Guangzhou-Hong Kong on 3-day transit
Flying in/out of Guangzhou in December (travelling onto London). Had planned 3 nights in Hong Kong on outbound trip & 3 nights in Guangzhou on way back.
Might arriving into China & leaving immediately to visit Hong Kong present an issue?
Do we need visa to visit Hong Kong for 3 nights? (NZ & Irish passports)
Wasn’t able to get definitive response on ChatGPT, so banking on you humans!
Thanks in advance
For travelers flying into Guangzhou and planning to visit Hong Kong immediately on a short 3-day trip, it’s important to understand the separate entry requirements for Mainland China and Hong Kong.
First, your arrival in Guangzhou is considered entry into Mainland China. Depending on your nationality, a visa may be required for entering Mainland China. However, if your plan is to transit directly to Hong Kong without spending time in Mainland China, the focus shifts to Hong Kong’s entry requirements.
Hong Kong maintains a separate immigration system from Mainland China. For short visits, many nationalities enjoy visa-free entry for tourism or business:
- New Zealand passport holders: Typically receive a visa-free entry to Hong Kong for up to 90 days.
- Irish passport holders: Typically receive a visa-free entry to Hong Kong for up to 90 days.
This means that as long as your stay in Hong Kong is within the permitted period, you do not need a visa for your 3-night visit.
Important considerations:
- Even if you do not plan to enter Mainland China, ensure your flight itinerary allows you to clear Hong Kong immigration directly. You cannot bypass immigration if your flight lands in Guangzhou; you will technically be in China first, so a Mainland China visa may be required if you plan to leave the airport.
- If you only transit via Guangzhou airport (stay airside, do not go through immigration), and then fly or transfer to Hong Kong via air or high-speed rail, you generally do not need a Mainland China visa, but confirm with your airline.
- Allow sufficient time for immigration and customs procedures, especially if you are transferring between airports or via high-speed rail, as Hong Kong border checks can take some time.
Summary: For a 3-night stay in Hong Kong, both NZ and Irish passport holders can enter visa-free. The key is whether you leave the airport in Guangzhou. If you intend to enter Mainland China, you will need the appropriate visa; if you remain in transit or fly directly to Hong Kong, a Mainland visa is not needed.
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