a one-trip-per-week exit endorsement enters Hong Kong again after a side trip, provided that normal immigration requirements are met, he/she will be given permission to land ^{Note 2} :
       1. with the same limit of stay as that given in the previous trip if he/she returns to Hong Kong before the expiry of the limit of stay previously imposed and within the same week (calculating from Monday to Sunday) of his/her last arrival;
       2. with the limit of stay as specified on the exit endorsement if he/she returns to Hong Kong not within the same week (calculating from Monday to Sunday) of his/her last arrival.
13. A journey to Hong Kong specified on the exit endorsement will be treated as completed when the EEP holder returns to the Mainland.
    
    Note 1:
    With effect from 1 September 2008, Mainland residents travelling on EEP without an exit endorsement for Macao will not be permitted to enter Macao from Hong Kong by the Macao authorities.
    
    Note 2:
    With effect from 12 January 2016.

14. Holders of People’s Republic of China (PRC) passports who are in transit through Hong Kong to and from another country or territory may be granted a stay of seven days on each landing without the prior need to obtain an entry permit provided that normal immigration requirements are met, including possession of valid entry facilities for the destination and confirmed onward booking for the overseas journey.
15. If a Mainland resident is in possession of both valid EEP and PRC passport, he/she may, upon his/her entry into Hong Kong and in accordance with his/her purpose of visit, produce his/her EEP or PRC passport (except arriving from Macao and via Hong Kong to the Mainland) for entry into Hong Kong.

State employees

16. State employees who come to work for state-owned or joint-venture enterprises/organisations in Hong Kong should obtain an employment endorsement through the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office or designated Foreign Affairs Offices in provinces and cities.

Top Talent Pass Scheme

17. Mainland residents who meets the relevant eligibility criteria may apply to come to work in Hong Kong under the Top Talent Pass Scheme. Applicants should complete the online application through the GovHK website. For more information, please click here or refer to the “Guidebook for Top Talent Pass Scheme” [ID(C) 1026 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 1026 (English version)].

Imported workers

18. For Chinese residents of the Mainland wishing to come to work in the HKSAR under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (formerly known as the Supplementary Labour Scheme), the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes or the Sector-specific Labour Importation Schemes, applications must be submitted to the ImmD through their prospective employers. Direct applications by Chinese residents of the Mainland will not be accepted. Furthermore, employers must recruit the imported workers through Mainland labour service enterprises. Mainland labour service enterprises mean enterprises approved by the relevant competent commerce department of the Mainland and acquired the business qualification for labour service cooperation with the HKSAR. Besides, please note the followings:
    1. For the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme, applications must be submitted through employers granted with the approval-in-principle to import workers to the Immigration Department. Applicants and their employers should complete application form ID 1001A and ID 1001B respectively. For detailed information, please refer to the pamphlet "How to apply under Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme" published by the Labour Department and the "Guidebook for Entry under Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme" [ID(C) 1002 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 1002 (English version)] published by the Immigration Department.
    2. For the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes, the employer must be granted with a quota for importing care worker by the Director of Social Welfare and the quota is still valid. Applicants and their employers should complete application form ID 1028A and ID 1028B respectively. For detailed information, please refer to the “Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes – Points to Note” published by the Social Welfare Department and the "Guidebook for Entry under Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes" [ID(C) 1029 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 1029 (English version)] published by the Immigration Department.
    3. For the Sector-specific Labour Importation Schemes, the employer must be granted with a quota for importing labour by the designated officers of the concerned bureaux/departments (please refer to Other Details of Sector-specific Labour Importation Schemes) and the quota is still valid. Applicants and their employers should complete application form ID 1030A and ID 1030B respectively. For detailed information, please visit the websites of the respective bureau/department concerned and refer to the "Guidebook for Entry under Sector-specific Labour Importation Schemes" [ID(C) 1031 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 1031 (English version)] published by the Immigration Department.

Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals

19. Mainland residents (the candidates) who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in the HKSAR may apply to come to work in Hong Kong under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (the Scheme). Candidates should complete application form ID 990A. The employing companies should complete application form ID 990B. Applications must be submitted by the candidates' employers who should be registered companies in Hong Kong. Direct applications by the candidates will not be accepted. Mainland residents visiting Hong Kong may not request to prolong their limit of stay on grounds of having submitted applications under the Scheme. Upon approval of the applications, the Immigration Department will issue employment entry permits (in the form of “e-Visa”). Candidates should apply for an EEP and the relevant exit endorsement from the relevant Mainland authorities. For detailed information on the Scheme, please refer to the “Guidebook for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong” [ID(C) 991 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 991 (English version)].

Technology Talent Admission Scheme

20. The Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS) provides a fast-track arrangement for eligible companies to admit non-local technology talent to undertake research and development (R&D) work for them in the HKSAR. Eligible companies would first have to apply for a quota. A company allotted with a quota by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) can accordingly sponsor an eligible person to apply for an employment visa/entry permit within the 24-month quota validity period. For details of TechTAS, please refer to the "Application Guide – TechTAS 01" and "Application Guide – TechTAS 02" in the website of ITC.

21. An application for a visa/entry permit to take up employment under TechTAS may be favourably considered by the Director of Immigration after ITC has approved a quota if:
    1. there is no security objection and no known record of serious crime in respect of the applicant;
    2. the employing company has a valid quota approved by ITC at the time of application;
    3. the applicant is employed as a full-time employee in the HKSAR by the employing company;
    4. the applicant is engaged principally in conducting R&D in the areas of advanced communication technologies, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital entertainment, financial technologies, green technology, integrated circuit design, Internet-of-Things, material science, microelectronics, quantum technology or robotics;
    5. the applicant is a degree-holder in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) from a well-recognised university, which is among the top 100 universities for STEM-related subjects in the latest publication of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Ranking Table, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Ranking Table (Shanghai Ranking) or Times Higher Education Ranking Table. Work experience is not compulsory for those with a Master’s or Doctoral degree, whereas those with a Bachelor’s degree only should possess a minimum of one year of work experience in the relevant technology area. Persons not meeting the academic requirements but possessing good technical skills in specialty areas, proven professional abilities and/or relevant experience and achievements can be considered on a case-by-case basis with full justifications. In such case, relevant documentary evidence should be provided;
    6. the applicant is offered remuneration not lower than the prevailing market level for comparable jobs in the HKSAR;
    7. the applicant meets the specific particulars pertaining to the job position set out in the quota allotment letter issued by ITC; and
    8. the bona fides of the employing company and the applicant are not in doubt.

22. Mainland residents applying to come to work in Hong Kong under TechTAS should submit their application through online system.

Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates

23. Mainland residents who are/were non-local students ^{Note 3} and have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong may apply to stay/return and work in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates. Applicants who submit applications within six months after the date of their graduation (i.e. the date shown on their graduation certificates) are classified as non-local recent graduates and those who submit applications after six months of the date of their graduation are classified as non-local non-recent graduates. All applicants should submit their application and upload supporting documents through our online system. For detailed information on the arrangement, please refer to the “Guidebook for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong” [ID(C) 991 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 991 (English version)].
    
    Mainland residents who are/were GBA campus graduates and have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time programme offered by the GBA campus of a Hong Kong university may also apply to come and work in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates. Applicants who submit applications within six months after the date of their graduation (i.e. the date shown on their graduation certificates) are classified as GBA campus recent graduates and those who submit applications after six months of the date of their graduation are classified GBA campus non-recent graduates. All applicants should submit their application and upload supporting documents through our online system. For detailed information on the arrangement, please refer to the “Guidebook for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong” [ID(C) 991 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 991 (English version)].
    
    Note 3:
    Non-local students refer to persons entering the HKSAR for the purpose of education with a student visa / entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration.

24. Mainland residents who are employees or business associates of multinational firms or well-established companies based in Hong Kong may apply to enter Hong Kong for short-term training not exceeding 12 months.
25. Mainland residents who receive training for official purpose should obtain the training exit endorsement through the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. Those who come for training in their private capacity should send completed application forms ID 992A and ID 992B directly by post or through their sponsors in Hong Kong to the Immigration Department. Upon approval of the applications, the Immigration Department will issue training entry permits (in the form of “e-Visa”). Applicants must apply for an EEP and the training endorsement from the relevant Mainland authorities. For detailed information, please refer to the “Guidebook for Entry for Training in Hong Kong” [ID(C) 993 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 993 (English version)].
26. Applications for entry permits should be sent to the following address: Receipt and Despatch Sub-Unit,
    Hong Kong Immigration Department,
    2/F, Immigration Tower,
    7 Gloucester Road,
    Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

27. Mainland residents may apply to take up:
    1. studies in full-time locally-accredited post-secondary local programmes ^{Note 4 & 5} ;
    2. studies in full-time locally-accredited non-local programmes ^{Note 4} at undergraduate or above level which have been approved by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (for the 2016/17 to 2020/21 academic years);
    3. studies in part-time locally-accredited taught post-graduate local programmes ^{Note 6} ;
    4. exchange in full-time locally-accredited local programmes at sub-degree level for not more than six months or exchange in full-time locally-accredited local programmes at undergraduate or above level for not more than one year; or
    5. full-time short-term studies, subject to the following conditions:
       1. the programme concerned is offered by Hong Kong higher education institutions with degree-awarding powers (excluding their continuing and professional education arms); and
       2. the cumulative duration of short-term studies taken up by any student should not exceed 180 days within any 12-month period.
    6. secondary school level short-term exchange programmes approved by the Education Bureau of not more than two weeks, if accompanied by Mainland teachers.

Note 4:
Local programmes refer to those programmes leading to degrees awarded by local degree-awarding institutions whereas non-local programmes refer to those programmes leading to degrees awarded solely by non-local institutions, irrespective of whether the programmes are jointly run by local and non-local institutions.

Note 5
The agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on mutual recognition of degree awards in higher education is not applicable to sub-degree qualifications (i.e. associate degree and higher diploma). Mainland students may come to attend sub-degree level local programmes in Hong Kong since there is no restriction in the Mainland prohibiting them to pursue further studies at education institutions outside the Mainland on a personal basis.

Note 6:
The programmes to be taken up by Mainland students must be offered by the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions.

28. Applicants and their local sponsors should complete application forms ID 995A and ID 995B respectively. Applications must be submitted to the Immigration Department through the education institution (the sponsor) granting the acceptance. Upon approval of the applications, the Immigration Department will issue entry permits (in the form of “e-Visa”). Applicants should contact their education institutions regarding “e-Visa” collection. Applicants should apply for an EEP and the relevant exit endorsement from the relevant Mainland authorities. Upon the student's termination of study, the education institution involved should notify the Immigration Department in writing (“Notification of Termination of Studies”) within seven working days from the date of termination. For detailed information, please refer to the “Guidebook for Entry for Study in Hong Kong” [ID(C) 996 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 996 (English version)].

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme

29. Highly skilled or talented Mainland residents who wish to apply for residence in Hong Kong may apply under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (the Scheme). Applicants should submit application through online system and upload supporting documents. For detailed information on the Scheme, please refer to the “Guidance Notes on Quality Migrant Admission Scheme” [ID(C) 982 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 982 (English version)].

Residence as Dependants

30. For sponsors who have been admitted into Hong Kong to take up employment (as a professional, for investment to establish/join in business, or for training) or studies (in a full-time undergraduate or post-graduate local programme in a local degree-awarding institution) or as entrants under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme ^{Note 7}, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, the Top Talent Pass Scheme or the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, their spouse or the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union entered into by him/her in accordance with the local law in force of the place of celebration and with such status being legally and officially recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration ^{Note 8}, and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 may apply for entry for residence in Hong Kong as dependants. Under the existing policy, while dependants whose sponsors have been admitted into Hong Kong for study may take up studies in Hong Kong, they are prohibited from taking up employment in Hong Kong unless they have obtained prior permission from the Director of Immigration.
    
    Note 7:
    With effect from 15 January 2015, the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme has been suspended until further notice.
    
    Note 8:
    For the avoidance of doubt, the terms “civil partnership” and “civil union” above mean a legal institution of a nature which is akin to spousal relationship in a marriage. The same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership and opposite-sex civil union entered into in accordance with laws outside Hong Kong are limited to only relationships which are legally and officially recognised in the places of celebration. Such relationships normally have the following features: (a) the entering into and dissolution of the relationship are governed by legislation of the place where it is entered into; (b) the relationship requires registration by the competent authority specified by the legislation of the place where it is entered into; (c) the registration is evidenced in a written instrument issued by the competent authority; and (d) parties to the relationship have a mutual commitment to a shared life akin to spouses to the exclusion of others on a permanent basis. Such relationships do not include de facto spouse, partners in cohabitation, fiancé/fiancée, etc.

31. Dependants and their local sponsors should complete application form ID997. For detailed information, please refer to the “Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong” [ID(C) 998 (Chinese version) or ID(E) 998 (English version)].
    
    Note:
    The existing Top Talent Pass Scheme online application system, Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates online application system, Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Resident online application system, Technology Talent Admission Scheme online application system, Quality Migrant Admission Scheme online application system, New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme online application system, Application for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong (ID 990A), Application for Entry for Training in Hong Kong (ID 992A), Application for Entry for Study in Hong Kong (ID 995A), Application for Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong (ID 999A) have built in the accompanying dependant’s application. The sponsor may include his/her accompanying dependant’s application for entry for residence when submitting the aforesaid applications online or when completing the aforesaid entry application forms, and the accompanying dependant will not be required to complete application form (ID 997) separately.

32. Passport holders of about 170 countries or regions may visit (including transit) Hong Kong without a visa/entry permit in accordance with the respective type of travel documents they hold, provided that normal immigration requirements are met. Reference should be made to the "Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" webpage. The webpage also lists out holders of passports who need to obtain a visa/entry permit before they can come for visit or transit.
33. Holders of foreign passports who are living in the Mainland may apply to enter Hong Kong for employment, training, study or residence. All applications will be considered under the existing immigration policy and individual merits of the case.
34. Application forms and details of application procedures can be obtained from the Immigration Department Headquarters, Immigration Branch Offices, Overseas Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Missions and HKSAR Government offices outside Hong Kong. The forms can also be downloaded from the Immigration Department's website at www.immd.gov.hk.
35. Holders of foreign passports who are living in the Mainland may submit appropriate application forms relating to the purpose of entry to Hong Kong (other than entry under the Top Talent Pass Scheme, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, Capital Investment Entrant Scheme ^{Note 7}, New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents or Technology Talent Admission Scheme) together with the relevant supporting documents to the Immigration Division of the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing (Beijing Office) or the Immigration Division of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (SHETO). Applicants are required to produce their valid travel documents to the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office or the Immigration Division of the SHETO so that a visa/entry permit could be issued if the application is approved. The addresses of the two Mainland offices are :
    
    The Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing
    No. 71, Di'anmen Xidajie, 
    Xicheng District, Beijing 100009,
    People's Republic of China.
    
    The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai
    21/F, The Headquarters Building, 168 Xizang Road (M), Huangpu District
    Shanghai 200001
    People's Republic of China.
36. For holders of foreign passports who are living outside Beijing or Shanghai, they may send completed application forms by post directly to the Immigration Department to the address in paragraph 25 or through their sponsors in Hong Kong.

37. Please refer to the fee leaflet (ID 912) for the prescribed fee for a visa/entry permit (in the form of “e-Visa”) issued by the Immigration Department. Applicants who apply for study in Hong Kong should contact their education institutions to process the payment and collection of their “e-Visa”. For other applicants, upon approval of the applications, the notification of the application result issued by the Immigration Department will include a webpage link for payment. Payment of relevant fees could be made through the said webpage link or the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application. The applicant or his/her authorised representative could also attend the relevant Immigration office in person to pay the relevant fee. If the applicant is unable to pay by the above methods, he/she should send in the fee with the application in the form of a cashier order or bank draft in Hong Kong currency. The cashier order or bank draft should be one from a bank which has a connected bank in Hong Kong and made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”.
38. For the visa/entry permit fee in RMB charged by the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office or the Immigration Division of the SHETO, please visit the website of the Beijing Office at www.bjo.gov.hk/en/about_hk/visa.html. Payment of fees should be made by the applicant at the time of collecting the visa/entry permit. Fees should be paid in cash or by “cheque for bank transfer purpose”. The cheque should be issued by a bank located in the Mainland and made payable to “The Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing” or “The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region“.

39. It normally takes four to six weeks upon receipt of all necessary documents to process a visa/entry permit application (not applicable to individual scheme/arrangement). An acknowledgement will be sent upon receipt of the application by the Immigration Department.
40. For those applications submitted to the Immigration Division of the Beijing office or the Immigration Division of the SHETO, it normally takes three working days to process a visit/transit visa/entry permit application. For other visa/entry permit applications, the normal processing time is four to six weeks upon receipt of all necessary documents. An acknowledgement will be issued upon receipt of the application by the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office or the Immigration Division of the SHETO.

41. For more information, please contact the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office by phone at (8610) 6657 2880 extension 033 or by fax at (8610) 6657 2823 , or the Immigration Division of the SHETO by phone at (8621) 6351 2233 extension 160 or by fax at (8621) 6351 9368, or the Immigration Department by enquiry hotline at (852) 2824 6111, by fax at (852) 2877 7711, by email to enquiry@immd.gov.hk, or visit the Immigration Department’s website at www.immd.gov.hk.