Hong Kong, the ‘fragrant city’, offers a complete vacation experience — from stunning skylines and breathtaking landscapes to authentic local culture and epicurean delights. A bustling city with never a dull moment, Hong Kong is also renowned as a global financial hub attracting a large number of professionals as well. The city attracts approximately five lakh Indian travellers for both tourism and trade purposes.
Though Hong Kong is part of the People’s Republic of China, it operates autonomously as a Special Administrative Region (SAR). Thus, the visa procedures, regulations, currency, culture, and language differ from the rest of China. To ensure hassle-free entry to Hong Kong, you need to follow the visa process and documentation. Depending on the nature of the permit, you can engage in various activities. The permit entitles the holder to engage in tourism and recreational pursuits, pay visits to friends and relatives who live abroad, as well as conduct business. The length of the permit’s validity and the number of entries allowed varies depending on the kind of permit issued. The ability to register for the permit before arrival in the country and have it issued there is a unique feature of a Hong Kong visa for Indian citizens.
If you want to know the procedure for Hong Kong visas for Indians, do refer to the below pointers:
Types of Visas
Hong Kong issues various kinds of permits depending on factors, including the purpose of your visit and the duration of your stay. Here is a list of short-term India to Hong Kong visa types:
- Hong Kong Tourist Visa
This permit is issued to those travellers who want to visit the country as a tourist. The validity of this permit will be determined by the length of your stay and the Immigration Department.
- Hong Kong Business Visa
People travelling to the country for business purposes are issued this visa. Along with conducting business, this visa also permits you to indulge in leisure activities.
- Hong Kong Visitor Visa
This visa is similar to the tourist visa; the only difference is that the purpose of travel is to visit friends and family members.
Applying for a visa to Hong Kong
To apply for a visa of Hong Kong from India, you first have to complete the pre-arrival registration (PAR) online. Application for PAR is free of charge. The procedure for the PAR is as follows:
- Register for the permit at the official website of Hong Kong Immigration.
- Application form to be filled with the relevant information.
- Print out the Notification Slip on an A4-sized paper.
- Ensure you carry your passport, Notification Slip, and any other documents as requested.
You will be permitted multiple entries and allowed to stay in Hong Kong for 14 days. However, if the pre-arrival registration does not go through or cannot be completed, you must directly apply for an entry visa to the Immigration Department offline. The process is given as follows:
- You need to download the visa application form for Hong Kong.
- Once downloaded, you need to print, fill and sign the application form.
- All the relevant documents and your photograph needs to be attached to the application form.
- The hard copies of the documents should be air-mailed to the ‘Hong Kong Immigration Department’ in an undamaged condition.
- The documents should be accompanied by an International Bank Draft for HK$190 (approx. INR 2014) favouring ‘The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’.
- Once the processing is completed, you will receive the visa via air mail which must be pasted on a blank page in your passport.
Additionally, the information on the application form must be accurate and verified. There is a possibility of your application being rejected due to being unreliable or unverifiable. Rejection of a visa may affect your future attempts to obtain a visa for Hong Kong or any other destination.
Documents Required for Hong Kong Visa
The requirement of documents for the issuance of a Hong Kong Visa depends on the type of permit.
With PAR:
- Valid passport
- Valid Notification Slip
- Recent photographs
Without PAR:
- Photocopy of passport
- Filled out and signed the application form
- Recent photograph
- Flight Itinerary
- Proof of purpose of visit – hotel reservation, invitation letter, travel itinerary, etc.
- International Bank Draft in favour of ‘The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’
Protect Yourself with an International Travel Insurance Policy
Planning an international trip can be a cumbersome process. However, nothing is worse than facing unforeseen emergencies during your trip. To avoid getting caught unawares, it is advisable to opt for a Hong Kong Travel Insurance policy that covers both medical and non-medical exigencies like baggage insurance, flight cancellation insurance, etc. Look up the different traveller insurance policies available and select the one that meets your requirement.
Summing Up
To an onlooker, Hong Kong may seem like a concrete jungle with its fancy skyscrapers, however, the city has loads to offer to a tourist. Breath-taking countryside, pristine beaches, rugged mountains, adventure sports, and a buzzing nightlife, Hong Kong is truly an example of ‘east meets west’. Make sure you secure the right type of permit and get yourself covered with suitable international travel insurance, and you are good to go.