General Information » Entering China » Visas

Hong Kong actively encourages tourism, so for most visitors, arrival is generally hassle-free.



XXX L 4 XXX 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 (including Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States) getting 90 days. Citizens of some Eastern European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries get 30 or 14 days. The nationals of a number of former Soviet republics and some Asian and African countries require pre-approved visas to enter Hong Kong, so check your country’s status carefully in the table on the website. You can find a full list of current tourist visa requirements at the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s website www.immd.gov.hk/ ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm. If you have to apply for a Hong Kong tourist visa, the procedure is explained at www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/topical_11.htm.

Ironically, citizens of mainland China have a far more difficult time gaining access to Hong Kong, although restrictions have eased in recent years. Their visa arrangements are handled completely separately from citizens of other countries.



XXX L 4 XXX Work Visas

If getting into Hong Kong as a tourist is easy, securing a work visa isn’t. Prior to 1997, British nationals could work in Hong Kong visa-free, but now all non-Hong Kong citizens must meet quite stringent requirements to be granted the right to be employed here. These requirements vary somewhat, but in general an individual must be sponsored for a work visa by an employer in Hong Kong, who must have proved to the Immigration Department that the job in question could not be filled by a Hong Kong resident. It’s now quite difficult to simply show up in Hong Kong and hope to land a job, as your prospective employer will need to jump through the hoops with Immigration on your behalf.

Once you’ve got a reputable company sponsoring you, however, things are generally quite straightforward. Working visas are typically granted for the length of your employment contract, although they’re rarely granted for more than two years at a time. If your company wants to keep you, and will say so in writing, renewal is almost always routine.

There has been some good news recently for expatriate families in Hong Kong. Until very recently, spouses of individuals holding work visas were themselves barred from working. This restriction has now been reversed, so if your spouse holds a valid Hong Kong work visa, you are free to search for employment as well without the n...