COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Hong Kong SAR China (14 July Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter the country.

• Travellers who have visited the extremely high-risk or Group A1 countries for more than two hours within the past 21 days will be denied entry to Hong Kong.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Travellers who have visited the extremely high-risk or Group A1 countries for more than two hours within the past 21 days will be denied entry to Hong Kong.

• Non-Hong Kong residents will be denied entry to Hong Kong if they have stayed in Taiwan, any Group A2, B or C specified places on the day of arrival at Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day.

• Non-Hong Kong residents will be allowed entry to Hong Kong if they have only stayed in any Group D specified place or China (including the Mainland and Macao) on the day of arrival at Hong Kong and during the 14 days before that day.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Travellers are allowed to transit through Hong Kong.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes

• All travellers entering Hong Kong via the Hong Kong International Airport, including Hong Kong residents, will have a mandatory test for COVID-19 on arrival. If the test results are negative, the traveller will be allowed to proceed to continue the compulsory quarantine until completion. If the results are positive, the travellers will be transferred to a hospital for isolation and treatment.

• Travellers will also need to undertake additional COVID-19 tests during quarantine.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes

• Certificates for COVID-19 tests obtained outside the country are accepted. The test must be a nucleic acid test, and the report must be written in English or Chinese.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• Hong Kong authorities have divided countries into Group A1 (extremely high-risk), Group A2 (very high-risk), Group B (high-risk), Group C (medium-risk) and Group D (low-risk). The categories of the countries can be found here.

• Any traveller arriving in Hong Kong who, in the previous 21 days, has been in an extremely high-risk (A1), very high-risk (A2), or high-risk country (B) or in Taiwan in the previous 14 days must provide a negative nucleic acid test certificate for COVID-19 issued within 72 hours prior to travel.

• Travellers who have only stayed in Group C (medium-risk) and Group D (low-risk) countries in the 21 days prior to travel to Hong Kong are not required to provide a test certificate.

Note: The Government specifies that the relevant test must be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid test. Results of tests conducted using other testing platforms (e.g. reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification, RT-LAMP) cannot be considered to have fulfilled the relevant specified boarding requirement.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• Travellers arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport will need to provide confirmation of a hotel room reservation in Hong Kong on the day of arrival. Details can be found here. A list of certified hotels accepting arriving travellers is available here.

• Inbound travellers from mainland China and Macau are required to enter quarantine at the designated home, hotel, or other accommodation for a period of 14 days.

• Hong Kong residents returning to the territory from certain regions of China or Macao will be exempt from undergoing quarantine under Return 2hk Scheme as long as they test negative for COVID-19 and register with the Hong Kong government in advance.

• Travellers permitted from Group A1 (extremely high-risk) countries and travellers who have stayed in Group A2 (very high-risk), countries in the 21 days prior to travel to Hong Kong must quarantine for 21 days in a designated hotel. Such travellers will also need to self-monitor their health for seven days post hotel quarantine.

• Travellers who have stayed in Taiwan, Group B and Group C countries in the 14 days prior to travel to Hong Kong must quarantine for 21 days in a designated hotel if they are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Such travellers will also need to self-monitor their health for seven days post hotel quarantine.

• Travellers who have only stayed in Group D (low-risk) in the 14 days prior to travel to Hong Kong, will have to undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days in a designated quarantine hotel and self-monitor their health for the subsequent 7 days.

• The Hong Kong government has introduced the “vaccine bubble” scheme under which fully vaccinated travellers arriving from China, Group B, C and D countries, will have a shortened quarantine requirement. Details on the same are listed below:

• Fully vaccinated travellers who have stayed in Group D (low-risk) countries, will be required to enter a compulsory 7-day quarantine in designated quarantine hotels. Such travellers will subsequently be required to self-monitor their health for seven days and undergo compulsory testing on the 12th day of their arrival in Hong Kong.

• Fully vaccinated travellers who have stayed in Taiwan, Group C (Medium-risk) and Group B (High-risk) countries, will be required to enter a compulsory 14-day quarantine in designated quarantine hotels. Such travellers will subsequently be required to self-monitor their health for seven days and undergo compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th day of their arrival in Hong Kong.

• Fully vaccinated travellers arriving from China (the Mainland and Macao) not returning under the Return2hk Scheme, will be required to enter a 7-day quarantine, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period and a test on the 12th day of arrival. This is applicable to travellers arriving in Hong Kong via land boundary control points or the airport.

• Quarantine, and testing arrangements will remain unchanged for travellers arriving from Group A1 (extremely high-risk) and Group A2 (very high-risk) countries. The guide on the entry procedures can be accessed here.

• Fully vaccinated means the suggested dosage has been administered in accordance with the relevant guidelines of a COVID-19 vaccination course at least 14 days prior to arrival at Hong Kong. Travellers who have recovered from previous COVID-19 infection, will be required to receive one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to be considered as fully vaccinated. The list of recognized vaccines can be accessed here.

• Travellers arriving at Hong Kong who have only stayed in countries in Group B, Group C specified places or Taiwan on the day of arrival or the 14 days before that day will be subject to a shortened compulsory quarantine period of seven days at designated quarantine hotels if they have been fully vaccinated AND obtained positive result proof of a recognized serology antibody test. Such travellers will have to undergo two nucleic acid tests during the quarantine period, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period as well as compulsory testing on the 12th, 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong.

• Travellers will undergo a certain number of COVID-19 tests during quarantine. Details can be found in this link

• Based on the above restrictions, travellers who are not exempted from quarantine under the Return 2hk Scheme must be prepared to enter quarantine for a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 21 days, unless they test positive.

Is vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not required for entry into the country. However, the relevant vaccinated traveller should provide the following documentary proof of vaccination:

• The vaccination record in English or Chinese issued by a healthcare institution or a relevant authority of the government of the place where the vaccine was administered, bearing the name of the relevant vaccinated traveller identical to that in his/her valid travel document

• proof that the vaccinated traveller received doses of COVID-19 vaccine and the dates on which the doses was/were administered; and

• the name of the vaccine administered; and if the vaccination record is not in English or Chinese or does not contain all of the above information, a written confirmation in English or Chinese issued by the healthcare institution or relevant authority of the government of the place where the vaccine was administered, bearing the name of the relevant vaccinated traveller identical to that in his/her valid travel document and setting out all of the above information. The said written confirmation should be presented together with the vaccination record.

Insurance required?

• No

• Proof of insurance coverage for COVID-19 expenses is not required to enter the country.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Anyone entering the country must complete the Health & Quarantine Information Declaration Form.

• On submission of the form, the system will generate a QR code that must be saved and presented to the border control point staff upon entering Hong Kong. The QR code is valid for 48 hours for arrival via Hong Kong International Airport (For arrival via land control points, the QR code is valid for 24 hours).

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• Stay Home Safe App can be downloaded here.

• A COVID-19 tracking mobile app can be downloaded here.

• For the latest COVID-19 information authorities recommended GovHK Notifications Mobile Application which can be found in the App Store and Google Play.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has resumed commercial flights with limited flight options.

• At HKIA all passengers are required to wear face masks in the passenger-accessible areas of the airport, including at SkyPier and on the Automated People Mover and Apron Passengers Vehicles.

• Authorities have suspended flights from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines and the UK.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• Border crossings with mainland China remain closed except Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. All passengers wanting to board a shuttle bus to cross the bridge departing from Hong Kong to Macau must present a certificate for a negative COVID-19 test performed within seven days of their departure.

• The special ferry service between Taipa Ferry Terminal in Macau and Hong Kong International Airport has stopped.

• All ferry crossings between Hong Kong and mainland China are currently suspended except for service from Shenzhen Shekou Port to Hong Kong International Airport.

• Kai Tak Cruise and Ocean Terminals are also closed to passengers indefinitely.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• Currently, no curfew is in place. However, authorities may impose a curfew or lockdown if COVID-19 local transmission is reported.

• Authorities have extended current social distancing measures until 21 July.

Social restrictions

• Moderate

• Public gatherings are limited to only four people.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Currently, no internal travel restrictions are in place.

• Face masks are mandatory on public transportation.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• All essential and some non-essential businesses are allowed to operate.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Accommodations are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Regulations regarding operating hours and capacity limits vary in accordance with the vaccination status of the staff of the concerned establishment. Additional details may be found here

• The use of the LeaveHomeSafe app will continue on all premises.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Bars and cafes are allowed to operate.

• Regulations regarding operating hours and capacity limits vary in accordance with the vaccination status of the staff of the concerned establishment. Additional details may be found here.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Public beaches have reopened.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes

• Personal care services are open with some restrictions, details can be found in this link.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Religious gatherings in temples, churches, and monasteries are allowed with limited occupancy and adherence to required health measures.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Face masks are mandatory in all public places.

Other

• Relaxation on the number of people allowed at events and gatherings will apply if the participants are vaccinated.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practise social distancing, maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.