From the themed attractions like Avenue of Stars, Noah’s Ark, Disneyland and Ocean park to the stunning views of Harbor like The Peak, A Symphony of Lights, Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck and Harbor Cruises, Hong Kong attracts people of every age group alike!

Usually, a Visa is required to visit Hong Kong and see all these fabulous tourist sites, and sometimes, depending on your citizenship or the type of your travel document, you may not need a Hong Kong Visit Visa to enter the country. However, the right to allow your entry into the country is at the discretion of the immigration authorities and they have every right to refuse entry if they believe your intentions are not genuine.

Moreover, the maximum time for your visit is the period published on your travel document. The immigration authorities can reduce/curtail your period of stay should they feel there is justification. There is no automatic right to the maximum period of stay.

For people who need a visa before they can visit Hong Kong, an application needs to be submitted through their nearest Chinese Consulate or Embassy. This can be sent either through a local sponsor or directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. To complete a Hong Kong Visa Application, two forms need to be completed, ID1003A for the applicant and ID1003B for the sponsor. Depending on the purpose of visit, other supporting documents may be required.

From the time of receiving the application, approximately 4 weeks is the usual processing time for a Hong Kong Visa.

Here are a few criteria that applicants need to keep in mind:

• Visitors need to have necessary funds to last the duration of their stay without having to work.

• In case the applicant wants to stay longer than the allowed visa period, (s)he needs to apply for an entry permit or visa before travelling to Hong Kong.

• Visitors can not:

o Take up employment either unpaid or paid

o Join or establish any business

o Enter any school as a student

o Allowed to change their immigration status after arriving in Hong Kong.

• The day of arrival is counted as the first day and the applicant needs to leave Hong Kong before the expiry period mentioned in the Visa.

Other than visiting, many people from across the globe are opting for Hong Kong Immigration, Employment, Education and Work-Holidays.

Opulentus is an expert Visa Consultant who has more than 12 years experience in the field. We provide advice and assistance for Visit Visas, Study Visas and Study-Work Programs, Permanent Residencies, Working and Work-holiday Visas for Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, Denmark and many more countries.