Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
As a result of both bilateral visa abolition agreements (e.g. between Hong Kong
and Russia
) and unilateral decisions to grant visa exemptions (e.g. by Montenegro
), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders enjoy visa exemptions and simplified visa procedures to a large number of destinations worldwide. Whilst the visa exemptions mostly only apply when Chinese citizens of Hong Kong are visiting on short trips for pleasure or on business, a number of countries extend the visa exemption to short stays involving paid activities (e.g. Belgium
and Luxembourg
).
The official figure provided by the Immigration Department
of Hong Kong is 143 as of 3 November 2011. However, as this official figure excludes countries and territories not officially recognised by the People's Republic of China
(e.g. Kosovo
), from a traveller's purely practical point of view, holders of a Hong Kong SAR passport are actually able to enter 176 different countries/territories with separate de facto
immigration regimes without the need to have a visa.
In Belgium
, Denmark
, Iceland
, Luxembourg
, the Netherlands
, Norway
, Slovenia
and Sweden
, a paid activity (e.g. employment) may be taken up visa-free during the 90 days in a half year visa-exempt entry period.
Although the Czech Republic
is part of the Schengen area, because Hong Kong had a bilateral visa waiver agreement with the Czech Republic before its full implementation of the Schengen acquis, Hong Kong SAR passport holders can spend up to 90 days in the Czech Republic visa-free and are not limited by the Schengen limit of 90 days in a 180 day period in the Schengen area as a whole.
In Switzerland
, Hong Kong SAR passport holders are able to exercise a "gainful occupation" for a maximum of 8 days during their 90 days visa-exempt stay without the need to apply for a special work visa. However, this 8 day visa exemption excludes gainful occupation in the primary or secondary construction industry, civil engineering, catering and hotel services, industrial and private cleaning industry, surveillance and security services and sex industry. Alternatively, if in possession of a long term residence permit issued by any other Schengen member state, the Hong Kong SAR passport holder can exercise a gainful occupation for up to 3 months visa-free in Switzerland (without the industry-specific restrictions listed in the 8 day visa exemption).
passport.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) and unilateral decisions to grant visa exemptions (e.g. by Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders enjoy visa exemptions and simplified visa procedures to a large number of destinations worldwide. Whilst the visa exemptions mostly only apply when Chinese citizens of Hong Kong are visiting on short trips for pleasure or on business, a number of countries extend the visa exemption to short stays involving paid activities (e.g. Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
).
The official figure provided by the Immigration Department
Immigration Department (Hong Kong)
The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model...
of Hong Kong is 143 as of 3 November 2011. However, as this official figure excludes countries and territories not officially recognised by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(e.g. Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
), from a traveller's purely practical point of view, holders of a Hong Kong SAR passport are actually able to enter 176 different countries/territories with separate de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
immigration regimes without the need to have a visa.
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Schengen area visa exemptions
In addition to the 90 days in a half year visa exemption granted by all Schengen member states to Hong Kong SAR passport holders who enter for purposes of pleasure and business, certain Schengen signatory states also permit visa-free employment.In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, a paid activity (e.g. employment) may be taken up visa-free during the 90 days in a half year visa-exempt entry period.
Although the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
is part of the Schengen area, because Hong Kong had a bilateral visa waiver agreement with the Czech Republic before its full implementation of the Schengen acquis, Hong Kong SAR passport holders can spend up to 90 days in the Czech Republic visa-free and are not limited by the Schengen limit of 90 days in a 180 day period in the Schengen area as a whole.
In Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Hong Kong SAR passport holders are able to exercise a "gainful occupation" for a maximum of 8 days during their 90 days visa-exempt stay without the need to apply for a special work visa. However, this 8 day visa exemption excludes gainful occupation in the primary or secondary construction industry, civil engineering, catering and hotel services, industrial and private cleaning industry, surveillance and security services and sex industry. Alternatively, if in possession of a long term residence permit issued by any other Schengen member state, the Hong Kong SAR passport holder can exercise a gainful occupation for up to 3 months visa-free in Switzerland (without the industry-specific restrictions listed in the 8 day visa exemption).
Oceania
Foreign countries/territories with which full reciprocity is yet to be achieved
Hong Kong SAR passport holders are subject to visa requirements to the below countries and territories whose nationals can enter Hong Kong visa-free.| Countries and territories | Entry conditions imposed upon HKSAR passport holders | Entry conditions imposed by Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
 Algeria |
||
 American Samoa |
||
 Antigua and Barbuda |
||
 Ascension Island |
||
 Barbados |
||
 Bhutan |
||
 Bolivia |
||
 Chad |
||
 Costa Rica |
||
 El Salvador |
||
 Equatorial Guinea |
||
 Gabon |
||
 Guatemala |
||
 Guinea |
||
 Guinea-Bissau |
||
 Guyana |
||
 Honduras |
||
 India |
||
 Malawi |
||
 Mauritania |
||
 Nauru |
||
 Paraguay |
||
 Puerto Rico |
||
 Saudi Arabia |
||
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
||
 Swaziland |
||
 Tristan da Cunha |
||
 United States |
||
 United States Virgin Islands |
||
 Zambia |
Foreign countries/territories with which partial reciprocity has been achieved
Hong Kong SAR passport holders are granted less favourable visa-free conditions by the below countries and territories, compared to the conditions offered by Hong Kong to those countries' nationals.| Countries and territories | Entry conditions imposed upon HKSAR passport holders | Entry conditions imposed by Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
 Australia |
Online Electronic Travel Authority Electronic Travel Authority Electronic visas are issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to some foreign nationals for entry into Australia. Unlike ordinary visas, when electronic visas are issued, no stamp or other documentation is affixed inside the traveller's passport; instead, the computer-based system... registration (AUS$20) required for 90 days visa-free stay |
|
 British Virgin Islands |
||
 Belize |
||
 Brunei |
||
 Central African Republic |
Visa on arrival (XAF30,000) for a maximum of 7 days | |
 Comoros |
Visa on arrival at a fee | |
 Cook Islands |
||
 Dominica |
||
 Dominican Republic |
Visa-free entry (30 days) with a USD10 Tourist Card to be purchased | |
 Falkland Islands |
||
 Guam |
||
 Jamaica |
||
 Kenya |
Visa on arrival (USD50) valid for 3 months | |
 Kiribati |
||
 Malaysia |
||
 Maldives |
||
 Mozambique |
Visa on arrival (USD25) valid for 30 days | |
 Niue |
||
 Norfolk Island |
Online Electronic Travel Authority Electronic Travel Authority Electronic visas are issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to some foreign nationals for entry into Australia. Unlike ordinary visas, when electronic visas are issued, no stamp or other documentation is affixed inside the traveller's passport; instead, the computer-based system... registration (AUS$20) required for 90 days visa-free stay |
|
 Northern Mariana Islands |
||
 Oman |
Visa on arrival (OMR6) valid for 30 days | |
 Papua New Guinea |
Visa on arrival (PGK100-500) valid for 60 days | |
 Pitcairn Islands |
||
 Qatar |
Visa on arrival (QAR100) valid for 30 days | |
 Saint Helena |
Visa on arrival (£12) valid for 3 months | |
 Saint Lucia |
||
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
||
 Singapore |
||
 Tokelau |
||
 Tonga |
||
 Turks and Caicos Islands |
||
 Tuvalu |
||
 Vanuatu |
Foreign countries/territories with which partial reciprocity has been achieved by Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR passport holders enjoy better visa waiver conditions to the below countries whose nationals are subject to stricter conditions entering Hong Kong.| Countries and territories | Entry conditions imposed upon HKSAR passport holders | Entry conditions imposed by Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
 Bermuda |
||
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
||
 Canada |
||
 Cape Verde |
||
 Cayman Islands |
||
 Independent State of Croatia |
||
 Fiji |
||
 Haiti |
||
 Holy See |
||
 Lesotho |
||
 Republic of Macedonia |
||
 Federated States of Micronesia |
||
 Palau |
||
 Peru |
||
 Rwanda |
||
 Samoa |
||
 Suriname |
||
 Tunisia |
||
 Uganda |
||
 Zimbabwe |
Foreign countries/territories with which full reciprocity is yet to be achieved by Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR passport holders are offered visa-free access to the below countries whose nationals are unable to travel to Hong Kong visa-free for any length of time.| Countries and territories | Entry conditions imposed upon HKSAR passport holders | Entry conditions imposed by Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
 Cambodia |
30 day visa issued upon arrival for US$20 (tourist), US$25 (business) | |
 Cuba |
||
 Georgia (country) |
Visa issued upon arrival for up to 360 days at a fee of up to USD200 | |
 Lebanon |
Visa issued on arrival (free) valid for 1 month or up to LBP100,000 for up to 3 months | |
 Kingdom of Montenegro |
||
 Nicaragua |
||
 Sri Lanka |
||
 East Timor |
Visa on arrival at a fee valid for up to 60 days | |
 Togo |
Visa on arrival (7 days) at a fee |
Comparison of visa requirements
Below are countries and territories where entry conditions differ when using a Hong Kong SAR passport and a British National (Overseas)British National (Overseas)
British National , commonly known as BN, is one of the major classes of British nationality under British nationality law. Holders of this nationality are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British Citizens...
passport.
See also
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport
- Visa requirements for British Nationals (Overseas)
- Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of MacauVisa requirements for Chinese citizens of MacauAround 89 countries and territories grant visa-free or visa-upon-arrival access to Macao Special Administrative Region passport holders:-Africa:-Americas:-Asia:-Europe:-Oceania:-See also:Macao Special Administrative Region passport...
- Visa requirements for Chinese citizens (mainland)Visa requirements for Chinese citizens-Visa travel access for PRC regular passports:According to visa and passport information from International Air Transport Association provided by Delta Air Lines, the following countries and territories provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to holders of PRC private passport...
External links
- Official GovHK list of countries/territories offering visa-free access for Hong Kong SAR passport holders (Note: This list is not comprehensive as it excludes countries/territories without diplomatic relations with China)