Hong Kong, a former British colony that is now part of China, is often described as “the place where East meets West.” Englad took control of Hong Kong from  China during the first Opium War in 1841. It was finally returned to Chinese control in 1997.

Today, the island is a major financial hub and tourist attraction. Tourists visit Hong Kong for shopping, dining and to see impressive attractions like the Giant Buddha of Po Lin Monastery.

Hong Kong is part of China, but do you need a Chinese visa to visit it?  Not necessarily. If you are just visiting Hong Kong as a tourist and will be staying less than 90 days, all you need to enter is your US passport, enough money to support yourself while you are there, and a return ticket.

Even though you don’t need a visa, there are few important things you should be aware of before you book your flight. First, check the expiration date on your passport. Hong Kong only requires that it be valid for one month past your visit.  However,  since many of the surrounding countries require you have at least 6 months left on your passport to enter, the US Department of State recommends renewing your passport if it expires in less than 6 month.

Also, if you plan to cross over into mainland China, you will need a Chinese visa and you should apply before you leave the US. Technically, you can apply for a Chinese visa at the PRC Embassy in Hong Kong, but the Department of State website notes that travelers who do this often find themselves unable to get a visa because they lack the required documents. For example, the Chinese government requires a certified U.S. birth certificate to issue a visa for a US-born child in Hong Kong. In any case, it’s best to have all of that stuff taken care of before you leave the US, while you are still on familiar territory.

For more information on getting a Chinese tourist visa, see Chinese Tourist Visa Requirements.

RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you apply for any visas you may need for your trip to Hong Kong, including any required transit visas. We’ll research your itinerary and let you know what documents are needed, help you apply and expedite your applications.

Need a Chinese visa? Let us help you apply today!

Tags: China, Chinese visa, Hong Kong

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 at 3:17 pm and is filed under Destinations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.