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Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

* General
* Part I
* Part II


General

This chapter sets out the visa or entry permit requirements of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China. It cannot be taken as a full statement of the law governing immigration.

Even where all immigration requirements set out in this chapter are met, travellers should not assume that they can gain automatic entry. The HKSAR immigration authorities have the right to refuse any person permission to land except those in Part I of this chapter.

If you need advice on individual cases, please address your enquiries to :

  1. any Chinese diplomatic and consular mission; or

  2. the Immigration Department.

1.    If you have a close connection with the HKSAR by birth or long period of residence in the Region, you may not require a visa or entry permit. Please read Part I of this chapter.

2.    If Part I does not apply to you, you will need a visa or entry permit to work, study, establish or join in any business or to take up residence in the HKSAR. However, you may not need a visa or entry permit for visit, depending on your nationality / type of travel document you hold. Please read Part II of this chapter.


PART I

3.    No visa or entry permit is required for any purpose if you hold any of the following travel documents:

  • Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport,
  • British National (Overseas) Passport,
  • Hong Kong Certificate of Identity,
  • Hong Kong Re-entry permit (for entry from the Mainland of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region only),
  • Hong Kong Seaman's Identity Book,
  • Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes provided that the document is valid or the holder's limit of stay in Hong Kong has not expired.
  • Travel documents bearing one of the following endorsements: "Holder's eligibility for Hong Kong permanent identity card verified."
    "The holder of this travel document has the right to land in Hong Kong. (Section 2AAA, Immigration Ordinance, Cap. 115, Laws of Hong Kong)"
  • Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card.


PART II

4.    Unless Part I applies to you, you require a visa or entry permit to work, study, establish or join in any business or to take up residence in the HKSAR. Otherwise, you are taking the risk of being refused admission on arrival.

5.    Visitors are required to have adequate funds to cover the duration of their stay without working and, unless in transit to the Mainland of China or the Macao Special Administrative Region, to hold onward or return tickets. If you want to stay longer than the visa free period allowed, you must apply for a visa or entry permit before travelling to the HKSAR.

6.    Visitors are not allowed by law to take up employment (paid or unpaid), to establish or join in any business, or to enter school as a student, nor, except in the most unusual circumstances, are visitors allowed to change their immigration status after arrival.

7.    You may apply for the appropriate visa or entry permit from the nearest Chinese diplomatic and consular mission.

8.    As an alternative, you may also submit your visa or entry permit application to the HKSAR Immigration Department either directly by post or through a local sponsor. To shorten the processing time, application forms and supporting documents can be sent by fax to (852) 2824 1133 in the first instance. However, the original copy of the duly completed application form and the photographs required should be sent immediately to the HKSAR Immigration Department by air mail. A visa/entry permit will be issued only on receipt of an original, properly completed visa/entry permit application form.

9.    If you are a Chinese resident of Taiwan, you should submit your application for an entry permit through one of the authorised airlines.

10.    There are separate information leaflets regarding the arrangements for entry in respect of residents of the Mainland of China (ID 894A) and for overseas Chinese and Chinese residents of Taiwan (ID 895A). You can also obtain information here for entry to Hong Kong from the Mainland of China. Information on arrangements for entry to Hong Kong SAR for overseas Chinese and Chinese residents of Taiwan can be obtained here.

11.    Persons who need a visa or entry permit for visit (or purposes other than a visit) should obtain the appropriate visa or entry permit before travelling to the HKSAR.

12.    HKSAR visa requirements for the following foreign countries / territories:

 

Nationality of foreign country (Territory)/ Type of Travel Document Visa free period for visit not exceeding Always require VISA, except in direct transit by air and when the person does not leave the airport transit area
1.

AFGHANISTAN
-
Visa Required
2.

ALBANIA (holders of Albanian biometric passports only)
14 Days
-
3.

ALBANIA (holders of Albanian non-biometric passports)
-
Visa Required
4.

ALGERIA
14 Days
-
5.

ANDORRA
90 Days
-
6.

ANGOLA (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
7.

ANGUILLA
90 Days
-
8.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
90 Days
-
9.

ARGENTINA
90 Days
-
10.

ARMENIA
-
Visa Required
11.

AUSTRALIA
90 Days
-
12.

AUSTRIA
90 Days
-
13.

AZERBAIJAN
-
Visa Required
14.

BAHAMAS
90 Days
-
15.

BAHRAIN
30 Days
-
16.

BANGLADESH (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
17.

BARBADOS
90 Days
-
18.

BELARUS
-
Visa Required
19.

BELGIUM
90 Days
-
20.

BELIZE
90 Days
-
21.

BENIN
14 Days
-
22.

BERMUDA
90 Days
-
23.

BHUTAN
14 Days
-
24.

BOLIVIA
30 Days
-
25.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
14 Days
-
26.

BOTSWANA
90 Days
-
27.

BRAZIL
90 Days
-
28.

BRITAIN (British citizens)
180 Days
-
29.

BRITAIN (British Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British Protected persons)
90 Days
-
30.

BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY
90 Days
-
31.

BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY
90 Days
-
32.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
90 Days
-
33.

BRUNEI
90 Days
-
34.

BULGARIA
90 Days
-
35.

BURKINA FASO
14 Days
-
36.

BURUNDI (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
37.

CAMBODIA
-
Visa Required
38.

CAMEROON (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
39.

CANADA
90 Days
-
40.

CAPE VERDE (REPUBLIC OF)
30 Days
-
41.

CAYMAN ISLANDS
90 Days
-
42.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
14 Days
-
43.

CHAD
14 Days
-
44.

CHILE
90 Days
-
45.

COLOMBIA
90 Days
-
46.

COMOROS
14 Days
-
47.

CONGO (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF) (Formerly known as Zaire) (please see remarks)
- Visa Required*
48.

CONGO (REPUBLIC OF) (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
49.

COSTA RICA
30 Days
-
50.

Costa Rican Provisional passports
-
Visa Required
51.

"Documento de Identidad Y Viaje" issued by Costa Rican Government
-
Visa Required
52.

COTE D'IVOIRE (REPUBLIC OF) (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required*
53.

CROATIA
14 Days
-
54.

CUBA
-
Visa Required
55.

CYPRUS (REPUBLIC OF)
90 Days
-
56.

CZECH REPUBLIC
90 Days
-

57.

 

DENMARK
90 Days
-
58.

DJIBOUTI
14 Days
-
59.

DOMINICA (COMMONWEALTH OF)
90 Days
-
60.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
30 Days
-
61.

ECUADOR
90 Days
-
62.

EGYPT
90 Days
-
63.

EL SALVADOR
30 Days
-
64.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA
14 Days
-
65.

ERITREA (please see remarks)
-

Visa Required*
66.

ESTONIA
90 Days
-
67.

ETHIOPIA (please see remarks)
- Visa Required^
68.

FALKLAND ISLANDS & DEPENDENCIES
90 Days
-
69.

FAROE ISLANDS
90 Days
-
70.

FIJI
90 Days
-
71.

FINLAND
90 Days
-
72.

FRANCE
90 Days
-
73.

GABON
14 Days
-
74.

GAMBIA
90 Days
-
75.

GEORGIA
-
Visa Required
76.

GERMANY
90 Days
-
77.

GHANA (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
78.

GIBRALTAR
90 Days
-
79.

GREECE
90 Days
-
80.

GREENLAND
90 Days
-
81.

GRENADA
90 Days
-
82.

GUATEMALA
30 Days
-
83.

GUINEA
14 Days
-
84.

GUINEA-BISSAU
14 Days
-
85.

GUYANA
90 Days
-
86.

HAITI
14 Days
-
87.

HONDURAS
30 Days
-
88.

HUNGARY
90 Days -
89.

ICELAND
90 Days
-
90.

INDIA
14 Days
-
91.

INDONESIA
30 Days
-
92.

IRAN
-
Visa Required
93.

IRAQ (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required*
94.

IRELAND (REPUBLIC OF)
90 Days
-
95.

ISRAEL
90 Days
-
96.

ITALY
90 Days
-
97.

JAMAICA
90 Days
-
98.

JAPAN
90 Days
-
99.

JORDAN
30 Days
-
100.

KAZAKHSTAN
-
Visa Required
101.

KENYA
90 Days
-
102.

KIRIBATI
90 Days
-
103.

KOREA (DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)
-
Visa Required
104.

KOREA (REPUBLIC OF)
90 Days -
105.

KUWAIT
30 Days
-
106.

KYRGYSTAN
-
Visa Required
107.

LAOS
-
Visa Required
108.

LATVIA
90 Days
-
109.

LEBANON
-
Visa Required
110.

LESOTHO
14 Days
-
111.

LIBERIA (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required*
112.

LIBYA
-
Visa Required
113.

LIECHTENSTEIN
90 Days
-
114.

LITHUANIA
90 Days
-
115.

LUXEMBOURG
90 Days
-
116.

MACEDONIA
14 Days
-
117.

MADAGASCAR
14 Days
-
118.

MALAWI
90 Days
-
119.

MALAYSIA
90 Days
-
120.

MALDIVES
90 Days
-
121.

MALI
14 Days
-
122.

MALTA
90 Days
-
123.

MARSHALL ISLANDS (REPUBLIC OF)
14 Days
-
124.

MAURITANIA
14 Days
-
125.

MAURITIUS
90 Days
-
126.

MEXICO
90 Days
-
127.

MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)
14 Days
-
128.

MOLDOVA (REPUBLIC OF) -
Visa Required
129.

MONACO
90 Days
-
130.

MONGOLIA
14 Days
-
131.

MONTENEGRO (REPUBLIC OF)
-
Visa Required
132.

MONTSERRAT
90 Days
-
133.

MOROCCO
30 Days
-
134.

MOZAMBIQUE
14 Days
-
135.

MYANMAR
-
Visa Required
136.

NAMIBIA
90 Days
-
137.

NAURU
90 Days
-
138.

NEPAL (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required*
139.

NETHERLANDS
90 Days
-
140.

NEW ZEALAND
90 Days
-
141.

NICARAGUA
-
Visa Required
142.

NIGER
14 Days
-
143.

NIGERIA
-
Visa Required
144.

NORWAY
90 Days
-
145.

OMAN
30 Days
-
146.

PAKISTAN (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
147.

PALAU
14 Days
-
148.

PALESTINE (STATES OF)
-
Visa Required
149.

PANAMA
-
Visa Required
150.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
90 Days
-
151.

PARAGUAY
30 Days
-
152.

PERU
30 Days
-
153.

Special Peruvian passports
-
Visa Required
154.

PHILIPPINES
14 Days
-
155.

PITCAIRN, HENDERSON, DUCIE & OENO ISLANDS
90 Days
-
156.

POLAND
90 Days
-
157.

PORTUGAL
90 Days
-
158.

QATAR
30 Days
-
159.

ROMANIA
90 Days
-
160.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
14 Days
-
161.

RWANDA
14 Days
-
162.

SAMOA (WESTERN)
30 Days
-
163.

SAN MARINO
90 Days
-
164.

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
14 Days
-
165.

SAUDI ARABIA
30 Days
-
166.

SENEGAL
-
Visa Required
167.

SERBIA (REPUBLIC OF) (holders of Serbian biometric passports only)
14 Days
-
168.

SERBIA (REPUBLIC OF) (holders of Serbian non-biometric passports or Serbian passports issued by the Coordination Directorate in Belgrade)
-
Visa Required
169.

SEYCHELLES
90 Days
-
170.

SIERRA LEONE (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required*
171.

SINGAPORE
90 Days
-
172.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC
90 Days
-
173.

SLOVENIA
90 Days
-
174.

SOLOMON ISLANDS
-
Visa Required
175.

SOMALIA (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required*
176.

SOUTH AFRICA
30 Days
-
177.

SOUTH SUDAN
-
Visa Required
178.

SPAIN
90 Days
-
179.

SRI LANKA (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
180.

ST. HELENA
90 Days
-
181.

ST. HELENA DEPENDENCIES (ASCENSION, TRISTAN DA CUNHA)
90 Days
-
182.

ST. KITTS - NEVIS ANGUILLA
90 Days
-
183.

ST. LUCIA
90 Days
-
184.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
90 Days
-
185.

SUDAN
-
Visa Required
186.

SURINAME
14 Days
-
187.

SWAZILAND
90 Days
-
188.

SWEDEN
90 Days
-
189.

SWITZERLAND
90 Days
-
190.

SYRIA
-
Visa Required
191.

TAJIKISTAN
-
Visa Required
192.

TANZANIA
90 Days
-
193.

THAILAND
30 Days
-
194.

THE SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
90 Days
-
195.

THE SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS OF AKROTIRI AND DHEKELIA
90 Days
-
196.

TOGO (please see remarks)
-
Visa Required^
197.

TONGA
90 Days
-
198.

Tongan National passports
-
Visa Required
199.

Tongan Protected Persons passports
-
Visa Required
200.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
90 Days
-
201.

TUNISIA
30 Days
-
202.

TURKEY
90 Days
-
203.

TURKMENISTAN -
Visa Required
204.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
90 Days
-
205.

TUVALU
90 Days
-
206.

TUVALU (with national status stated as 'I-TUVALU')
-
Visa Required
207.

UGANDA
30 Days
-
208.

UKRAINE
14 Days
-
209.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
30 Days -
210.

URUGUAY
90 Days
-
211.

Uruguay passports issued under Decree 289/90
-
Visa Required
212.

U.S.A.
90 Days
-
213.

US TRUST TERRITORY OF PACIFIC ISLANDS (holders of US Trust Territory passports only)
14 Days
-
214.

UZBEKISTAN
-
Visa Required
215.

VANUATU
90 Days
-
216.

VATICAN CITY
14 Days
-
217.

Vatican Service passports
-
Visa Required
218.

VENEZUELA
90 Days
-
219.

VIETNAM
-
Visa Required
220.

YEMEN (REPUBLIC OF)
30 Days -
221.

ZAMBIA
90 Days
-
222.

ZIMBABWE
90 Days
-
223.

All 'stateless' travel document holders
-
Visa Required
224.

Nationals of other foreign countries do not require visas for a visit
7 Days
-


Remarks :

* All nationals are required to hold a valid visa for the HKSAR for whatever purpose (including those who are in transit and remain on the airside).

^ All nationals (except holders of Diplomatic and Official passports) are required to hold a valid visa for the HKSAR for whatever purpose (including those who are in transit and remain on the airside). Holders of Diplomatic and Official passport may visit the HKSAR visa-free for a stay not exceeding 14 days.

13.    The information in this chapter on visa or entry permit requirements for visitors to the HKSAR is updated in January 2012. There may be subsequent changes.

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