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Visa Requirements for Chinese Citizens of Hong Kong

Find out about visa requirements for Hong Kong citizens to travel to every country around the globe.

Visa Requirements for Hong Kong Citizens

Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Hong Kong are the laws established in other countries that decide if visitors from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China must obtain a permit to enter and, if so, which visa or travel authorization they must apply for.

The Henley Passport Index ranks the HKSAR passport as the 19th strongest in the world in terms of travel freedom (tied with 3 other countries’ passports). It permits Chinese citizens of Hong Kong to visit around 170 countries and territories without obtaining a visa in advance.

Visa requirements for Hong Kongers vary depending on several factors: the destinationthe length of time the traveler intends to stay, and the purpose of traveling to the country or territory.

It is important for Hong Kong passport holders to check the visa requirements of their destination before traveling.

A number of countries have online systems that allow citizens of the HKSAR to apply for either an electronic visa (eVisa) or an electronic travel authorization (ETA). These are typically valid for short-term tourist visits and, in some cases, also permit business visits and transit.

Travelers from Hong Kong must complete a simple application form via the internet, eliminating the need to go to an embassy to apply for a visa for these sovereign states.

In order to obtain work permit or a residence visa for most countries, it is necessary to go to an embassy or consulate to apply.

There are also various countries that require Hong Kong citizens to apply for a visa at an embassy for any visit, regardless of length and purpose, including for short-term tourist visas.

Some countries and territories allow visitors from Hong Kong to obtain a visa on arrival at the international border. However, there are frequently long queues to apply and it is not unusual to spend some time waiting at immigration.

If it is possible to apply online beforehand, this is highly recommended.

Hong Kongers also enjoy visa exemption for over 100 destinations, meaning that they can visit these countries and territories using only their passports.

List of Visa Countries for HKSAR Passport Holders

Hong Kong passport holders require a visa in order to visit over 130 different countries and territories around the world.

Some countries have different visas available according to the purpose of the visit, such as a separate tourist visabusiness visatransit visawork visa, and student visa.

Some visit visas, such as many electronic visas (eVisas) and electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) cover multiple purposes.

Travelers from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China are eligible for either an eVisa or an ETA for around 25 destinations.

Around 90 countries require citizens of the HKSAR to apply for a visa at an embassy irrespective of the reason for the visit and the period of time the traveler intends to stay.

In most cases, embassies are the only places where Hong Kong passport holders can obtain a residence visa or work permit for foreign countries.

Visitors from Hong Kong can apply for a visa on arrival for over 20 states or territories by completing a form obtained at border control.

Find below a map illustrating all of  the countries for which Chinese citizens of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are required to apply for a visa or travel authorization of some description.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization

Electronic visas (eVisas) and electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) for HKSAR passport holders are digital systems that allow travelers to obtain permission to enter a country by applying online.

Both eVisas and ETAs feature similar streamlined systems that require citizens of Hong Kong to submit some basic personal information, passport details, and an email address to receive the approved entry authorization. The difference is that an ETA is a visa waiver.

Around 25 different countries have either an ETA or an eVisa for Hong Kong citizens.

In most cases, eVisas and ETAs permit travelers from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to visit the destination for the purpose of tourism. Some allow travel for additional reasons, such as business or transit.

Some eVisas and ETAs for certain countries grant Hong Kong passport holders multiple entries, while others permit a single entry.

The maximum period of time that a HKSAR passport holder can spend in a foreign country with an eVisa or ETA varies between 14 and 90 days, depending on the state or territory in question.

ETAs and eVisas for Chinese citizens of Hong Kong are usually electronically linked to the passport used in the application. This passport must be presented at border control. In some cases, a copy of the eVisa or ETA must also be printed and brought to the country.

Check the list below for all the countries that have an eVisa or ETA system available for travelers from Hong Kong.

Visa On Arrival

visa on arrival for Hong Kong citizens is a type of visa that can be obtained at the border of the destination state or territory.

Over 20 different countries have a visa on arrival available for HKSAR passport holders.

Visas on arrival are typically valid for short stays for the purpose of tourism. In the case of some countries, they may also permit citizens of Hong Kong to enter for other purposes, such as for business or transit.

The maximum length of stay with a visa on arrival for Hong Kong passport holders ranges from 7 days to 90 days, depending on the country.

To obtain a visa on arrival, a traveler from Hong Kong must stand in line at border control in order to get an application form, which must be completed, submitted, and approved before the individual will be allowed to pass through immigration.

This can lead to long waiting times at the airport, seaport, or land border checkpoint through which the visitor is entering the destination country.

In some cases, it may be necessary to pay the visa on arrival fee in the local currency in cash.

Consult the list below to see all the countries that have a visa on arrival for Hong Kong citizens.

Visa On Arrival: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Angola
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bolivia
  • Burkina Faso
  • Comoros
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Palau
  • Samoa
  • Somalia
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • United Arab Emirates

Embassy Visa Required

An embassy visa or consular visa for HKSAR passport holders is a visa that must be obtained from an overseas diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) belonging to the destination country before traveling there.

Various types of visa can be obtained from an embassy.

In order to live and work in most countries, citizens of Hong Kong must go to an embassy to apply for and obtain residence visa and work visa or permit. In many cases, long-term visas are generally only available from embassies.

In order to visit around 90 countries for any reason, it is a requirement for Chinese citizens of Hong Kong to apply at an embassy. This includes short-stay visit visas and tourist visas.

Some embassies ask that travelers make an appointment beforehand in order to make their visa application.

Applying for an embassy visa involves completing a form and providing the required supporting documents, including, but not limited to, a valid passport.

Embassy visas for Hong Kong citizens typically take longer to process than their online counterparts.

Find all the countries that require HKSAR passport holders to apply for a visa at an embassy regardless of the purpose and length of their visit in the list below.

Embassy Visa Required: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Afghanistan
  • Aland Islands
  • Algeria
  • American Samoa
  • Anguilla
  • Antarctica
  • Bangladesh
  • Bermuda
  • Bhutan
  • Bonaire
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • China
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos Islands
  • Congo
  • Cook Islands
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • Curacao
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Greenland
  • Guadeloupe
  • Guatemala
  • Guernsey
  • Honduras
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Isle of Man
  • Jersey
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Marshall Islands
  • Martinique
  • Mayotte
  • Montserrat
  • Nauru
  • New Caledonia
  • Niue
  • Norfolk Island
  • North Korea
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Pakistan
  • Paraguay
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • Puerto Rico
  • Reunion
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Helena
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sint Maarten
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • Sudan
  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen
  • Swaziland
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Tokelau
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United States
  • United States Virgin Islands
  • Wallis and Futuna

Visa Not Required

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders enjoy visa exemption for many different destinations.

Over 100 countries permit visitors from Hong Kong to enter using only their passport, without applying for any type of visa.

This visa exemption for Hong Kong citizens generally only applies for visits with the purpose of tourism and, in some cases, business and/or transit.

The maximum period of time that a Hong Kong passport holder can spend in another state or territory visa-free varies from 7 to 183 days depending on the destination.

For visits that exceed the maximum length of time allowed without a visa or in order to travel to the country for purposes other than those permitted, Hong Kongers are required to apply for the relevant visa to cover the needs of their trip.

All the countries that permit holders of HKSAR passports to enter without a visa are listed below.

Visa Not Required: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Austria
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • Ecuador
  • Estonia
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kiribati
  • Latvia
  • Lesotho
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Macedonia
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Namibia
  • Netherlands
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Norway
  • Palestinian Territory
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Suriname
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • Uruguay
  • Vanuatu
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

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