After it was ceded by the Qin Dynasty during the first opium war in 1841, Hong Kong was established as a British Colony and remained that way till 1997. Today, Hong Kong is an especially administrative region of the Republic of China, a global financial and trade hub, and among the most advanced places in the world.
Officially known as Hong Kong Administrative Region or HKSAR, the city state is often an aspiration for many Indians as a new home. Indians, enjoy Visa-Free entry to Hong Kong, provided they fall within the prescribed criteria here.
Eligibility criteria for visiting Hong Kong
All Indian applicants are required to fill-out the Pre-Arrival Registration or PAR before they enter Hong Kong to avail the visa free facility. The PAR can be completed online if the applicant:
- Is planning to visit or transit through HKSAR
- Planning a stay less than 14 days in Hong Kong
- Has a valid passport (at least 4 months to expiry from the date of entry)
- Has entered HKSAR on education or employment permit
In cases mentioned below an Indian national does not require PAR
- Official passport holders
- Diplomatic passport holders
- HKSAR travel pass holders
- Holder of the UN Laissez Passers visiting or transiting HKSAR on official business
- Visiting HKSAR for education, employment, purchasing property, etc.
Documents required for immigration to HKSAR
It is important that the applicant is aware of the visa/immigration requirements and meets the criteria before applying for the same. Correctly filling out the HKSAR visa application form for Indian Nationals is also very essential for a successful application.
Here is a list of documents that are mandatory for all applicants, the documents may vary depending upon the type of visa being applied for.
- Passport with minimum 4 months validity remaining from the time of application
- Duly filled visa application form
- 2 recent passport-sized photographs
- Airline (or any other transportation means) return tickets
- Documents proving financial status of the applicant; bank statements, salary slips, tax returns, etc.
- A detailed travel itinerary; accommodations, in-land transportation, tours, etc.
- Details of family members residing in HKSAR, including friends, relatives, etc.
- A sponsorship letter from HKSAR resident, firm, company, etc.
- Full coverage travelers’ insurance (highly recommended but not mandatory)
Procedure for application
HKSAR has a streamlined immigration process, with each step requiring immaculate details and preparation. The first step is to register for the Pre-Arrival Registration for Indian nationals here. The PAR is free of charge; however, the applicant should have the documents handy before applying.
- Gather all required documents (as listed above)
- Duly filling the visa form application
- Scheduling appointment at the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate office for submitting documents and biometric verifications
- Paying the prescribed visa fee
- Waiting patiently for 4 to 6 weeks for the process to complete
- The visa will be delivered at your address or you may be asked to collect it from Embassy where you applied
The QMAS
Since 2006, the Chinese government has introduced the “Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)” that follows a point-based immigration scheme for all applicants. QMAS is quota based, meaning that a certain number of Indian applicants have to be provided immigration, attracting the best skilled, and talented individuals to enter HKSAR.
Indians who succeed in scoring the desired points can sponsor their spouse or children (unmarried) under 18 years of age to HKSAR provided they meet certain requirements.
Scoring system under QMAS
Below are a few areas in which applicants of QMAS are measured, each area must be satisfied.
- Age must be 18 years or above
- Decent education
- Spoken and written English, Cantonese, or Putonghua
- Financially support him/herself and dependents in HKSAR
- Clean police record (involvement in any criminal activity in past will dwindle successful application)
Score table
The total score in each of the General areas is given below
| Factors | Points |
| Age | 30 |
| Academic | 45 |
| Language proficiency | 20 |
| Professional experience | 50 |
| Total | 165 |
