Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR visa guide

  • 12 visa types
  • checked 25 October 2026

How visas for Hong Kong work

Hong Kong SAR runs its own immigration control. The Immigration Department (ImmD) of the HKSAR Government decides who may enter and on what conditions, and its entry rules are separate from those of the Chinese Mainland. Its nationality list gives most passport holders a visa-free visit of 7, 14, 30, 90 or 180 days; some nationalities need a visit visa, applied for through Chinese diplomatic and consular missions or directly to ImmD. Visitors may hold meetings and attend fairs, but they may not take any paid or unpaid work, set up or join a business, or enrol as students.

Anyone who wants to work, study, train, invest or join family in Hong Kong needs a visa or entry permit approved before travelling. Applications are made online through GovHK, and approved applicants receive an e-Visa that is scanned at the immigration counter on arrival. The main channels are the General Employment Policy (GEP) for professionals with a job offer, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) and the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) for talent without a job offer, the IANG arrangement for graduates of Hong Kong universities, investment as an entrepreneur, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, student and training visas, and dependant visas.

Applications under the specified schemes (GEP, QMAS, TTPS, IANG, New CIES and others) cost a non-refundable HK$600 application fee plus a HK$1,300 visa issuance fee for stays over 180 days. Other visas, such as student and training visas, carry the HK$330 ordinary visa fee. Newcomers aged 11 or over who are permitted to stay more than 180 days must register for a Hong Kong identity card within 30 days of arrival, and non-Chinese nationals who have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for seven continuous years can apply for the right of abode. Hong Kong does not grant asylum; protection claims are handled through the Unified Screening Mechanism for non-refoulement claims.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday, family visit or business meetings: visa-free for the period your nationality is given on the ImmD list, otherwise a visit visa. Job offer from a Hong Kong employer: GEP. Strong profile but no job yet: QMAS (points-based selection) or TTPS (HK$2.5 million annual income, or a degree from a listed top university). Graduated from a full-time local degree programme in Hong Kong: IANG. Setting up or joining a business: investment as an entrepreneur under the GEP.

Net assets of at least HK$30 million and a matching investment: New CIES. Full-time studies: student visa. Structured training at a Hong Kong company for up to 12 months: training visa. Spouse, partner or children of a resident: dependant visa. After seven years of continuous ordinary residence: right of abode as a permanent resident.

Visa types for Hong Kong

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Visit: visa-free entry or visit visa

    Most visitors do not need a visa for Hong Kong SAR: the Immigration Department's nationality list gives visa-free stays of 7, 14, 30, 90 or 180 days depending on the passport, while some nationalities need a visit visa approved before travel.

    Maximum stay: The visa-free period for your nationality (7 to 180 days) or the stay granted on your visit visa

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Business visit as a visitor (permissible business-related activities)

    Business visitors enter Hong Kong SAR on the same terms as other visitors: visa-free for the period their nationality is given on the ImmD list, or with a visit visa where their nationality needs one.

    Maximum stay: The visa-free period for your nationality (7 to 180 days) or the stay granted on a visit visa
  • Entrepreneur and start-up visa Entry for investment as an entrepreneur (to establish or join a business) under the GEP

    People who want to set up or join a business in Hong Kong apply for entry for investment as an entrepreneur under the General Employment Policy.

    Validity: Initial stay up to 36 months on employment condition; extensions on a 3-2 year pattern

Study and training

  • Student visa Student visa / entry permit

    Non-local students need a student visa or entry permit approved by the Immigration Department before they travel.

    Validity: Full-time post-secondary: normally the programme length, up to six years; other courses: normally 12 months or the course length
  • Internship and trainee visa Training visa / entry permit (trainee at a sponsoring company)

    Hong Kong SAR admits trainees for up to 12 months to acquire special skills and knowledge that are not available in their home country.

    Maximum stay: Up to 12 months of training

Work

  • Work visa Employment visa under the General Employment Policy (GEP)

    The General Employment Policy is Hong Kong's main work visa for professionals with skills, knowledge or experience that are not readily available locally.

    Validity: Initial stay up to 36 months (or the contract period if shorter); extensions on a 3-2 year pattern
  • Skilled worker visa Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) and Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)

    Hong Kong has two talent schemes that do not require a job offer.

    Validity: QMAS General Points Test: 36 months; QMAS Achievement-based: 8 years; TTPS Category A: 36 months; TTPS B and C: 24 months
  • Job seeker visa Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)

    IANG lets non-local students who graduate from a full-time, locally accredited undergraduate or higher programme in Hong Kong stay on to look for work or work.

    Validity: Normally 24 months at first, on time limitation only; extensions normally 3+3 years

Family

  • Family reunification visa Entry for residence as dependants

    Hong Kong permanent residents, residents without a limit of stay and people admitted for work, investment, training, study or the talent schemes can sponsor their spouse or partner and unmarried children under 18.

    Validity: Linked to the sponsor's stay; dependants of permanent residents usually 3+3 years (parents 2+2+3); students' dependants 12 months at a time

Residence

  • Golden visa and residence by investment New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)

    The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, open since 1 March 2024, gives residence to investors aged 18 or over who hold net assets of at least HK$30 million and invest at least HK$30 million in permissible assets in Hong Kong.

    Validity: Up to 24 months after formal approval; extensions of up to three years each (2+3+3)
  • Permanent residence Right of abode / Hong Kong permanent resident status (non-Chinese nationals)

    A non-Chinese national becomes a Hong Kong permanent resident with the right of abode after entering on a valid travel document, ordinarily residing in Hong Kong for a continuous period of at least seven years and taking Hong Kong as their place of permanent residence.

Asylum and international protection

  • Asylum and international protection Non-refoulement claims under the Unified Screening Mechanism (USM)

    The 1951 Refugee Convention has never applied to Hong Kong and the HKSAR Government does not grant asylum or determine refugee status.

    Processing time: Claim form due within 28 days of ImmD's request; appeal within 14 days of the decision

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Hong Kong?

Most nationalities do not: the ImmD list gives visa-free visits of 7 to 180 days depending on nationality, for example 90 days for Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan and the United States and 180 days for British citizens. Some nationalities need a visit visa, and Indian nationals must complete online pre-arrival registration. Work, study, training, investment or residence require a visa or entry permit approved before travel.

Is a Chinese visa valid for Hong Kong?

Hong Kong SAR has its own entry rules administered by its Immigration Department. Plan Hong Kong entry under those rules, and check the Mainland or Macao requirements separately if you travel on.

Where do I apply for a Hong Kong work or student visa?

Online through GovHK, with documents uploaded and the fee paid electronically. Approved applicants download an e-Visa and show it with their passport on arrival.

How much does a Hong Kong visa cost?

For the specified schemes such as GEP, QMAS, TTPS and IANG: HK$600 application fee plus HK$1,300 issuance fee for stays over 180 days. Other visas, including student visas, cost HK$330.

Can I change from visitor to worker after arriving?

Generally no. ImmD states that visitors are normally not allowed to change their status after arrival except in very exceptional cases, so the work or study visa should be obtained before travelling.

How do I become a Hong Kong permanent resident?

A non-Chinese national who entered with a valid travel document, has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for at least seven continuous years and has made Hong Kong their permanent home can apply to verify eligibility for a permanent identity card.

Embassies and consulates

Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.