Visas

Hong Kong actively encourages tourism, so for most visitors, arrival is generally hassle-free. Tourist Visas Travellers from most western and Asian countries are granted a visa-free stay on arrival. The length of stay varies from country to country, with UK citizens getting the best deal at 180 days and citizens of most other western countries…

E-tickets and Electronic Check-in

Electronic Immigration Clearance Once you are granted a working visa and are resident in Hong Kong, you and your family members above 11 years old must obtain Hong Kong Identity Cards. These ‘smart IDs’ encode not only your immigration status, but can be used to gain access to other public services (such as libraries) and…

Meet & Greet

Meeting people at Hong Kong airport is quite straightforward, with just one proviso – there are two main exit points for arriving passengers, imaginatively labelled A and B. If you’re an arriving passenger you don’t need to pay any attention to this distinction, but if you’re picking someone up at the airport, you should check…

Customs

Clearing customs at Hong Kong airport, ferry terminals, and land border stations usually constitutes a simple wave-through, although you may be pulled aside and asked where you’re arriving from, and subsequently have your luggage searched. The usual naughty items – firearms, drugs, fireworks and endangered animals – are prohibited, but note that there are no…

Leaving China

Leaving Hong Kong Departing from Hong Kong airport is just as easy as arriving. Most airlines no longer require reconfirmation of flights out of Hong Kong, but it is still worth checking with your airline, especially if it’s based in mainland China. As all flights from Hong Kong are ‘international’ (even those to the mainland…