Do I Need A Visa For Hong Kong
When China was opened up to foreign countries after the cold war, Hong Kong became a place where Chinese people could travel visa-free. In 1997 when Hong Kong was ceded back to China control, there wasn’t much concern about visa requirements for travelling to China on a short trip for business or pleasure. After 1997, normally you still did not need a visa for a short stay in China. But with the recent events surrounding Hong Kong and the disappearance of booksellers as well as other political issues in mainland China, there is certainly an increased awareness of travel visas for China. At it’s root though is the same principle; what does this have to do with my dreams?
HONG KONG: Hong Kong is a great place to visit, with its buzzing nightlife, beautiful people, and amazing shopping. If you’re considering a trip to HK, there are some important things to consider before you go. One of the most important is your visa. In this guide, we’ll explore getting a visa for Hong Kong and what you’ll need to bring with you in order to apply.
Do I Need A Visa For Hong Kong
Citizens of visa-exempt countries
The citizens of about 170 states do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong. They can spend up to 180 days inside the region without an entry permit. The stay duration depends on what nationality you are. For example, if you are a citizen of the United Kingdom or Macau, you can stay in Hong Kong for 180 days, but if you are from India, you can only spend 14 days. The visa-free access can also last 90 days, 30 days, and 7 days for the citizens of East Timor.
One thing that is worth mentioning here is that while India is a visa-exempt country, all Indian passport holders who wish to go to Hong Kong need a pre-arrival registration. If that is the case with you, you need to apply for such a document before you leave. You can [apply online], and the notification slip will arrive via e-mail in as little as 15 minutes, depending on the processing time you select. Print it out before you leave, and you can enter Hong Kong. As mentioned earlier, you can spend only 14 days in Hong Kong. An extended stay requires a trip to the Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department.
As for requirements, just because you do not need a visa, it does not mean you do not need a passport either. You are required to have a passport that is valid for at least another 6 months from your date of arrival in Hong Kong. Other requirements include proof of subsistence and an onward or return flight ticket.
Visa required countries
Apart from the visa exempt countries, the citizens of 19 countries cannot enter Hong Kong without a visa. To acquire such a document, the citizens of those 19 states need to apply for it at the nearest Chinese consulate. The application process should not last long, and you can get your Hong Kong visa in about 4 weeks. Another option would be for you to submit your application to the HKSAR Immigration department by post or local sponsor.
The requirements for a consular visa are similar to the ones imposed for visa-exempt nationalities. You need a valid passport that maintains its validity for another 6 months, proof that you have the funds to provide for yourself while in Hong Kong, and an onward or return flight ticket.
The bottom line is that Hong Kong has a pretty lenient visa policy, and most people can travel there without a visa as long as they do not exceed the allowed period of stay. If you want to transit the country, you do not need a visa either as long as you do not leave the airport premises. However, that is not always the case. Some nationalities require a visa even if they have no intention of stepping out of the airport transit area. Make sure that before you leave, you do the proper research to find out precisely what is required of you.
All travellers
Although Hong Kong is now part of the People’s Republic of China, it remains a Special Administrative Region with its own immigration controls. You can visit Hong Kong for up to 6 months without a visa. However during the COVID-19 pandemic, different entry requirements are being applied in Hong Kong. For up-to-date advice on entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the Hong Kong SAR government’s website.
Vaccinated Hong Kong residents who have visited the UK within the past 14 days are permitted to enter Hong Kong. From 1 May, this will be expanded to include vaccinated non-Hong Kong residents.
You should visit the Hong Kong SAR Government website for further details.
Travellers from all places other than mainland China, Macao and Taiwan will need to undergo 7 days quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel. On arrival, travellers will need to provide confirmation of a hotel room reservation at their designated quarantine hotel. You can find further details on the Hong Kong SAR government website.
You should check the Hong Kong SAR government’s website for important details about the documents required and check the Hong Kong SAR government’s list of designated hotels when you make your booking. You must take designated transport, which is provided by the government, from the airport to your hotel.
Flights may be suspended at short notice if previous flights on the route carry a certain number of people who test positive for COVID-19. Ensure you understand the cancellation policies on all your bookings, keep in close contact with your airline and be prepared to change your plans.
Testing on arrival
All inbound travellers via Hong Kong International Airport need to submit a health declaration form.
All travellers ending their journey at Hong Kong International Airport will have to undergo a PCR test and rapid antigen test for coronavirus. Travellers will be required to remain at the airport whilst awaiting the results of the rapid antigen test. Further information is available on the Centre for Health Protection’s website.
If you test positive, the Hong Kong authorities will arrange for admission to a public hospital or isolation facility. If you are deemed to be a contact of a positive case, you may be placed in a Hong Kong government quarantine centre for a minimum of 7 days. All arrivals including those who test negative for coronavirus need to undergo 7-day compulsory quarantine in a designated hotel. See “Quarantine requirements” below.
You may be separated from your child if one of you tests positive for coronavirus. If this happens to you, you can call +(852) 2901 3000 for 24/7 urgent consular assistance.
Quarantine requirements
Quarantine following travel is spent at a designated hotel.
If you test positive for COVID-19 whilst in Hong Kong, you may be placed in a government isolation facility for a minimum of 7 days. Family members of someone who tests positive, or those who have been in contact with a positive case, may also be placed in a government quarantine centre.
For up-to-date advice on entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the Hong Kong SAR government’s website.
For quarantine arrangements in Hong Kong:
- you are not allowed to leave your designated quarantine location/room for 7 days. This means you’re also unable to leave Hong Kong for the duration of the quarantine
- if you are allocated a government quarantine centre, you may be asked to contribute around £20 (HK$200) per night towards the cost
- items that can be taken in to government quarantine centres are restricted. There is no smoking allowed and no alcohol. Depending on your centre, facilities may be basic: there may be no fridge and no air-conditioning and you may need to share a room
Failure to comply with the quarantine conditions may result in you being immediately taken to government quarantine facilities (if you are in a designated hotel). You could face a 6-month prison sentence and a substantial fine. You should comply with the requirements of your quarantine arrangements.
See the Hong Kong government coronavirus website for further information.
Proof of vaccination status
From 1 April, fully vaccinated travellers who have visited the UK or other overseas destinations within the past 14 days will be permitted to enter Hong Kong.
For travellers arriving from other countries, Hong Kong will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record and proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued in the Crown Dependencies. Your last vaccine dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to travel. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status. Children under the age of 12 who are not vaccinated will be allowed to enter with a fully vaccinated accompanying adult.
Travellers arriving to Hong Kong will need to provide a negative nucleic acid test result for COVID-19, taken no more than 48 hours prior to their departure. The Hong Kong Government has specified that this must be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based nucleic acid test. Other types of tests such as the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT- LAMP) will not be accepted and do not fulfil the relevant boarding requirement. From 1 June, you will no longer need a separate certificate confirming that the testing laboratory meets the required standards.