As of 2024, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 170 countries and territories, ranking the passport 18th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[1] It is ranked 16th by the Global Passport Power Rank.[2]
The official figure provided by the Hong Kong Immigration Department of countries and territories granting visa-free access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders was 171 as of 7 December 2023. (However, this figure excludes countries and territories which are not officially recognised by the People's Republic of China, such as Kosovo and Taiwan so the practical figure relevant to travellers is actually higher.)[3]
Due to its one country, two systems stance, the Government of Hong Kong can make a visa-waiver agreement for Chinese residents of Hong Kong with other countries. As a result of both bilateral visa abolition agreements (e.g. between Hong Kong and Russia[4]) and unilateral decisions to grant visa exemptions (e.g. Myanmar), HKSAR passport holders enjoy visa exemptions and simplified visa procedures to a large number of destinations worldwide. Whilst the visa exemptions are mostly only for short trips for pleasure or on business, a number of countries extend the visa exemption to short stays involving paid activities (e.g. Belgium and Luxembourg).
HKSAR passports are available to Chinese citizens who are also permanent residents of Hong Kong and hold a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, many of whom also hold a British National (Overseas) passport by virtue of their previous status as British Overseas Territories citizens.
Jurisdiction | Visa requirement | Notes |
---|---|---|
Home Return Permit not required if Holding an HKSAR Passport for airside transit in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou | ||
Visa free for holders of Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards for a stay of less than one year. Visa not required for 7 days for passengers in transit holding HKSAR passports. | ||
Visa requirements for holders of normal passports traveling for tourist purposes:
Country | Visa requirement | Allowed stay | Notes (excluding departure fees) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | ||||
Albania | 90 days |
| ||
Algeria | ||||
Andorra | 90 days |
| ||
Angola | [5] | 30 days | ||
Antigua and Barbuda | 30 days | |||
Argentina | 90 days | |||
Armenia | 180 days | |||
Australia | 90 days |
| ||
Austria | 90 days |
| ||
Azerbaijan | [7] | 30 days | ||
Bahamas | 3 months | |||
Bahrain | 14 days | |||
Bangladesh | ||||
Barbados | 90 days | |||
Belarus | 30 days | |||
Belgium | 90 days |
| ||
Belize | ||||
Benin | [8] | 14 days |
| |
Bhutan | [9] | |||
30 days[10] |
| |||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 90 days |
| ||
Botswana | 90 days |
| ||
Brazil | 90 days | |||
14 days | ||||
Bulgaria | 90 days |
| ||
Burkina Faso | [11] | |||
Burundi | 1 month | |||
Cambodia | [12] | 30 days | ||
Cameroon | [13] |
| ||
Canada | 6 months |
| ||
Cape Verde | 90 days |
| ||
Central African Republic | ||||
Chad | ||||
Chile | 90 days | |||
| ||||
Colombia | 90 days | |||
Comoros | 45 days | |||
[19] | 7 days | |||
Costa Rica | ||||
Cote d'Ivoire | [20] | 3 months |
| |
Croatia | 90 days |
| ||
Cuba | 90 days | |||
Cyprus | 90 days |
| ||
Czech Republic | 90 days |
| ||
Denmark | 90 days |
| ||
Djibouti | [21] | 90 days | ||
Dominica | 6 months | |||
Dominican Republic | 90 days | |||
Ecuador | 90 days[22] | |||
Egypt | 3 months | |||
El Salvador | ||||
Equatorial Guinea | [23] | |||
Eritrea | ||||
Estonia | 90 days |
| ||
Ethiopia | up to 90 days | |||
Fiji | 4 months | |||
Finland | 90 days |
| ||
France and territories | 90 days |
| ||
Gabon | [24] | 90 days |
| |
Gambia |
| |||
Georgia | [26] | 30 days | ||
Germany | 90 days |
| ||
Ghana | ||||
Greece | 90 days |
| ||
Grenada | 3 months | |||
Guatemala | ||||
Guinea | [27] | 90 days | ||
Guinea-Bissau | 90 days | |||
Guyana | 90 days | |||
Haiti | 3 months | |||
Honduras |
| |||
Hungary | 90 days |
| ||
Iceland | 90 days |
| ||
India | ||||
Indonesia | 30 days[28] | |||
21 days[29] | ||||
Iraq | ||||
Ireland | 3 months | |||
Israel | 3 months | |||
Italy | 90 days |
| ||
Jamaica | 30 days | |||
Japan | 90 days | |||
Jordan | [30] |
| ||
Kazakhstan | 14 days | |||
Kenya | [32] | 90 days | ||
Kiribati | 120 days | |||
[33] | 90 days |
| ||
Kuwait | [35] | 3 months | ||
Kyrgyzstan | 30 days |
| ||
30 days | ||||
Latvia | 90 days |
| ||
Lebanon | 1 month |
| ||
Lesotho | 90 days | |||
Liberia | ||||
Libya | [38] | |||
Liechtenstein | 90 days |
| ||
Lithuania | 90 days |
| ||
Luxembourg | 90 days |
| ||
Madagascar | 60 days | |||
Malawi | 30 days | |||
Malaysia | 90 days | |||
Maldives | 30 days | |||
Mali | ||||
Malta | 90 days |
| ||
Marshall Islands | ||||
Mauritania |
| |||
Mauritius | 90 days | |||
Mexico | 90 days[39] | |||
30 days | ||||
90 days |
| |||
Monaco | 90 days |
| ||
Mongolia | 14 days | |||
Montenegro | 90 days | |||
Morocco | 30 days | |||
Mozambique | [40] | 30 days | ||
Myanmar | [41] | 28 days |
| |
Namibia | 3 months | |||
Nauru | ||||
Nepal | 90 days[42] | |||
Netherlands | 90 days |
| ||
New Zealand | 3 months |
| ||
Nicaragua | 90 days | |||
Niger | 14 days | |||
Nigeria | [45] | 90 days | ||
90 days | ||||
Norway | 90 days |
| ||
Oman | [46] | 14 days / 30 days | ||
Pakistan | ||||
Palau | 30 days | |||
Panama | 30 days | |||
Papua New Guinea | [47] | 60 days | ||
Paraguay | ||||
Peru | 183 days | |||
Philippines | 14 days | |||
Poland | 90 days |
| ||
Portugal | 90 days |
| ||
Qatar | 30 days | |||
Romania | 90 days |
| ||
30 days | ||||
Rwanda | [48] | 30 days | ||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3 months | |||
Saint Lucia | 42 days | |||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3 month | |||
Samoa | 90 days | |||
San Marino | ||||
15 days.[49] |
| |||
Saudi Arabia | [50] | 90 days | ||
Senegal | ||||
Serbia | 14 days | |||
Seychelles | [51] | 3 months | ||
Sierra Leone | [52] | 3 months | ||
Singapore | 30 days | |||
Slovakia | 90 days |
| ||
Slovenia | 90 days |
| ||
Solomon Islands |
| |||
Somalia | 30 days | |||
South Africa | 30 days | |||
[53] |
| |||
Spain | 90 days |
| ||
Sri Lanka | [54] | 30 days / 60 days | ||
Sudan | ||||
Suriname | [55] | 90 days | ||
Sweden | 90 days |
| ||
Switzerland | 90 days |
| ||
Tajikistan | [56] | 60 days |
| |
3 months | ||||
Thailand | 30 days | |||
Timor-Leste | 30 days |
| ||
Togo | [58] | 15 days |
| |
Tonga | 31 days | |||
Trinidad and Tobago | ||||
Tunisia | 90 days | |||
Turkey | 3 months | |||
Turkmenistan | ||||
Tuvalu | 1 month | |||
Uganda | [59] | 90 days[60] | ||
Ukraine | 14 days | |||
United Arab Emirates | 30 days | |||
United Kingdom | 6 months | |||
United States |
| |||
Uruguay | 3 months | |||
Uzbekistan | 10 days |
| ||
Vanuatu | 30 days | |||
90 days | ||||
[64] | 90 days |
| ||
Yemen | 30 days | |||
Zambia | 90 days | |||
Zimbabwe | 3 months |
Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Hong Kong for visits to various territories, disputed areas, partially recognised countries and restricted zones:
Visitor to | Visa requirement | Notes (excluding departure fees) | |
---|---|---|---|
Europe | |||
[65] | |||
Mount Athos | Special permit required (4 days: 25 euro for Orthodox visitors, 35 euro for non-Orthodox visitors, 18 euro for students). There is a visitors' quota: maximum 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox per day and women are not allowed.[66] [67] | ||
Crimea | Visa issued by Russia is required, HK SAR Passport is exempted from a visa to enter Russia for 14 days.[68] | ||
3 months[69] | |||
UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus | [70] | Access Permit is required for travelling inside the zone, except Civil Use Areas. | |
Faroe Islands | [71] | ||
Gibraltar | |||
[72] | |||
[73] | |||
Jan Mayen | Permit issued by the local police required for staying for less than 24 hours[74] and permit issued by the Norwegian police for staying for more than 24 hours.[75] | ||
[76] | |||
[77] | 90 days | ||
Multiple entry visa to Russia and three-day prior notification are required to enter South Ossetia.[78] [79] | |||
Migration card issued upon arrival.[80] [81] | |||
Africa | |||
British Indian Ocean Territory | Special permit required.[82] | ||
Eritrea outside Asmara | To travel in the rest of the country, a Travel Permit for Foreigners is required (20 Eritrean nakfa).[83] | ||
Mayotte | 90 days | ||
Reunion | 90 days | ||
[84] [85] | [86] | ||
Visitor's Pass granted on arrival valid for 4/10/21/60/90 days for 12/14/16/20/25 pound sterling.[87] | |||
Permission to land required for 15/30 pounds sterling (yacht/ship passenger) for Tristan da Cunha Island or 20 pounds sterling for Gough Island, Inaccessible Island or Nightingale Islands.[88] | |||
30 days for 30 US dollars, payable on arrival.[89] [90] | |||
All foreigners travelling more than 25 kilometres outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit. | |||
Darfur | Separate travel permit is required.[91] | ||
Asia | |||
India PAP/RAP | Protected Area Permit (PAP) required for all of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) required for all of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep and parts of Sikkim. Some of these requirements are occasionally lifted for a year.[92] [93] [94] [95] [96] | ||
Special permission required for the town of Baikonur and surrounding areas in Kyzylorda Oblast, and the town of Gvardeyskiy near Almaty.[97] | |||
Kish Island | Visitors to Kish Island do not require a visa.[98] | ||
Malaysia: Sabah and Sarawak | These states have their own immigration authorities and passport is required to travel to them, however the same visa applies.[99] | ||
Maldives | With the exception of the capital Malé, tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of Maldives.[100] | ||
Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed.[101] | |||
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province | OIVR permit required (15+5 Tajikistani Somoni) and another special permit (free of charge) is required for Lake Sarez.[102] [103] [104] | ||
Korean Demilitarized Zone | |||
UNDOF Zone and Ghajar | |||
Yemen | Special permission needed for travel outside Sana'a or Aden.[105] | ||
Caribbean and North Atlantic | |||
Anguilla | 3 months | ||
Aruba | 30 days | ||
Bermuda | lesser than 6 months | ||
Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba | 30 days | ||
30 days | |||
Cayman Islands | 60 days for tourism / 10 days for business | ||
30 days | |||
French Guiana | 90 days | ||
French West Indies refers to Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy. | |||
Greenland | 90 days | ||
Montserrat | 90 days | ||
Puerto Rico | |||
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 90 days | ||
3 months | |||
Turks and Caicos Islands | 90 days | ||
Oceania | |||
American Samoa | |||
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | Special authorisation required.[106] | ||
Clipperton Island | Special permit required.[107] | ||
Cook Islands | 31 days[108] | ||
Lau Province | Special permission required.[109] | ||
French Polynesia | 90 days | ||
Guam | Visa free for holders of both Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards and HKSAR Passport for a stay of less than 45 days. Visa required if without Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards. | ||
New Caledonia | [110] | 90 days | |
Northern Mariana Islands | Visa free for holders of both Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards and HKSAR Passport for a stay of less than 45 days. Visa required if without Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards. | ||
Niue | 30 days[111] | ||
14 days visa free and landing fee 35 USD or tax of 5 USD if not going ashore.[112] [113] [114] | |||
United States Minor Outlying Islands | Special permits required for Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island.[115] [116] [117] [118] [119] [120] [121] | ||
Wallis and Futuna | 90 days | ||
South America | |||
Galápagos | Online pre-registration is required. Transit Control Card must also be obtained at the airport prior to departure.[122] | ||
South Atlantic and Antarctica | |||
A visitor permit is normally issued as a stamp in the passport on arrival, The maximum validity period is 1 month.[123] | |||
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Pre-arrival permit from the Commissioner required (72 hours/1 month for 110/160 pounds sterling).[124] [125] | ||
Antarctica | Special permits required for,,, Australian Antarctic Territory, Chilean Antarctic Territory, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Peter I Island, Queen Maud Land, Ross Dependency.[126] [127] [128] [129] [130] [131] [132] [133] [134] [135] [136] [137] |
Holders of an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) travelling on business do not require a visa to the following countries:[138]
|
1 - Up to 180 days
2 - Up to 90 days
3 - Up to 90 days in a period of 180 days
4 - Up to 60 days
Permanent residents with Chinese nationality (holders of HKSAR passport / BN(O) passport) are required to apply for a Mainland Travel Permit to enter Mainland China, to the exclusion of all other documents.
The card must be used in conjunction with a passport and has the following advantages:[139]