Hong Kong Travel Guide
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247 passport nationalities researched for entry into Hong Kong.
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Guide
Hong Kong got rid of its arrival card on 16 October 2024, for every traveler, paper or digital. What is left is a passport, a stamp or an e-Channel gate, and a set of visa-free tiers that depend on your nationality. Most Western passports, including those of Australia, Canada, the EU countries, Japan, New Zealand, and the USA, get 90 days. Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Thailand, and the UAE get 30 days, India, the Philippines, and Russia get 14, and most other nationalities get 7.
Indian nationals have an extra step. They must complete a Pre-Arrival Registration (PAR) online before they can visit visa free, and it is valid for six months with multiple entries. Citizens of Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq need a visa for any purpose, including airside transit. The Immigration Department also says that meeting the requirements does not guarantee entry, since officers can refuse permission to land.
Hong Kong runs its own border, separate from the mainland's. Foreign visitors must use one of the 13 immigration control points, and every crossing from Shenzhen or Guangzhou is a real border crossing.
Border crossings
- Lo Wu, the classic rail crossing
Lo Wu is one of four rail control points, along with Hung Hom, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, and West Kowloon. It operates daily from 6:30 am to midnight, so do not plan a late night return through it.
- Lok Ma Chau, open all night
Lok Ma Chau operates 24 hours a day, which makes it the practical choice for a late or very early crossing.
- The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the sea-crossing gateway
Its Hong Kong Port has operated 24 hours a day since opening. It is also among the ports China's 240 hour visa-free transit policy was recently expanded to include.
- West Kowloon, where two countries clear you in one building
The Express Rail Link's West Kowloon control point was commissioned on 23 September 2018 under a co-location arrangement, with both Hong Kong and mainland formalities handled inside the station. Passengers arriving from Guangzhou go through no immigration at the boarding station.
Transit routes
- From the airport, use the e-Channel
The self-service gates are the fastest way through. Eligibility begins at age 7, lowered from 11 in January 2026. After immigration come baggage reclaim and customs, with a green or red channel.
- To Shenzhen or Guangzhou, by rail
The high speed link connected Hong Kong with 78 mainland destinations by 2024, with at least 200 train trips a day. Immigration for both places happens at West Kowloon, so plan for both a Hong Kong exit and a mainland entry in one place.
Entry point notes
- Passports need only one month of validity
Visitors must hold a passport valid for at least one month, a much shorter margin than the six months required by many other places in this series.
- Pre-Arrival Registration is for specific nationalities
It is mandatory for Indian citizens seeking visa-free entry. Most Western travelers, including those from the US, UK, Australia, and Singapore, need neither PAR nor a visa.
- Officers can still ask about money and purpose
Entry can be refused even with approvals in hand if an officer doubts the purpose of the trip or the traveler's ability to support the stay.