The visa policy of Hong Kong deals with the requirements in which a foreign national wishing to enter Hong Kong through one of the 13 immigration control points must meet to obtain an entry permit (permit to enter) or Visa, which depending on the traveller's nationality, may be required to travel to, enter, and remain in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Visitors from over 170 countries are permitted without Visa entry for periods ranging from 7 to 180 days, to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for tourism or certain business-related activities. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 1 month.
Unless having the right to land or right of abode in Hong Kong, visitors to Hong Kong must obtain an e-Visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries, to undertake other activities, such as study, employment, or operation of a business. Under the one country, two systems policy, Hong Kong maintains its immigration and visa policy independently from the rest of China. Consequently, entering Hong Kong from mainland China or Macau requires passing through immigration checkpoints of mainland China or Macau. Whilst Macau residents have visa-free access to Hong Kong, Mainland residents must obtain a Two-way Permit (EEP) with the appropriate exit endorsement from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security before visiting Hong Kong. They can only use a PRC passport if either transiting to and from another country or territory, having a sticker-styled issued by Chinese Missions on the passport or having an e-Hong Kong Entry Visa/Permit issued by Hong Kong Immigration Department.
Due to the historical background of Hong Kong, immigration status in Hong Kong is determined by a combination of both nationality and residence status. Therefore, even a Chinese national with the right of abode in Hong Kong has a slightly different status to a foreign national with the right of abode in Hong Kong as well (since the former can never lose the right of abode status while the latter can lose it if they do not enter Hong Kong for a period of 36 months). At the same time, a foreign national with the right of abode in Hong Kong has a preferential immigration status to a Chinese national without the right of abode in Hong Kong, as the former can remain in Hong Kong indefinitely, while the latter has to have his immigration status reassessed whenever his visa/permit expires.
Visa policy map
Unrestricted stay Persons with the "right of abode" or the "right to land" may enter Hong Kong without holding any visa and without having any condition of stay imposed upon them, and may not be subject to a removal order. In addition, no deportation order may be imposed on a person with the right of abode. No visa or entry permit is required for holders of the following travel document: Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card Hong Kong Identity Card with 'R' or 'U' code. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport British National (Overseas) passport (Note: No longer recognized by the HKSAR government for immigration clearance and identification purposes only from 31 January 2021, which has no effect on the immigration status of BN(O) in Hong Kong.) Hong Kong Certificate of Identity (all of which have expired by 30 June 2007) Hong Kong Re-entry Permit (for entry from mainland China and Macao 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 Any travel document bearing an endorsement stating either Holder's eligibility for Hong Kong permanent identity card verified or The holder of this travel document has the right to land in Hong Kong. (Section 2AAA, Immigration Ordinance (cap. 115, Laws of Hong Kong))
Visa exemption Ordinary passports Citizens of the following countries and territories as well as Macau permanent residents may enter Hong Kong without a visa for business or tourist purposes. For business visits, they can undertake a limited range of business-related activities, namely "concluding contracts or submitting tenders, examining or supervising the installation/packaging of goods or equipment, participating in exhibitions or trade fairs (except selling goods or supplying services direct to the general public, or constructing exhibition booths), settling compensation or other civil proceedings, participating in product orientation, and attending short-term seminars or other business meetings". They are prohibited from taking up employment or study in the territory, or from "establishing or joining in any business". The last provision means that non-residents may not commence operating a business while in Hong Kong, and thus will be refused permission for business registration by the Inland Revenue Department unless it can be proven that the business began operation while they were outside of Hong Kong. However, the Companies Registry permits non-residents to incorporate limited liability companies and to be appointed as corporate directors (though not as corporate secretaries).
180 days 1 2
1 - For British Citizens only. 2 - For permanent residents of Macau only, regardless of nationality.
90 days All European Union member states 1
2 3 4 5 1 - Not applicable to holders of Tongan National and Tongan Protected Person passports. 2 - Not applicable if holder's nationality is stated is I-Tuvalu. 3 - For British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Overseas Citizens, British Subjects and British Protected Persons: 90 days. 4 - Not applicable to holders of American diplomatic passports. 5 - Not applicable to holders of passports issued under Decree 289/90.
30 days 12
3 1 - Not applicable to holders of Costa Rican provisional passports and "Documento de Identidad y Viaje". 2 - Non-Permanent Residents holding Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR. 3 - Not applicable to holders of Peruvian special passports.
14 days 123
4 1 - Not applicable to holders of non-biometric passports. 2 - Pre-arrival Registration online (PAR) required for normal passport holders. Holders of diplomatic and official passports, UN laissez-passers, HKSAR Travel Passes, Hong Kong SAR visas as well as persons successfully registered for e-Channels and Indian nationals in transit who do not clear immigration are exempt. 3 - Not applicable to holders of non-biometric passports and Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate in Belgrade. 4 - Not applicable to holders of Vatican service passports.
7 days
Unlimited access Laissez-Passer holders Holders of diplomatic or consular identity cards issued by Hong Kong SAR
Date of visa changes29 January 1976: Thailand (length of stay extended on 2 July 1997) 18 June 1998: Mongolia 20 January 2000: Hungary 14 October 2000: Slovakia 18 November 2000: Czech Rupublic 1 January 2002: Romania 2 February 2002: Lithuania 14 July 2005: Bulgaria 22 October 2008: Brazil 1 July 2009: Russia 20 September 2010: Grenada (resumed) 3 November 2010: Ukraine 14 November 2011: Serbia 1 January 2012: Albania 20 April 2012: Montenegro 26 July 2012: Kazakhstan 13 February 2018: Belarus (length of stay extended on 10 April 2019) 10 February 2019: Panama 3 March 2019: Armenia 30 September 2024: Georgia 26 August 2026: Nicaragua (resumed), Solomon Islands (resumed)
Cancelled: 15 July 1997: Grenada (was resumed in 2010), Nicaragua (was resumed since 26 August 2026), Panama (was resumed since 2019), Senegal and Solomon Islands (was resumed since 26 August 2026) 28 October 1998: Angola (was resumed on 10 March 2003), Nepal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone 1 January 2002: Liberia 31 March 2003: Eritrea and Pakistan 21 February 2005: Angola, Burundi and Cameroon 11 July 2005: Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Somalia 20 August 2005: Sri Lanka 16 January 2006: Republic of Congo 25 September 2006: Togo 1 December 2006: Bangladesh 7 March 2007: Ghana 29 October 2012: Guinea-Bissau 18 July 2014: Central African Republic 29 September 2014: Yemen 12 February 2015: Gambia 29 April 2016: Rwanda 10 December 2020: United States (for diplomatic passport holders) 30 January 2024: Eswatini
Non-ordinary passports Holders of diplomatic or official passports of the following countries may enter Hong Kong without a visa for up to 14 days:
Electronic visa (e-Visa) Citizens of other countries may obtain an e-Visa.
Citizens of the following countries and territories are required to possess a visa for any type of entry into Hong Kong (including as tourists), but are not required to have a visa to transit airside if they remain within the airport transit area:
1 1
1 11 1 11 1 2 1 1 1 - Except for holders of diplomatic or official passports.
2 - Diplomatic passports only.
Transit visa required Citizens of the following countries and territories are required to possess a visa for any type of entry into Hong Kong (including as tourists) and for transit airside (even if they remain within the airport transit area):
1 1 1 1
1
111
1
1
1 - Except for holders of diplomatic or official passports.
Mainland China, Macau, and Taiwan Special rules are in force for nationals of China and Taiwan who do not reside in Hong Kong.
Overview
Nationality Residency Point of departure Travel document Duration of stay Mainland China Mainland China Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao (One-way Permit) 7 years Chinese passport 7 days (for transit to and from another country or territory only) Mainland China or overseas Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (Two-way Permit) with a valid endorsementVaries, at least 7 daysOverseasChinese passport7 days (for transit to and from another country or territory only)14 or 30 days for HKSAR Entry Permit holders Varies for holders of digital entry permit issued by the Immigration Department of Hong KongAnywhere Macau Permanent Resident Identity Card 180 days Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR 180 days (for permanent residents)30 days (for non-permanent residents) Macao Special Administrative Region passport (for permanent residents)Macao Special Administrative Region Travel Permit (for non-permanent residents)7 days (for transit to and from another country or territory only) or overseas Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents (Taiwan Compatriot Permit) 30 days Taiwan passport 30 days (with pre-arrival registration) None (Nationals without household registration) Anywhere Chinese Travel DocumentVaries (HKSAR Entry Permit required)
Mainland China Chinese nationals with hukou in mainland China can obtain an entry permit from the Public Security Bureau for any type of visit to Hong Kong (Two-way Permit required for short visits and long visits), as well as an entry endorsement (similar to a visa) for the purpose of travel.
Chinese nationals holding Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao can only enter Hong Kong through Luohu Port. After entering, they can no longer return to the mainland. They can apply for Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes, which is valid for 7 years. After that, they may be eligible for permanent residency in Hong Kong and a HKSAR Passport.
Holders of Chinese passports are granted a stay of 7 days providing they are transiting to and from another country or territory .
Chinese nationals residing in a third country may apply for the HKSAR Entry Permit, affixed on their Chinese passports, from Chinese diplomatic missions. The duration of stay is usually 30 days for 1 or 2 entries valid for 3 months or 14 days for multiple entries valid for 2 years.
Chinese nationals residing overseas or having permanent residency in another country or territory residing in anywhere may apply for the digital entry permit issued by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong. The duration of stay varies and is usually 7 to 90 days.
Macau