Hong Kong is a special administrative region in southern China. Also known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, it is famous for its breathtaking views, unique culture, delicious food, local festivals and Disneyland. It is also considered a shopper’s paradise with amazing nightlife. If a trip to Hong Kong is next on the travel list, then read on to know everything about Hong Kong visa for Indians and travel insurance requirements.
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A Hong Kong visa is official permission that allows foreigner’s entry into Hong Kong. It is issued to foreign nationals who want to visit and stay in Hong Kong for a specified period of time. Even foreigners transiting through Hong Kong, who plans to step out of the airport transit areas, also need to obtain a valid visa.
The Hong Kong visa for Indians is issued by the Embassy of China or the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
As per the current guidelines, Hong Kong offers visa-free entry to all Indian citizens visiting or transiting through the region for a maximum of 14 days. In case an Indian citizen plans to stay in Hong Kong for a longer duration, he/she will have to apply for a valid Hong Kong visa.
All Indian citizens travelling to Hong Kong are advised to cover the trip against any unforeseen hazards with the help of a travel insurance Hong Kong plan.
Take a look at the various types of Hong Kong visa available for Indian citizens:
This type of visa is granted to Indian citizens who want to visit and stay in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for more than 14 days. It is granted to people whose purpose of travelling to Hong Kong is a vacation, meeting family/ friends, conducting business or transiting. It also allows transit passengers to move out of the airport transit areas and explore the region.
This type of visa is issued to Indian nationals who wish to travel to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to study. It is granted to people who have secured admission in a private/public school, full-time/part-time post-secondary local programme or a non-local higher education/ professional course in Hong Kong. Indians who need to travel to Hong Kong for a full-time local/non-local exchange programme for up to six months at a sub-degree level and up to one year at undergraduate level or above can also obtain this Hong Kong visa for Indians.
The applicants for a Student visa should be aged between 5 years and 8 months to 11 years in case of primary education and less than 20 years to pursue secondary education in Hong Kong.
Besides, the applicants/holders of Student visa can also apply to bring their family members, including legal spouse/partner and dependent children to Hong Kong by becoming their sponsors.
This type of visa is granted to Indian citizens who want to travel to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for employment purposes. It is issued to professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and imported workers who want to work or invest in a Hong Kong-based company. The applicants of this visa can also bring their spouse or dependent children to Hong Kong by becoming their sponsors, except for those arriving as imported workers.
The Employment/ Investment visa is further divided into the following four categories:
The Hong Kong Immigration Department allows visa-free entry of Indian nationals in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This provision applies to Indian citizens who wish to travel to Hong Kong for a vacation of up to 14 days. It is also available for Indians transiting via Hong Kong directly through the air and does not plan to leave the airport transit areas.
However, Indian citizens need to apply for a pre-arrival registration online before commencing their visa-free trip or transit to Hong Kong. The traveller must carry a signed copy of the notification slip for the pre-arrival registration while travelling to Hong Kong.
A pre-arrival registration granted to Indian nationals is valid for a maximum period of six months unless the passport of the traveller expires earlier. They can make multiple visits to Hong Kong during the validity of the pre-arrival registration with a maximum stay duration of 14 days per trip.
Indian nationals with Hong Kong Travel Pass, diplomatic or official passport and successful enrollment for frequent visitor e-Channel service are exempted to apply for pre-arrival registration before travelling to Hong Kong. Besides, Indians who are a member of aircrew, seacrew or seamen on contractual basis also do not need pre-arrival registration to travel visa-free to Hong Kong.
In case an Indian citizen needs to travel to Hong Kong for more than 14 days or a trip purpose other than visit/ transit, he/she needs to apply for a valid Hong Kong visa for Indians.
Take a look at the validity of different types of Hong Kong visa for Indians:
Types of Hong Kong Visa for Indians |
Visa Validity |
Maximum Visa Extension |
|
Pre-Arrival Registration |
Up to 14 days |
- |
|
Visit/ Transit Visa |
More than 14 days |
7 days |
|
Student Visa |
Full-Time Post Secondary Programmes |
6 years |
4 weeks |
Other Courses |
12 months |
||
Employment Visa |
24 months |
4 weeks |
|
Training Visa |
12 months |
- |
|
Foreign Domestic Helper Visa |
2 years |
- |
Follow the steps given below to apply for pre-arrival registration online before travelling visa-free to Hong Kong:
All Indian citizens who want to travel to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for more than 14 days or for a purpose other than visiting should apply for a valid Hong Kong visa. Even people who need to transit via Hong Kong to travel to another country need to apply for a Hong Kong visa for Indians in case they plan to leave the airport transit area.
Moreover, Indian nationals who were unable to successfully apply for pre-arrival registration for visa-free entry to Hong Kong should also apply for the visa.
An Indian citizen can apply for a Hong Kong visa by following the steps given below:
Indian citizens need to submit the following documents to the Embassy of China or the Hong Kong Immigration Department while applying for a Hong Kong visa:
The following table shows the list of additional documents required to apply for different types of Hong Kong visa for Indians:
Type of Hong Kong Visa for Indians |
Documents Required* |
|
Visit/ Transit Visa |
For Visit:
For Transit:
For Business:
|
|
Student Visa |
For Accompanying Dependents:
|
|
Employment Visa |
General Employment Policy (GEP) Visa |
By Hong Kong Based Employer:
For Accompanying Dependents:
|
Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS) Visa |
By Hong Kong Based Employer:
For Accompanying Dependents:
|
|
Investment Visa |
For Accompanying Dependents:
|
|
Imported Workers Visa |
By Hong Kong Based Employer:
|
|
Training Visa |
By Hong Kong Based Company:
For Accompanying Dependents:
|
|
Foreign Domestic Helper Visa |
By Hong Kong Based Employer:
|
*All documents must either be in the English or Chinese language. If not, the applicant must attach a certified translation in the English or Chinese language.
All applicants of Hong Kong visa is required to pay a visa fee at the time of applying. No charges have to be paid while applying for the pre-arrival registration online for visa-free entry to Hong Kong. Refer to the table below to check the visa fees for different types of Hong Kong visa:
Hong Kong Visa for Indians |
Hong Kong Visa Fees |
All Kinds of Hong Kong Visa |
$230 |
Transit Visa |
$120 |
Visa Extension Fee |
$230 |
The visa fees can be paid in the form of a demand draft issued by a national/ international bank in Delhi payable to the ‘Chinese Embassy, New Delhi’. The local sponsor can pay the visa fees in cash or by cheque/ EPS at the Immigration Department in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is popular as a financial hub, tourist destination, shopping haven and business centre across the world. Even with world-class facilities, a traveller cannot prevent unpredictable incidents, such as loss of wallet, flight delays, meeting with an accident, etc. from occurring. Despite the best planning, such incidents can result in major financial losses and the only way to avoid that is by keeping the trip covered under a travel insurance Hong Kong policy.
Travel insurance Hong Kong provides the insured traveller with financial coverage against adverse incidents faced during the trip to Hong Kong. It covers the traveller against adversities, such as medical emergencies, flight delays, missed connection flights, baggage loss, personal liability, trip cancellation, etc.
As per the law, carrying a valid travel insurance policy during a trip to Hong Kong is not compulsory. Indian applicants will be granted a Hong Kong visa or pre-arrival registration for visa-free travel even without travel insurance. Nonetheless, it is recommended to buy the travel insurance Hong Kong policy to stay prepared for any adversities faced during the trip.
The processing time for a Hong Kong visa varies according to different types of visas. Take a look at the visa processing time for various types of Hong Kong visa:
Type of Hong Kong Visa for Indians |
Processing Time |
|
Visit/Transit Visa |
4 weeks |
|
Student Visa |
6 weeks |
|
Employment Visa |
General Employment Policy (GEP) Visa |
4 weeks |
Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS) Visa |
2 weeks |
|
Investment Visa |
4 weeks |
|
Imported Workers Visa |
6 weeks |
|
Training Visa |
4 weeks |
|
Foreign Domestic Helper Visa |
4-6 weeks |
In case the applicant requires faster processing of his/her Hong Kong visa application, an additional visa fee will be applicable.
An applicant for a Hong Kong visa can check the application status online or by calling the 24-hour enquiry system. Follow the steps given below to check the status of Hong Kong visa online:
If your pre-arrival registration notification slip is damaged or lost, you can reprint it by visiting the official website of the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
A bona fide resident of Hong Kong who is above the age of 18 years and is acquainted with you can become your sponsor in Hong Kong.
No. Applicants and holders of Foreign Domestic Helper visa cannot bring their applicants to Hong Kong.