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Home > Public Services > Hong Kong Visas > iPermit Scheme Public Services iPermit Scheme The following aims to provide information on the iPermit Scheme through which entry permits, i.e. iPermits are issued by electronic means. It is not legally binding. The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) may revise the information according to changes in circumstances without prior notice. Enquiries may be made with the Immigration Department for up-to-date information on the iPermit Scheme. Existing Arrangement for Visitors from Taiwan Under the existing arrangements, Chinese residents of Taiwan have to apply for entry permits (i.e. Taiwan Visit Permits ) for visits to Hong Kong. Applications for single-journey or multiple-journey Taiwan Visit Permits must be submitted through the authorised airlines in Taiwan to the Immigration Department for processing. Single Taiwan Visit Permits are valid for 3 months and good for a stay of up to 90 days. Multiple Taiwan Visit Permits are valid for either 1 year (regular-size) or 3 years (jumbo-size), both good for a stay of 14 days on each landing. For single, one-year multiple and three-year multiple entry permits, the prescribed fees are HK$160, HK$325 and HK$650 respectively.(a) The Chinese resident of Taiwan has to approach the office of an authorised airline (or its authorised representative) in Taiwan to make an application by presenting his/her identification documents indicating his returnability to Taiwan. The staff of the authorised airline (or its authorised representative) will input the applicant's data into a computer system and transmit the application through Internet to the iPermit System of the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The application will be processed by the iPermit System automatically. (b) The result of the application will be made known to the applicant instantly. If an application is approved, an e-notification slip will be printed at the office of the airlines (or its representatives) in Taiwan and passed to the applicant. With the e-notification slip, the applicant may board a flight for Hong Kong and collect his/her iPermit at a designated service desk in the Hong Kong International Airport prior to presenting for immigration arrival clearance. For some airlines (or its representatives), arrangement may be made with the applicant for dispatching the iPermit to Taiwan for collection before boarding a flight for Hong Kong. (c) In case an application cannot be finalized by the iPermit System, a message will be returned to the computer in the office of the airlines (or its representatives) in Taiwan to advise the applicant to make application through the paper application process as set out in paragraph "Existing Arrangements for Visitors from Taiwan" above. (d) The applicant must check the data in the e-notification slip and the iPermit to confirm data accuracy. For applications of children under 16 years of age, either the parent or the legal guardian should check the data accuracy. For the removal of doubt, the e-notification slip is not a valid document for immigration clearance in Hong Kong. (e) The iPermit must be signed by the applicant upon collection. For applications of children under 7 years of age, it should be signed by either the parent or the legal guardian. Failure to do so may result in the invalidation of an iPermit. Holder of an iPermit is not allowed to take any form of employment, whether paid or unpaid, establish or join in any business, or take up study in any school or education institution in the HKSAR. Authorised airlines / Authorised agents under the Scheme The iPermit Scheme has been launched on 18 March 2002. Lauda Air is the first airline to join the iPermit Scheme. Lauda Air's authorised representative 'Mandarin Travel Centre' has set up a number of agent offices in different parts of Taiwan to receive applications. Information on these agents may be obtained from the 'Mandarin Travel Centre'.Four other airlines, namely, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines and EVA Airways have joined the iPermit Scheme and commenced iPermit service on 12 April 2002. They have appointed the 'Abacus Distribution Systems Taiwan Ltd.' to establish a network of handling agents in Taiwan to receive iPermit applications. They have jointly run a designated i-Permit service desk in the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport for the applicants to collect iPermits upon arrival. Another airline namely Pacific Airlines has also joined the Scheme and commenced iPermit service on 23 August 2002. The authorised representative of the airline i.e. 'Mekong Tours' has 3 agent offices in Taipei, Kaohsuing and Tainan respectively to receive applications. Information on these agents may be obtained from the 'Mekong Tours'. Visitors from Taiwan who wish to apply for iPermits may approach the authorised agents of 'Mandarin Travel Centre', 'Abacus Distribution Systems Taiwan Ltd.' or 'Mekong Tours' in Taiwan to submit applications. (a) Other Visas and Permits Section, 7th Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong [Tel. No. (852) 2829 3141 Fax No. (852) 2824 1161]; or (b) Information and Liaison Section, 2nd Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong [Tel. No. (852) 2824 6111 Fax No. (852) 2877 7711]; or (c) through Internet : enquiry@immd.gov.hk. |
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