Visa Requirements for Hong Kong Citizens

Visa requirements for Hong Kong citizens are the pre-established regulations covering all international travels for citizens of Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China is both a city and a special administrative region of China, which has different visa requirements than the whole country.

Hong Kong passport holders can visit 111 destination with no visa on hand, 28 countries with an eVisa easily obtained online, 30 countries with a visa handled upon arrival, and have to apply for a traditional paper visa at an Embassy before visiting 35 countries.

Aside from visa-free travel, eVisas serve as almost as easy way of traveling abroad. Electronic visas are obtained entirely online after following a quick and intuitive application process from home.

Visas obtained on arrival are the third option available and are relatively easy to get; however, they are usually connected with long waiting lines and uncertainty since travelers handle their entry documents at the very last minute.

The last and most difficult visa type to get is an Embassy-issued visa – the traditional one. These visas usually require numerous supporting documents to be attached, in-person visits to the Embassy, and lengthy processing times.

Detailed information on each visa/entry type available for citizens of Hong Kong is available below, along with lists of countries offering them.

Electronic visa

An electronic visa is an online visa introduced in numerous countries now to help pre-screen the incoming foreign visitors and make applying for a visa both quicker and easier. eVisas are issued for short-term stays of usually 30, 60, or 90 days.

List of countries offering eVisas for Hong Kong citizens

28 countries make it possible for citizens of Hong Kong to apply for their visas online following a few simple steps. Hong Kong passport holders need to apply for an eVisa a few days before visiting any of the above-listed countries.

To apply for an eVisa, citizens of Hong Kong should first choose an appropriate eVisa type and gather the required documents. Most of the time, the only document needed is a valid passport.

Most eVisas are approved within 72 hours and, later on, get delivered to each applicant via email. The electronic travel authorization document gets delivered in the form of a PDF file, which can be downloaded and printed for the travel.

Approved eVisa allows its holders to stay abroad for a short period of time and engage in all leisure, business, and transit-related activities, including going on vacation, attending a trade fair, taking a layover, visiting one’s family, and more.

Visa on Arrival

A Visa on Arrival is a short-term travel authorization document that can be obtained upon arrival at the selected destination. Still, Hong Kong citizens who wish to use the VoA system should check the specific requirements and prepare for completing the application process prior to departure.

List of countries offering Visas on Arrival for Hong Kong citizens

  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Bolivia
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cambodia
  • Comoros
  • Ethiopia
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Madagascar
  • The Maldives
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Palau
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Somalia
  • Timor-Leste
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • The United Arab Emirates

30 countries offer a Visa on Arrival option for Hong Kong passport holders, eliminating the need to apply for a visa prior to arrival. However, some preparation still needs to get done before departure and that is to check the specific VoA requirements of the selected country and collecting the needed paperwork.

Next, once already at the selected destination, travelers should go to the closest border control checkpoint and ask for a VoA application form to fill. The form must be completed thoroughly and, later on, submitted along with the required supporting documents (if any) to the borders control officials.

Some countries may require additional steps to be taken, including covering the issuing fees, which may need to be done in cash using local currency.

Once a VoA is issued it allows its holders to stay abroad for a short period of time, usually 30, 60, or 90 days, and enjoy all leisure, business, or transit-related activities.

Embassy visa

An Embassy visa is a regular visa issued by an Embassy or a Consulate after completing an in-person application process. This visa comes in numerous types and may be issued as both short and long-term travel authorization document, sometimes even that relating to working, studying, or joining a significant other abroad.

List of countries that require Hong Kong citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Bhutan
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • The Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • The Republic of the Congo
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Iraq
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • The Marshall Islands
  • Nauru
  • Nigeria
  • Paraguay
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • The Solomon Islands
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Turkmenistan
  • United States

35 countries make it a requirement for Hong Kong passport holders to have a valid Embassy visa upon their arrival.

The process of obtaining a regular visa may differ in between its different types; however, usually requires applicants to first collect the supporting documents and complete the application form.

With the required paperwork, travelers should visit the Embassy or Consulate of the country they want to visit to submit their application.

There may be further steps to complete the process, such as covering an issuing fee or going through a visa interview.

Moreover, the processing time of the submitted application may take even up to a few weeks. That is why it’s important to submit one’s application well ahead of time to receive the approved document before departure.

Visa-free countries

111 countries welcome Hong Kong passport holders without requiring any type of visa. This makes visiting these destinations for a short period time effortless!

Check the list of visa-free countries for Hong Kong citizens.

Traveling visa-free from Hong Kong to the above-listed destinations is more than simple and will require either a valid passport or a valid ID.

Some countries may require additional documents to be presented upon arrival, such as proof of having a booked hotel for the stay, proof of having sufficient funds for the trip, or a copy of one’s return ticket.

Once already at a visa-free country, citizens of Hong Kong can enjoy a short-term stay relating to leisure, business, or transit.

Bogdan T
2022-10-11

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