Privacy Policy
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ('the Government') is concerned to ensure that all personal data submitted through GovHK are handled in strict adherence to the relevant provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PD(P)O).
Collection of Information
This Government will record the visits to GovHK by using cookies and page tagging without collecting any personal identifiable information of users.
Cookies
A cookie is a small amount of data created in a computer when a person visits a website on the computer. It often includes an anonymous unique identifier. A cookie can be used to identify a computer. It, however, is not used to collect any personal information. In other words, it does not have the function of identifying an individual user of the website.
Cookies are used by the Government to collect statistics about the number of visits of users to GovHK and the users' preference of websites and online services offered on GovHK.
You may choose to accept or reject cookies. If you reject the cookies, you will not be able to use some of the functions of GovHK, such as saving your preferences in using the GovHK and accessing some online services on GovHK.
Page tagging
Javascript and pixel tags are used to collect statistics on customer usage patterns of GovHK and Government online services offered on GovHK; and for tracking the performance of our online advertisements. A pixel tag is a transparent image placed on certain webpages to collect data on user activities. The collected data are aggregated and analysed for measuring the effectiveness, improving the usability of GovHK and the services / online advertisements provided on GovHK. No personal or identifiable information about a visitor would be collected.
You may disable JavaScript on your computer. Disabling JavaScript should not affect your access to GovHK, but you will not be able to use some of the GovHK functions, such as changing text size and accessing Government online services offered through GovHK.
Provision of Personal Data
For different purposes and at different times you may be invited to provide personal data to the Government through GovHK on a voluntary basis. Personal information may include name, telephone number, mailing address or e-mail address. The Government will specify the collection purpose and intended usage of your data when it invites you to provide such information and advise you how you may request access to or correction of the personal data provided. Please refer to Statement of Purpose for details.
Unless permitted or required by law, the Government will not disclose your personal data to any third parties without your prior consent.
GovHK uses SSL protocol to encrypt data during network transmission to protect your personal data. All personal data you provide to the Government via GovHK are secured, and access to them is restricted to authorised personnel only.
Search Service
Search service on GovHK is provided by an independent contractor of the Government. We are advised by the independent contractor that it does not collect personal identifiable information while serving search results through GovHK. The independent contractor will share the anonymous data it collects through the search service with the Government for compiling traffic analysis on government websites. The Government will not match the data obtained from any such search activity with any personal data possibly held by the Government.
Disclaimer for GovHK
Unless provided otherwise in this Disclaimer, the information on GovHK is provided to you on an "AS IS" basis without any express or implied warranty of any kind and is provided for a general, indicative purpose only. In particular, the Government does not make any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, reliability, security, timeliness or freedom from computer virus in relation to such contents. The Government will not be liable for any errors in, omissions from, or misstatements or misrepresentations (whether express or implied) concerning any such information, and will not have or accept any liability, obligation or responsibility whatsoever for any loss, destruction or damage (including without limitation consequential loss, destruction or damage) however arising from or in respect of any use or misuse of or reliance on the information delivered on GovHK or inability to use GovHK.
The Government will not have or accept any liability, obligation or responsibility whatsoever for any loss, destruction or damage (including without limitation consequential loss, destruction or damage) however arising from or in respect of any use or misuse of or reliance on the Bureaux / Departments' electronic service delivered through GovHK.
GovHK may contain materials contributed by third parties. To facilitate access to information provided by or via third parties, GovHK may provide or assist in providing links to external websites through its webpages. The Government states that it has not approved or endorsed the materials contributed by third parties on GovHK or any external websites linked to GovHK. The provision of any such materials or links to external websites shall not constitute any form of co-operation or affiliation with the Government of any such third parties or external websites. Provision of, or assistance in providing, materials contributed by third parties on GovHK or links to external websites gives rise to no statement, representation or warranty, express or implied, that the Government agrees or does not disagree with the contents of any such materials or external websites and the Government will not have or accept any liability, obligation or responsibility whatsoever for any loss, destruction or damage (including without limitation consequential loss, destruction or damage) however arising from or in respect of any use or misuse of or reliance on the contents of any such materials or external websites delivered on or via GovHK or inability to use any of them.
The Government is not responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever arising out of or in connection with any information on GovHK. The Government reserves the right to omit, suspend or edit all information compiled by the Government on GovHK at any time in its sole discretion without giving any reason or prior notice. You are responsible for making your own assessment of all information contained on GovHK and shall verify such information by making reference, for example, to original publications and obtaining independent advice before acting upon it.
By accessing GovHK (www.gov.hk) or any of its webpages, you unconditionally agree to the terms of this Disclaimer and as they may be modified and/or supplemented from time to time by the Government without prior notice to you. Please check this webpage regularly for any modifications and/or supplements which may be made.
Guidance Notes on Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals
1. These guidance notes aim at providing information to nationals of the Republic of India (Indian nationals) who wish to apply for pre-arrival registration through the online “Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals” (the online service). These are guidelines only and the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) may revise the information according to the prevailing circumstances without prior notice. Please contact the Immigration Department for up-to-date information on the online service.
Eligibility
2. Indian nationals must apply for and successfully complete pre-arrival registration online before they can visit or transit the HKSAR visa-free (if seeking to enter the HKSAR during transit). Pre-arrival registration is not required for Indian nationals in direct transit by air and not leaving the airport transit area. An Indian national can make use of the online service to apply for pre-arrival registration free of charge if he/she:
(a) holds an Indian passport valid for at least six months; and
(b) intends to visit or transit (except in direct transit by air and not leaving the airport transit area) the HKSAR for a stay not exceeding 14 days.
Pre-arrival registration is not applicable to Indian nationals who have the right of abode or the right to land in the HKSAR, are on unconditional stay in the HKSAR or have a valid permission to remain in the HKSAR for employment, study or residence.
3. Subject to normal immigration requirements being met, the following categories of Indian nationals may visit the HKSAR without pre-arrival registration:
(a) holders of a valid Indian diplomatic or official passport;
(b) holders of United Nations Laissez Passer coming to the HKSAR or transiting the HKSAR to/from a third place for official United Nations business;
(c) those who have successfully enrolled for e-Channel service for frequent visitors
(NOTE: Please visit this webpage www.gov.hk/en/apps/immdparsenq.htm for online enquiry of the validity of the enrolment for e-Channel service for frequent visitors and printing of the “Record of enrolment for e-Channel service for frequent visitors”.
Before boarding a conveyance (a ship, aircraft, vehicle or any other means whatsoever of travel or transport) bound for the HKSAR, an enrolee may present the “Record of enrolment for e-Channel service for frequent visitors” together with the specific and valid Indian passport which he/she has used for the enrolment to transport operators as proof of valid enrolment for e-Channel service for frequent visitors. Upon the expiry of the validity of the enrolment for e-Channel service for frequent visitors, or if the passport that is linked to the enrolment expires or becomes invalid for any reason, an enrolee’s eligibility for e-Channel service for frequent visitors will lapse immediately. In such circumstances, he/she must apply for and successfully complete pre-arrival registration before visiting the HKSAR again.);
(d) holders of a valid HKSAR Travel Pass; and
(e) those who have obtained a valid entry visa for the HKSAR.
Indian nationals who are a member of operating aircrew or operating seacrew on board vessels, or a contract seaman may also come to the HKSAR without pre-arrival registration, subject to normal immigration requirements being met.
4. An Indian national must apply to the Immigration Department for an appropriate visa if he/she:
(a) intends to visit the HKSAR for a stay exceeding 14 days; or
(b) intends to come to the HKSAR for a purpose other than visit (e.g. employment, study, or take up residence in the HKSAR).
General procedures
5. The registrant should visit the designated GovHK website for pre-arrival registration. The registrant must truthfully enter the correct information. The information the registrant provides in the pre-arrival registration needs to be exactly the same as it appears in his/her Indian passport. After inputting the required information, the computer system will process the registration automatically. The registration result will be made known to the registrant instantly.
6. The successful registrant must print the “Notification Slip for Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals” (the notification slip) generated by the computer system on a sheet of blank A4 white paper.
7. The notification slip must be signed. The registrant must check the inputted data on the notification slip to confirm it is correct and exactly the same as it appears on the specific Indian passport that he/she has used to apply for pre-arrival registration successfully before signing the slip. The notification slip must be used in conjunction with the specific Indian passport that is linked to the pre-arrival registration. In case the registrant renews or replaces his/her Indian passport or changes his/her personal particulars after pre-arrival registration, the registrant must re-apply on the strength of the new passport or personal particulars. For a registrant who is under 16 years of age, either his/her parent or legal guardian must check the inputted data and sign the slip.
8. In case the pre-arrival registration cannot be completed, an Indian national must apply to the Immigration Department for an entry visa if he/she intends to visit the HKSAR. Such applications must be submitted directly to the Immigration Department. Chinese diplomatic and consular missions will not accept visit visa applications from Indian nationals.
Validity of registration
9. A pre-arrival registration is valid for six months. Subject to meeting normal immigration requirements, a registrant may, during the validity of the pre-arrival registration, use a valid notification slip together with the specific and valid Indian passport linked to the successful pre-arrival registration to make multiple visits to the HKSAR visa-free. On each visit, a registrant may stay in the HKSAR for up to 14 days.
10. The registrant will be allowed to make a new registration only when the current registration has expired.
Registration enquiry
11. The registrant may check the validity of the registration through the “Pre-arrival Registration Validity Enquiry” function (www.gov.hk/en/apps/immdparsenq.htm) of the online service. Alternatively, the registrant may make use of the Hong Kong Immigration Department Mobile App to conduct the validity check.
12. In case the notification slip is lost, defaced, damaged or not printed on a sheet of blank A4 white paper, the registrant is required to reprint the notification slip through the “View/Print Registration Notification Slip” function of the online service on his/her own. To use this function, the registrant is required to input the exact answer to the Identification Question selected during the registration process, failing which he/she will not be able to view or reprint the notification slip. The answer to the Identification Question CANNOT be reset. The registrant may save a copy of the notification slip in a secure location for future reference.
Boarding a conveyance bound for the HKSAR and arrival immigration clearance
13. Before boarding a conveyance (a ship, aircraft, vehicle or any other means whatsoever of travel or transport) bound for the HKSAR, transport operators will check whether the registrant has a valid travel document. In this connection, before boarding and upon arrival immigration clearance in the HKSAR, the registrant must hold the notification slip, and the same and valid Indian passport that he/she has used to successfully apply for pre-arrival registration. Failure to present the said two documents will lead to refusal of his/her boarding a conveyance bound for the HKSAR and refusal of entry to the HKSAR upon arrival.
14. The issue of the notification slip is not a guarantee of the registrant’s entry to the HKSAR. The registrant is still subject to immigration control under the provisions of the Immigration Ordinance, Chapter 115, Laws of Hong Kong. In general, a person who intends to enter the HKSAR for visit must fulfil normal immigration requirements (such as holding a valid travel document with adequate returnability to his/her country of residence or citizenship; raise no security or criminal concerns to the HKSAR; have no likelihood of becoming a burden on the HKSAR, etc.), have a bona fide purpose of visit, have adequate funds to cover the duration of his/her stay without working and hold onward or return tickets (unless in transit to the Mainland of China or the Macao Special Administrative Region), before entry to the HKSAR may be granted.
15. If the registrant is granted permission to land in the HKSAR, he/she will be issued with a landing slip containing his/her name, Indian passport number and the conditions and limit of stay in the HKSAR.
16. A person admitted as a visitor in the HKSAR is not allowed to take any employment, whether paid or unpaid; establish or join in any business; or become a student at a school, university or other educational institution in the HKSAR.
Warning
17. When applying for pre-arrival registration, the registrant must truthfully enter the correct information. The information the registrant provides in the pre-arrival registration needs to be exactly the same as it appears in his/her passport and he/she must use the same passport that is linked to it when visiting the HKSAR.Failure to do so will render his/her pre-arrival registration invalid. An invalid pre-arrival registration will lead to refusal of the registrant’s boarding of a conveyance (a ship, aircraft, vehicle or any other means whatsoever of travel or transport) bound for the HKSAR and refusal of entry to the HKSAR upon arrival.
18. Any person who knowingly and wilfully makes a statement or gives information which he/she knows to be false or does not believe to be true may be liable for prosecution under the Laws of Hong Kong.
Statement of purpose
Purpose of collection
19. The personal data furnished by the registrant for pre-arrival registration will be used by the Immigration Department for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to process the pre-arrival registration;
(b) to administer/enforce relevant provisions of the Immigration Ordinance, Chapter 115, and the Immigration Service Ordinance, Chapter 331, Laws of Hong Kong, and to assist in the enforcement of any other Ordinances and Regulations by other government bureaux and departments of the HKSAR through carrying out immigration control duties;
(c) in carrying out immigration control duties, to transfer or disclose to third parties, such as transport operators, for the purposes of verifying the authenticity and validity of the notification slip;
(d) for statistics and research purposes on the condition that the resulting statistics or results of the research will not be made available in a form which will identify the data subjects or any of them; and
(e) any other legitimate purposes as may be required, authorised or permitted by law.
20. For the purposes of allowing third parties (such as transport operators) to verify the authenticity and validity of the notification slip, the Immigration Department may transfer the registrant’s personal data (including name, date of birth, place of issue of passport, and date of expiry of passport) outside the HKSAR where there may not be in place data protection laws which are substantially similar to, or serve the same purposes as, the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, Chapter 486, Laws of Hong Kong. That means the registrant’s personal data may not be protected to the same or similar level in the HKSAR.
21. The provision of personal data in the process of pre-arrival registration is voluntary. If the registrant does not provide sufficient information, the Immigration Department may not be able to process the registration, conduct the record search or positively identify the record.
Classes of transferees
22. The personal data provided in the process of pre-arrival registration may be disclosed to government bureaux, departments and other organisations for the purposes mentioned in paragraphs 19 and 20.
Access to personal data
23. The registrant has a right to request access to and correction of his/her personal data as provided for in sections 18 and 22 and Principle 6 of Schedule 1 of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, Chapter 486, Laws of Hong Kong. The registrant’s right of access includes the right to obtain a copy of his/her personal data provided in the registration subject to payment of a fee.
24. Enquiries concerning the personal data collected by means of the pre-arrival registration, including application for access and correction, should be addressed to: Chief Immigration Officer Employment and Visit Visas Section
24th floor, 7 Gloucester RoadWan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel. No.: (852) 2294 2299 Fax No.: (852) 2136 6334
