Hong Kong is an eight-hour flight from Dubai, a popular stopover on the way to Asia and Australia, and a shopping trip in its own right. Its entry rules are separate from mainland China’s, and for many UAE residents they are easier: some passports are visa-free, Indians need only a free online registration, and only a few nationalities need a full visa. Your UAE residence does not change the rule — your passport decides — but it does decide where a visa application can be lodged.
Checked on 19 October 2026 against the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Sources at the end.
On this page
- The short answer by passport
- Indian passport holders: pre-arrival registration
- If you need a visit visa
- At Hong Kong airport
- Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau are separate
- Mistakes to avoid
- Questions people ask
The short answer by passport
| Passport | Visit to Hong Kong | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Visa-free, up to 30 days | Nothing in advance |
| Philippines | Visa-free, up to 14 days | Nothing in advance |
| India | Visa-free, up to 14 days | Free pre-arrival registration (PAR) online before travel |
| Egypt | Visa-free, as listed by the Immigration Department | Check the stay allowed before you book |
| Pakistan | Visa required | Visit visa before travel |
| Bangladesh | Visa required | Visit visa before travel |
| Sri Lanka | Visa required | Visit visa before travel |
| Nigeria | Visa required | Visit visa before travel |
| UK, US, Canada, Australia, most EU countries | Visa-free (up to 90 days for most; 180 days for UK citizens) | Nothing in advance |
Visa-free visitors must still show enough money for the stay and an onward or return ticket. Visa-free entry is for visits only, not for work or study.
Indian passport holders: pre-arrival registration
Indian citizens can visit Hong Kong for up to 14 days without a visa, but only after completing Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) online. It replaced visa-free entry on arrival in January 2017.
| Cost | Free |
| Where | The Hong Kong Immigration Department’s online service on GovHK |
| Result | Shown instantly |
| Valid for | 6 months, or until your passport expires if sooner |
| Visits | Multiple, up to 14 days each |
| Passport | Indian passport valid at least 6 months |
How to register
- Open the Immigration Department’s PAR page and start the online registration.
- Enter your details exactly as in your Indian passport.
- Choose an identification question and keep the answer — you need it to reprint the slip, and it cannot be reset.
- If successful, print the Notification Slip on plain white A4 paper and sign it. A parent signs for children under 16.
- Travel with the slip and the same passport you registered.
If you renew your passport, register again. If registration is unsuccessful, you must apply for a visit visa directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department — Chinese missions, including those in the UAE, do not take visit visa applications from Indian nationals. You do not need PAR if you stay airside in the airport transit area.
If you need a visit visa
Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Nigerian passport holders need a visit visa before they fly. From the UAE there are two routes:
- Online, directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department through the GovHK visa portal. The visa is issued as an e-Visa you show on your phone or printed on A4.
- In person, through the Chinese diplomatic mission serving your area of the UAE. Visas issued this way are a label in your passport.
Your UAE residence is what makes the second route possible: Chinese missions accept Hong Kong visa applications from people living in their area.
Documents
- Application form ID 1003A with a recent photo.
- Copy of your passport.
- Copy of your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.
- Proof of funds and employment: bank statements and an employer letter. See our bank statement guide and NOC templates.
- Flight itinerary.
- Proof of purpose: a hotel or tour booking for tourism, a business letter for business, or proof of relationship for family visits.
A sponsor in Hong Kong is optional but helps. A company sponsor uses form ID 1003B and its business registration; an individual sponsor must be an adult Hong Kong resident who knows you.
Fee and processing
The Immigration Department’s visit visa fee is HK$230 (about AED 108). Processing usually takes about four weeks after the department has every document, and it does not start until the file is complete. Apply at least six weeks before travel.
At Hong Kong airport
- Show your passport and, if you have one, your e-Visa QR code or PAR notification slip.
- Carry your return ticket and hotel booking. Officers can ask about funds.
- You receive a landing slip instead of a passport stamp. Keep it until you leave.
Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau are separate
Each has its own immigration control. A Hong Kong visa or visa-free stay does not let you enter mainland China, and a single-entry China visa is used up when you cross into Hong Kong. If you plan Shenzhen or Guangzhou after Hong Kong, read our China visa guide and get a double- or multiple-entry visa if you will go back and forth.
Mistakes to avoid
- Indians flying without PAR. Airlines in the UAE check for the notification slip.
- Paying a website for PAR. The official registration is free and instant.
- Renewing your passport after registering. The old PAR no longer works; register again.
- Applying for a visit visa two weeks before travel. Allow about four weeks for processing.
- Assuming Hong Kong entry covers Shenzhen. Mainland China is a separate border.
Questions people ask
Do Indian residents of the UAE need a visa for Hong Kong?
Not for visits of up to 14 days, but they must complete the free online pre-arrival registration first.
Do Pakistani residents of the UAE need a visa for Hong Kong?
Yes. Apply online to the Hong Kong Immigration Department or through the Chinese mission in the UAE. Allow about four weeks.
Do Filipinos need a visa for Hong Kong?
No, for visits of up to 14 days.
How long can Emirati citizens stay in Hong Kong?
Up to 30 days visa-free.
Does Hong Kong PAR cost anything?
No. It is free, the result is instant, and it is valid for 6 months of multiple visits.
Related guides
- China visa from Dubai
- Singapore visa for UAE residents
- Japan visa from Dubai
- Vietnam visa for UAE residents
Sources
- Hong Kong Immigration Department — Visit visa / entry permit requirements: immd.gov.hk
- Hong Kong Immigration Department — Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals: immd.gov.hk
- Hong Kong Immigration Department — Visit/transit visa applications: immd.gov.hk
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 19 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.