- Download our Moving to Hong Kong Guide (PDF)
Whether you need a visa for Hong Kong depends on your nationality and the purpose of your stay. Visa requirements are not as stringent as in many other countries, and the application process is relatively straightforward. Citizens of many countries can enter visa-free for short visits, which is covered in more detail below.
Visit visas for Hong Kong
Not every traveller requires a visit visa for Hong Kong. Before you travel, check whether your nationality requires one.
Citizens of roughly 170 countries can enter Hong Kong without a visa for a limited time, among them the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, and most European nations. How long you can stay depends on your passport: the visa-free period is usually between 7 and 180 days, and British passport holders get the full 180.
If you do need an entry visa, you can apply at your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate. Your passport should be valid well beyond your planned stay. You will also need to show that you can fund your trip and submit a travel itinerary with your application.
Useful links
Work visas for Hong Kong
Most newcomers who take a job in Hong Kong apply under the General Employment Policy (GEP), the main work visa for skilled professionals who have a confirmed job offer from a local employer. The government also offers talent admission schemes for high earners and highly qualified professionals who want to relocate without a job offer first. Two examples are the Top Talent Pass Scheme and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.
The Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) is another popular route. Young adults aged 18 to 30 from partner countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland can spend up to a year in Hong Kong and take short-term work to help fund their trip. Permanent employment is not allowed under the scheme.
The Immigration Department does not issue a standalone residence permit. Whatever visa you hold, whether for work, study, a talent scheme, or as a dependant, you also have the right to live in the city, and the limit of your stay is how long you can remain.
Read more details on Work Permits for Hong Kong.
Useful links
Dependant visas for Hong Kong
You can use a dependant visa for Hong Kong to bring close family members to join you. Eligible dependants include your spouse and your unmarried children under 18. The Immigration Department recognises same sex spouses and civil partners, provided the union is legally recognised where it took place. Once you become a permanent resident, which usually takes seven years of continuous residence, you can also sponsor parents aged 60 or above.
You will need to prove your relationship to each dependant and show that you can support and house them while you live in Hong Kong. A dependant visa is valid for as long as your own visa. All documents should be in English or Chinese; for anything in another language, you will need to provide a certified translation. Dependants can usually work or study in Hong Kong without a separate visa. The Immigration Department normally takes about six weeks to process a dependant visa application.
Visa regulations can change at short notice, so you should confirm the latest details with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate, or with the Hong Kong Immigration Department.