Transit visa for separate tickets in the same itinerary

Question

Hi,

I have an upcoming HKT-HKG-HAN flight on Hong Kong Express Airways. However, they don't have flythrough for this route, so basically I have two separate booking numbers for the two legs. I will not have any checked luggage. I'm wondering if I need to apply for the transit visa and how long that would take.

I'm a Vietnamese passport holder, and I normally would need a visa to visit Hong Kong.

Edited: 1 year ago

Answer

For your situation, since you are holding a Vietnamese passport and normally require a visa to enter Hong Kong, the rules for transit depend on whether you stay airside or need to pass through immigration.

Key points to consider:

Separate bookings: Because your flights are on separate booking numbers, you will not be eligible for any automatic through-check of luggage or fly-through privileges. Even if you have no checked baggage, you will have to enter Hong Kong officially to catch your connecting flight.
Visa requirements: Vietnamese passport holders typically need a visa to enter Hong Kong. Since you will need to pass through immigration due to separate tickets, a transit without a visa (TWOV) is not generally applicable unless you are from a country eligible for visa-free entry, which Vietnam is not.
Transit visa: You would therefore need to apply for a Hong Kong visa, even for a short layover, because you are entering Hong Kong officially to transfer between flights.

Additional considerations:

The processing time for a Hong Kong visa for Vietnamese passport holders usually ranges from a few working days to about a week if you apply via the Hong Kong Immigration Department or a visa center. Expedited service may be available in certain locations.
If your layover is short and you cannot secure a visa in advance, consider rebooking both legs on a single ticket or through an airline that allows fly-through so that you remain airside and do not need to pass through immigration.
Ensure that your onward flight departure gate and airline policies allow boarding from the transit area, otherwise immigration entry is unavoidable.

Summary:

Because you have separate tickets and Vietnamese passport holders need a visa to enter Hong Kong, you will have to apply for a transit visa to catch your connecting flight. Processing time may vary but typically requires several days, so plan ahead to avoid missing your connection. Alternatively, consider booking a single itinerary with fly-through to remain airside and avoid the need for a visa.

Transit visa for separate tickets in the same itinerary

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