Transit rules · Hong Kong
Layover in Hong Kong: transit visa and leaving the airport
Hong Kong has its own immigration control, separate from Mainland China. Passengers in direct transit by air who stay in the airport transit area need no visa or registration. All nationalities covered here can enter visa-free (or, for Indians, after free online pre-arrival registration) for a city visit; periods range from 14 days (IN, PH) to 180 days (British citizens). PRC passport holders travelling to or from another country may land for 7 days without an entry permit.
At a glance, by passport
| Passport | Change planes airside | Leave the airport |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
| Canada | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
| United Kingdom | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
| Australia | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
| New Zealand | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
| India | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, with an online travel authorisation · 14 days |
| China (mainland) | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, under the visa-free transit rules · 7 days |
| Brazil | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
| Mexico | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
| South Africa | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 30 days |
| Philippines | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 14 days |
| Japan | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
| South Korea | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 90 days |
Changing planes without leaving the airport
Airside means you stay behind passport control: you walk from one gate to the next and never formally enter Hong Kong. Many countries let you do that without any document, some ask for an online authorisation or a transit visa even for this.
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, India, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document.
Leaving the airport
To see the city you pass immigration and enter Hong Kong like any visitor, so the normal entry rule for your passport applies, however short your stay.
Without a visa: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea. With an online travel authorisation: India. With the visa-free transit rules: China (mainland).
Transit rules in Hong Kong
Direct airside transit
Who: Passengers of any nationality covered here (some other nationalities marked in the ImmD table need a visa even airside)
- Direct transit by air
- Do not leave the airport transit area
Source: Immigration Department, HKSAR Government , Immigration Department, HKSAR Government
PRC passport 7-day transit
Who: Holders of People's Republic of China passports travelling to or from another country or territory
- Up to 7 days on each landing
- Valid entry facilities for the destination
- Confirmed onward booking for the overseas journey
- Normal immigration requirements met
Your passport in detail
United States passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Ordinary passports; US diplomatic passports need a visa. Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
Canada passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
United Kingdom passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed British citizens 180 days; British Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British Protected persons 90 days. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
Australia passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
New Zealand passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
EU / EEA / Switzerland passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed All EU member states, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland are listed at 90 days. Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
India passport
Leave the airport: Yes, with an online travel authorisation Visa-free for 14 days only after completing online Pre-arrival Registration (PAR), free, valid six months, multiple visits of up to 14 days each; also needed to enter during a transit. Stay: 14 days. Cost: free.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Pre-arrival registration not required in direct transit by air without leaving the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026) , Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals
China (mainland) passport
Leave the airport: Yes, under the visa-free transit rules PRC passport holders in transit through Hong Kong to or from another country or territory may be granted 7 days on each landing without a prior entry permit, with valid entry facilities for the destination and a confirmed onward booking. Mainland residents visiting Hong Kong itself need an Exit-Entry Permit (EEP) with endorsement. Stay: 7 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Entry Arrangements for Mainland, Macao, Taiwan & Overseas Chinese Residents , Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
Brazil passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
Mexico passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
South Africa passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 30 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
Philippines passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 14 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
Japan passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
South Korea passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Stay: 90 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Direct transit in the airport transit area.
Official source: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026)
How much time you get in the city
Being allowed out is half the answer; the other half is the clock. Count the time to get off the plane and through immigration, the trip into town and back, and getting back early enough for security and the gate. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG): the fastest public option, MTR Airport Express to Hong Kong Station (Central), takes 24 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 5 h 15 min.
The planner on each airport page does this for your own flight times and lets you change every assumption.
Questions
Do I need a transit visa for Hong Kong?
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, India, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document.
Can I leave the airport during a layover in Hong Kong?
It depends on your passport. Without a visa: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea. With an online travel authorisation: India. With the visa-free transit rules: China (mainland).
How long a layover do I need to leave the airport?
With our cautious defaults (45 minutes to get out, the trip into town and back plus 20%, 120 minutes back before departure, at least 90 minutes in the city): Hong Kong International Airport (HKG): the fastest public option, MTR Airport Express to Hong Kong Station (Central), takes 24 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 5 h 15 min.
Official sources
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Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (updated August 2026) (Immigration Department, HKSAR Government):
Always require VISA, except in direct transit by air and when the person does not leave the airport transit area
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Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals (Immigration Department, HKSAR Government):
not required for Indian nationals in direct transit by air and not leaving the airport transit area.
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Entry Arrangements for Mainland, Macao, Taiwan & Overseas Chinese Residents (Immigration Department, HKSAR Government):
may be granted a stay of seven days on each landing without the prior need to obtain an entry permit ... valid entry facilities for the destination and confirmed onward booking for the overseas journey.
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-01. Rules change; the airline and the border officer have the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.