HELP! Visa requirements for Hong Kong!!

[Bernie P]

HELP! Visa requirements for Hong Kong!!

I have just been booked, not finalised at this stage, to go to Berlin. On the return flights, instead of going back via Bangkok, I am going through Hong Kong. Do I need a Visa for a 2 day stopover? I have looked at a couple of websites, and I am a little confused (easy to do with me at the moment...) but as I hold a UK and AU passports, one site says that if I enter on my UK one, no visa but another says I need to enter on my AU one and I need to apply...

Is there a Visa on arrival also? I depart, all thing good, on Thursday on BA10 (if it is not affected by the strike that is!)

[Gareth Forwood]

I went to HK in 2006 on my AU PP and didn't need a visa. I obtained a separate visa for a day-trip into China but nothing was required for entry into HK. You can call the Chinese consulate to confirm (which might be an idea if just for peace of mind).

[Andrew P]

Aussie don' need visa to enter Hong Kong for tourism, transit etc for 90 days

only need HK visa if intention is to take up employment or similar

http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm

also don't need one if you are from Akrotiri or Dhekelia (only a HK public servant could list that one)

[Bernie P]

Great, thanks guys!!!

It is all being booked somewhat frantically, my head is spinning!

I will now go and confirm!

[Ryan N]

I went to HK in 2006 on my AU PP and didn't need a visa. I obtained a separate visa for a day-trip into China but nothing was required for entry into HK. You can call the Chinese consulate to confirm (which might be an idea if just for peace of mind).

Can we get a visa on arrival in China or do we still need to get one prior to departing Australia? I heard you can get a Visa in Shenzhen if you cross the border from Hong Kong.

[Ash W]

I generally use the visa info link from the OneWorld web page when determining what if any visa I require to visit a particular country.

Link below.

http://www.oneworld.com/ow/airports-and-destinations/visa-and-health-information

[Bernie P]

OK, great thanks everyone...

NOW, for the sake of NOT wanting to start another thread, if ANYONE has info for the following flights rego wise, that would be great... :D

4/6: - QF301/BA10 (B744)
5/6: - AY096 (A333)
5/6: - AY911 (A319)

10/6: - AY918 (E190)
10/6: - AY067 (A343)
13/6: - QF128 (B744)

If there is info out there, fair and good... If not, then now worries... I just didn't want to start a thread for the sake of it when I can put info in here... Sorry Admins!

[Gareth Forwood]

Can we get a visa on arrival in China or do we still need to get one prior to departing Australia? I heard you can get a Visa in Shenzhen if you cross the border from Hong Kong.

Yes, Aussies can apply and pay at the border, but as I was travelling with my Colombian Bro-in-Law, he needed to apply beforehand so we just did as well.

[Robert S]

as I hold a UK and AU passports, one site says that if I enter on my UK one, no visa but another says I need to enter on my AU one and I need to apply...

Only difference between the two is that if you present your UK passport for entry, you'll be granted entry clearance for 180 days, assuming your status shown is British Citizen. If you present your Australian passport for entry, you'll be granted entry clearance for 90 days (which you can confirm via Andrew P's link). I gather both satisfy your requirements. :)

Yes, Aussies can apply and pay at the border.

I haven't tried it but have read in several places that the queues can be bad... if there's any time to organise it in advance, it is probably worth doing so. From a bit of Googling, it also appears that you'll need some RMB to pay for the visa.

[Michael Cleary]

The Visa that you can obtain at the Hong Kong-Shenzen Border is valid for the Shenzen SEZ only and a maximum of 5 days. Get caught beyond the SEZ with just that and you are in deep trouble. There are also "Group Visas" for the Day trip groups that go to Guangzhou which is outside the SEZ. Beyond that you need a normal China Visa, applied for in advance.