HongKong&MacauVisa Guide2026

Hong Kong Visa Policy Overview

Latest Updates You Should Know

  • From August 26, 2026, nationals of Nicaragua and Solomon Islands can visit Hong Kong visa-free for up to 30 days.
  • Hong Kong’s visitor visa-free network now covers around 170 countries and territories.
  • Visa-free stay periods vary significantly by nationality: British nationals can generally stay up to 180 days; citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and many European countries can generally stay up to 90 days; other nationalities may receive 7, 14 or 30 days.
  • Indian nationals who wish to enter or transit Hong Kong must successfully complete the online Pre-arrival Registration (PAR), unless they fall under an applicable exemption. PAR is free and, once approved, is normally valid for six months, allowing multiple visits with up to 14 days on each visit.

Do You Need a Visa for Hong Kong?

Most tourists do not need a visa to visit Hong Kong. Your exact visa-free period depends on your nationality, so check the current Hong Kong Immigration Department list before travelling.

Typical visa-free periods include:

  • British nationals: up to 180 days.
  • United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and many European nationalities: generally up to 90 days.
  • Other eligible nationalities: 7, 14 or 30 days, depending on the passport.
  • Some nationalities must obtain a visa before travelling.

On arrival, visitors normally receive a landing slip rather than a passport stamp. It records the date of entry and the conditions or limit of stay.

Remember that Hong Kong and Mainland China have separate immigration controls. A Mainland Chinese visa does not automatically give a foreign traveller the right to enter Hong Kong, and a Hong Kong visa does not give permission to enter Mainland China.

Basic Entry Requirements for Foreign Visitors

Before travelling, make sure you can meet the basic entry conditions:

  • A valid passport or travel document meeting Hong Kong’s validity requirements.
  • A visa or pre-arrival registration where required by nationality.
  • Proof of onward or return travel where requested.
  • Sufficient funds for the proposed stay.
  • No immigration or security issue that would prevent admission.

Airlines may also check your documents before boarding, so do not rely only on the border inspection at arrival.

Hong Kong Visa Categories

Instead of treating every application as a simple ‘tourist visa’, Hong Kong Immigration Department’s visa arrangements cover different purposes of stay. Common categories include:

  • Visit / Transit: short visits, tourism and transit.
  • Employment / Investment / Training: working, investment or business-related admission and training.
  • Study: education and study programmes.
  • Residence as Dependants: accompanying eligible sponsors or family members.
  • Working Holiday: for eligible nationals under Hong Kong’s working holiday arrangements.

Your required application route and supporting documents depend on the purpose of your stay and your nationality.

Applying for a Hong Kong Visa

If you are not eligible for visa-free entry, apply before travelling. Do not assume that you can simply arrive in Hong Kong and change your immigration status after entry.

Typical application steps are:

  1. Confirm the correct visa or entry-permission category.
  2. Check the current document requirements for your nationality and purpose of stay.
  3. Complete the relevant application form and prepare supporting documents.
  4. Submit the application through the appropriate Hong Kong Immigration Department channel, overseas mission or other designated route, depending on the case.
  5. Pay the applicable fee and wait for the application to be processed.

For current forms, fees and processing information, use the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s official website.

Macau Visa Policy Overview 2026

Macau has its own immigration system as another Special Administrative Region of China. For many travellers, visiting Macau from Hong Kong is straightforward, but you should check Macau’s rules separately because Hong Kong entry permission does not automatically cover Macau.

Macau currently grants visa-free entry to about 88 countries and territories. The list has expanded in recent years, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

For nationalities outside the visa-free list, an entry permit / visa-on-arrival may be available at Macau’s border checkpoints, while some nationalities must arrange a visa before arrival. Always check the current official list for your passport.

Macau Visa on Arrival: What to Know

For eligible nationalities who can obtain an entry permit at the border, the current standard individual fee is generally:

  • Individual: MOP 200 for a single entry; MOP 300 for multiple entries.
  • Family passport: MOP 200 for a single entry; MOP 300 for multiple entries per passport.
  • Children under 12: MOP 100 for a single entry; MOP 150 for multiple entries.
  • Group application: MOP 100 for a single entry; MOP 150 for multiple entries per person, where the group arrangement applies.

Fees and procedures can vary according to the application channel and nationality. If you apply outside your home country or through another designated channel, check the applicable local fee before submitting.

Macau Visa Application: Documents Made Simple

The documents you need depend mainly on why you are going to Macau. A practical way to prepare is to start with the common documents and then add proof of purpose.

Tourism

  • Completed application form.
  • Passport/travel-document copies.
  • Recent passport photo, where required.
  • Proof of transport and accommodation.
  • Travel itinerary or tour confirmation.
  • Proof of financial means, if requested.

Visiting Family

  • Common identity and passport documents.
  • Proof of accommodation and travel arrangements.
  • Evidence of the family relationship and the family member’s Macau status, where applicable.

Study

  • Admission or acceptance letter from the Macau educational institution.
  • Passport and application documents.
  • Financial and accommodation evidence where required.

Employment

  • Employment or approval documentation issued by the relevant Macau authorities or employer, as applicable.
  • Passport and application documents.
  • Any additional documents requested for the specific employment category.

Other supporting documents may be required depending on nationality, visa category and individual circumstances.

Macau Visa Types and Stay

Macau’s entry arrangements distinguish between diplomatic, official and ordinary travel documents / visas. Ordinary applications can cover purposes such as tourism, study, employment and residence.

The permitted validity and length of stay depend on the document issued and the applicant’s circumstances. Do not rely on the older fixed validity figures in previous versions of this guide; check the current official decision and entry label issued for your application.

Before You Travel: Hong Kong + Macau

  • Check Hong Kong and Macau separately — they are not covered by one shared immigration permission.
  • Check your exact passport nationality, not simply your country of residence.
  • If travelling Hong Kong → Macau → Hong Kong, make sure you meet the entry requirements for both destinations before leaving Hong Kong.
  • Keep your passport, hotel booking, onward ticket and relevant supporting documents accessible.
  • Immigration admission is always subject to the decision of the relevant authorities, even where a traveller meets the published visa-free conditions.
  • Immigration rules change. Check the official government pages again shortly before departure.
Official Resources

Hong Kong Immigration Department: https://www.immd.gov.hk/

Macau Government Tourism / Public Security Police Force immigration information: https://www.gov.mo/

Use the official government pages above to confirm your nationality’s current visa-free period, application route, fees and any newly announced policy changes.