Hong Kong Visa: Do I need one

A Hong Kong Visa is not required for most visitors. Hong Kong became one of China's Special Administrative Regions after the 1997 handover, and under the "one-country-two systems" doctrine, Hong Kong's liberal visa policy stayed in place.

Who needs a Hong Kong Visa?

Visitors from over 175 countries can enter Hong Kong without a visa.

Depending on the country of citizenship, the allowed period of stay varies from 7 days to 180 days. Here are a few examples:

Nationality	Visa Free Period	Nationality	Visa Free Period
Argentina	90 days	Australia	90 days
Austria	90 days	Bahrain	30 days
Brazil	90 days	Britain	180 days
British Territories	90 days	Canada	90 days
Chile	90 days	Costa Rica	30 days
Egypt	90 days	France	90 days
Germany	90 days	India	14 days
Japan	90 days	Malaysia	90 days
New Zealand	90 days	Phillippines	14 days
Russian Federation	14 days	Singapore	90 days
Thailand	30 days	United States	90 days

On last writing, citizens from the following countries DO need a Hong Kong Visa:

Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgystan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and anyone travelling with special Passports might also require a Hong Kong Visa.

Do check the Hong Kong Immigration Department website for the latest information and to apply for a visa should you need one.

Other Entry Requirements for Hong Kong

You will need a valid passport. The passport should be valid for at least one month beyond the date you plan to visit Hong Kong.

In addition, upon entering you might be required to show proof of sufficient funds for any expenses incurred while you are in Hong Kong as well as a return ticket to your home country or onward transportation.

If You Are Visiting Mainland China

Because of Hong Kong's status as a Special Administrative Region, entering Mainland China is treated as a separate international destination.

A China Visa is required for most people visiting Mainland China, when you leave Hong Kong, you will have to clear immigration and customs.

You can apply for a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong either through a travel agency, most can help with it, or directly at the Visa Office of the People's Republic of China in Wanchai:

7th Floor, Lower Block, China Resources Center,
26 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

Turnaround time to get a visa is three days (or sooner for an extra fee), and you will need the following:

Application Form
Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your visit (this is different from the requirement for Hong Kong entry which is only one month)
At least one blank page on your passport
Passport photo
Itinerary or tickets

If Hong Kong happens to be in the middle of your itinerary of your China trip, please note that you will need another visa to re-enter China, when you first apply you can ensure to get a double or multiple-entry visa to avoid having to get another one later.

For more on China Visa, who needs one and where to apply, visit our sister website at China Family Aventure-China Visa.

If You Are Visiting Macau

Macau is treated as a separate Special Administrative Region and in the same way as Hong Kong, most Western nationals do not require a visa.

In the case a Macau visa is needed, visitors can obtain a "Visa on Arrival" at the immigration checkpoint, with the exception of passport holders from the following countries at time of this writing:

Bangladesh
Nepal
Nigeria
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Vietnam

In this case, a Macau visa must be obtained in advance through the Embassies/Consulates of the People's Republic of China and should be used within its validity.

For latest information and application procedures visit the official site of the Macao Immigration Services of Public Security Police Force.