| Visa Type Required | Visitors Visa |
|---|---|
| Required in Advance? | Nationals of most countries do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong. A full list of nationalities and visa requirements can be found on the Hong Kong Immigration website. |
| Validity | British citizens are allowed to visit Hong Kong without a visa for up to 180 days. Nationals of many other countries are permitted visa-free visits for up to 90 days. Applications for extensions may be made in person at the Immigration Department before or within seven days from expiry of the limit of stay. |
| Number of Entries | Within the validity period, a re-entry visa is not required provided that the visa holder’s personal circumstances have not changed. |
| Nationalities Exempt | Most nationalities are exempt, including the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Singapore, Sweden, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. See the full list at the website listed above. |
| Required Documents / Specific Conditions | All visitors must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the period of their intended stay. Visitors are also required to have a ticket for onward travel after their visit to Hong Kong. |
| Additional Specific Conditions |
All individuals who intend to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days must apply for a Hong Kong Identity Card from the Immigration Department. Those applying for permission to live, work or study in Hong Kong are required to obtain different visas and cannot complete these activities on a visitor visa. While it is illegal to search for employment in Hong Kong on a visitor’s visa, business-related activities such as making presentations, negotiations and signing contracts are allowed. |
| Dependent’s Rights | Every visitor to Hong Kong will require his/her own individual visitor visa. |
| Application Process | Nationalities who do not qualify for visa on arrival and who therefore require a visitor’s visa should apply for one at the Chinese embassy in their home country. The application process can take up to four weeks, but the exact processing time depends on the individual embassies. |
| Additional Comments | Note that once you enter Hong Kong on a visitor’s visa, regardless of your nationality, you are not permitted to change it to an employment, student, training, domestic help, investor or freelancer visa. You will be required to leave Hong Kong and obtain the appropriate visa in your home country. |
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