COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Hong Kong SAR China (5 April Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter the country.

• Travellers who have visited the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and Ireland for more than two hours within the past 21 days may be denied entry to Hong Kong.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• All persons who are not Hong Kong residents arriving by air from any location other than mainland China, Macau, and Taiwan will be denied entry. Persons who are not Hong Kong residents arriving from mainland China, Macau, or Taiwan will be denied entry if they have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days. Spouses and minor children of Hong Kong residents are exempt from these restrictions.

• Foreigners who have visited the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and Ireland for more than two hours within the past 21 days will be denied entry to Hong Kong.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Passengers can use HKIA for transit/transfer on flights operated by different airlines under the same air ticket, provided the passengers have checked through at the original departure point with their boarding passes printed and baggage tagged through to the final destination. The layover time must not exceed 24 hours. Any traveller with symptoms of COVID-19 may be moved into a 14-day government quarantine.

• Transfer/transit services via Hong Kong to destinations in Mainland China remain unavailable.

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.

• From 9 April, travellers who have only stayed in Group D (Low-Risk) countries, which currently include Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, in the 21 days prior to travel to Hong Kong, will have to undergo compulsory testing on the 19th day of arrival.

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 high-risk countries into Group A (Extremely high-risk), Group B (Very high-risk) and Group C (Medium to high-risk). From 9 April authorities will add another group of countries that is 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, very high-risk or medium to the high-risk country must provide a negative nucleic acid test certificate for COVID-19 obtained within 72 hours prior to travel.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• Travellers coming to Hong Kong from countries other than China, Macau, and Taiwan must undergo a 21-day quarantine in a designated hotel. Travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (except for those travelling from mainland China, Macao and Taiwan) will need to provide confirmation of a hotel room reservation in Hong Kong for at least 21 days beginning on the day of arrival. A list of certified hotels accepting arriving travellers is available here.

• Inbound travellers from mainland China, Macao or Taiwan 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 Guangdong or Macao may be exempt from undergoing quarantine under Return 2bhk Scheme) as long as they test negative for COVID-19 and register with the Hong Kong government in advance.

• Travellers who have stayed outside of mainland China, Macao or Taiwan in the last 21 days before arrival must undergo mandatory 21 days quarantine at designated quarantine hotels.

• From 9 April, travellers who have only stayed in Group D (Low-Risk) countries, which currently include Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, in the 21 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 in the subsequent 7 days. Quarantine arrangements for vaccinated travellers arriving from countries deemed middle-risk, such as Japan and South Korea, will be the same as those for arrivals from low-risk countries.

• Maximum days of quarantine: 21

• Minimum days of quarantine: 14

Is vaccination required?

• No

• Vaccination is not required to enter the country

Insurance required?

• No

• Insurance 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. The inbound travel restrictions, effective since 25 March 2020, remain unchanged.

• 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.

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 Macao and Hong Kong International Airport has stopped.

• All ferry crossings between Hong Kong and mainland China are currently not in operation.

• 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 reported.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• All COVID-19 restrictions and associated social distancing measures will remain in place until 14 April.

• 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 with exceptions

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

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Accommodations are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Restaurants are allowed to operate until 22:00 and 4 people can sit together at one table.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Cafes are allowed to operate until 22:00 and 4 people can sit together at one table.

• Bars or pubs are closed.

• Authorities have suspended live performance and dancing on catering premises, including bars and nightclubs.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

-Yes

• Public beaches have reopened.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes with exceptions

• Hair salons are allowed to operate. However, beauty parlours, are temporarily closed until further notice

Places of worship open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Religious gatherings in temples, churches, and monasteries are allowed with limited occupancy and while adhering to required distancing hygiene measures.

Masks required in public?

• Yes with exceptions

• Face masks are mandatory in all public places.

Other

• All catering premises can only provide dine-in services between 05:00 and 17:00.

• A maximum of 20 people can participate in any one banquet at the same time.

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 practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.