This week I’d like to remind our readers of the Automated Visitor e-Channel Program in Hong Kong which allows nationals of certain countries to quickly register and then use the e-channel for immigration on future arrivals.
These automated entry/exit channels can make a huge difference as the lines at Hong Kong International Airport and the Macau Ferry Terminals can be very long at times.
The system has been in place for quite some time now (actually John wrote an article about it in 2013 – see here) but the qualification and enrollment criteria change every now and then.
Hong Kong Automated Visitor e-Channel (Most Frequent Fliers Qualify)
Previously it required three entries into Hong Kong within the last 12 months or being a member of frequent flyer program participating in the eChannel program. This has now been apparently been relaxed, and the Frequent Visitor Card program, which previously served as the basis for eChannel enrolment is no longer in operation.
You can find more information on the Hong Kong Airport’s website (access here).
All eligible frequent visitors can now enjoy the e-Channel service at Hong Kong International Airport for a faster and more convenient immigration clearance.
Please visit the enrolment office at the Arrivals Hall to submit your application to Hong Kong Immigration Department directly. The enrolment process is simple and applicants will be informed of the enrolment result instantly. For details, please click here for the Immigration Department website or email them at fv_echannel@immd.gov.hk.
The Frequent Visitor Card programme is no longer in operation. Please enrol for the e-Channel service with the Immigration Department enrolment office for a speedy immigration clearance during your next journey.
The enrolment office is located BEHIND the regular immigration counters, and it’s important to ask one of the officers beforehand which one is currently open because there are two sections of the immigration area, and if you go through the wrong one, you can’t go back to visit the enrolment office:
Further details concerning eligibility criteria are provided by the Hong Kong Immigration Department:
A passenger is eligible to enrol for the e-Channel service if fulfilling the following criteria:
Note:
Holders of passports of the following countries shall enrol for the e-Channel service in order to enjoy the e-Channel service under the arrangement of the use of automated immigration clearance service on a reciprocal basis. Please click the country name below for details.
Republic of Korea
Republic of Singapore
Federal Republic of Germany
Australia
Kingdom of Thailand
The Immigration Department reserves the right to refuse any application for enrolment notwithstanding that the applicant concerned fulfils the above criteria.
An eligible passenger can enrol for the e-Channel service free of charge at e-Channel Enrolment Offices located at the Immigration Headquarters and the Hong Kong International Airport.
Since I’m already a member of this program for the past 8 years, all I had to do last week was to visit the enrolment office again and update the passport as my previous one that was registered had lapsed during the pandemic.
Two weeks ago I arrived on a Cathay Pacific flight from Tokyo, and only one of the two enrolment offices was open (east).You could also register at the immigration department in the city, located in Wan Chai.
The opening hours are as follows:
The passport was scanned, a new picture was taken and I signed the enrolment document – all done within two minutes.
Unfortunately, they now don’t assign a barcode sticker anymore that just required a code scan on the exterior passport cover which was very convenient, but new registrations require the entire passport data page to be scanned. For this purpose, you have to press it flat on the scanner which really isn’t great for passports but well, no choice here.
All nationals (restrictions are not apparent) are eligible for the eChannel registration, but some are based on participation on a reciprocal basis between Hong Kong and their home country:
Australian, German, and Korean nationals are not required to fulfill any secondary criteria such as being a member of a frequent flyer program or having three entries within the last 12 months. This is apparently still required for Thai and Singapore nationals.
Australian Business Traveller has previously compiled a list of participating airlines (read more here):
This list is a few years old and in the meanwhile there might have been changes / additions to this list (check with them through the email above if you want to be certain), but in general, it’s very easy to fulfill this requirement as in many cases it doesn’t stipulate that you must be a status customer, just a regular member who can present a membership card is enough.
A few airlines such as ANA and Japan Airlines still do send out physical membership cards for their new members who enroll online. Maybe a printed card would suffice in case your airline of choice won’t send you one?
All other nationalities are subject to the same rule so the best is to have your membership credentials ready when going to the enrollment office.
Conclusion
This eChannel system has saved me hours over the years, and I wish more countries had such uncomplicated mechanisms in place to enroll for automated immigration. Pre-pandemic I used to visit Hong Kong almost monthly and this will probably pick up again in the coming months as I’m still quite fond of the city.
Similar programs in other countries are still quite restrictive and limited to U.S Passport holders who have to be simultaneous Global Entry participants (like Taiwan, and even then it’s pretty expensive). Hong Kong’s signup process is very easy and most of all it’s free.
I was a bit concerned that Hong Kong would do away with this system since China has more and more influence on the security apparatus there, but until now, the scheme is still in place, and all the immigration officers were friendly and in a cheerful mood (at least when I arrived last time).
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