New e-Visa arrangement officially launched in Hong Kong

Starting from 28 December 2021, the Hong Kong Immigration Department has implemented the “e-Visa” arrangement.

This new arrangement has been initially open to foreign domestic workers and non-local graduates, as well as individuals enrolling in the « Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents ». The three visa groups collectively account for around 80% of all applications, according to the Department. It also applies to all applications regarding extension of stay.

All visas are expected to be digitised by the second half of 2022, with eligible individuals able to apply, collect and pay for them online. Applicants will have the option to submit forms on the department’s website or mobile application, as well as the GovHK website.

This new e-visa is supposed to be more convenient and provide an ease-of-use application process. There is no need to complete online forms in one sitting: the new system stores all the information for up to two weeks, during which applicants can return later to complete and submit.

While applicants can still choose to mail in their application forms, visas will be issued as PDF documents and sent to the applicant’s provided email address, replacing the existing label stickers for passports.

The new document will look similar to its physical predecessor but will include an encrypted QR code that can only be read by the department’s app.

Visa-holders and their employers can use the app’s internal camera function to scan the code and retrieve their information.

According to the Hong Kong Immigration Department, digitising the process would reduce human contact and address potential mail service delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

While applicants may save time with the new arrangements, Immigration Department processing times will remain unchanged (normally 4-6 weeks from the date of submission). Supporting documents required for each submission and application costs will also remain the same (HK$ 230).

The best option to facilitate the visa application process with the Hong Kong Immigration Department is to seek advice from immigration experts. Orbis takes the hassle out of the process by operating as your intermediary with the local authorities, guiding you throughout the course of your application with case-by-case advice. Please do not hesitate to contact our team at contact@orbis alliance.com to help you in this regard.