I. Applicants entitled to visa exemption

1. Philippine nationals who desire to go to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HK) for transit, tourism or business with a stay of no more than 14 days.

2. Nationals of other countries/regions entitled to visa exemption, who desire to go to HK for transit, tourism or business with a stay not exceeding the regulated visa-free period. For details, please refer to www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm.

II. Applicants who need to apply for HK visa

1. Philippine nationals who desire to go to HK for transit, tourism or business with a stay exceeding 14 days.

2. Nationals of other countries/regions entitled to visa exemption, who desire to go to HK for transit, tourism or business with a stay exceeding the regulated visa-free period.

3. Nationals of the countries/regions that are not entitled to visa exemption, who desire to go to HK for any purposes. For details, please refer to www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm.

4. Applicants who desire to go to and reside in HK as officials of consulates or international organizations.

5. All 'stateless' travel document holders.

6. All applicants who desire to go to HK for residence, study, work, training, investment or family-reunion.

III. Basic document requirements for HK visa

1. Passport/travel document with blank pages and a validity of at least 6 months.

2. One completed application form affixed with one passport-sized photo.

3. Philippine nationals who desire to stay in HK for more than 14 days, shall present an invitation letter in which the sponsor agrees to provide financial support and accommodation, and one copy of the sponsor's HK ID.

IV. Additional document requirements for HK visa

Visa applications for residence, education, training, employment and dependant purposes shall be forwarded to HK Immigration Department for assessment. For this purpose, additional documents are required correspondently as follows.

1. Residence Visa is issued to the applicants who desire to go to HK to reunite and live with their HK lineal relatives, or to the emigrated HK residents who desire to return to live in HK.

(1) To reunite and live with the HK lineal relatives, applicants are required to present the following additional documents:

a. One copy of sponsor's HK ID and sponsor's telephone number;

b. Proofs of relationship between the applicant and the sponsor, e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.

(2) To return to live in HK as an emigrated HK resident, applicants are required to present the following additional documents:

a. One copy of sponsor's HK ID and sponsor's telephone number;

b. One copy of the applicant's previous HK ID or Travel Document;

c. Documents that can prove applicant's previous residence in HK, e.g. school certificate, bankbook, tax invoice, employment certificate, etc.

2. Student Visa is issued to applicants who desire to go to HK for education purpose.

(1) To study in primary schools, high schools and universities, applicants are required to present the following additional documents:

a. Information of the HK school, including name, address and telephone number;

b. Enrollment Notice issued by the school;

c. Proofs of the applicant's education background, e.g. diploma;

d. If the applicant is under the age of 18, one of the applicant's parents should authorize the sponsor or his relative/friend to be the guardian of the applicant. A consent letter duly signed by both the guardian and one of the applicant's parents and the guardian should be produced;

e. Certificates of financial support, including evidence of the sponsor's financial standing, e.g. bank statements, saving account passbook, tax receipts and employment certificates; an undertaking that the sponsor is prepared to arrange accommodation for the applicant or the applicant will be staying with him; or evidence that a place has been provided in recognized boarding school;

(2) To attend in an advanced study, applicants are required to present the following additional documents:

a. Enrollment Notice issued by the HK school;

b. Certificates of financial standing and accommodation arrangement in HK;

c. Certificate of study period.

3. Training Visa is issued to applicants who desire to go to HK to receive professional training or other training courses. The following additional documents are required:

a. One copy of the sponsor's HK ID and the sponsor's telephone number;

b. Training contract between trainer and trainee;

c. Documents of training program in details.

4. Employment Visa is issued to applicants who desire to go to HK for investment, business operation, employment, performance, exhibition and tuition, etc, irrespective of duration.

(1) To invest in HK, applicants are required to present the following additional documents:

a. One copy of the sponsor's HK ID and the sponsor's telephone number;

b. Information of the invested business, including nature and scale of the business, paid-up capital, source of funds, and financial certificate.

c. Evidence of working experience relevant to the job;

d. A Physical Examination Certificate issued by accredited hospital.

(2) To work as professionals, applicants are required to present the following additional documents:

a. One copy of the employer's or sponsor's HK ID and the employer's or sponsor's telephone number;

b. One copy of service contract or letter of appointment with details of position, salary and welfare.

c. Proofs of academic qualification and working experience relevant to the job, e.g. diplomas, certificates and testimonials;

d. A Physical Examination Certificate issued by accredited hospital.

(3) To work as imported workers, applicants are required to present the following additional documents:

a. One copy of the employer's HK ID and the employer's telephone number;

b. One copy of the standard employment contract signed between applicant and employer;

c. Proofs of academic qualification and working experience relevant to the job, e.g. diplomas, certificates and testimonials;

d. A Physical Examination Certificate issued by accredited hospital.

(4) To work as domestic helper, applicants are required to present the following additional documents:

a. One copy of the employer's HK ID and the employer's telephone number;

b. One copy of the standard employment contract signed between applicant and employer. The contract shall be authenticated by the consulate of the applicant's country in HK.

c. Proofs of previous working experience as a domestic helper;

d. A Physical Examination Certificate issued by accredited hospital.

(5) For other employment, the following additional documents are required:

a. One copy of the sponsor's HK ID and the sponsor's telephone number;

b. Relevant employment contract or letters;

c. A Physical Examination Certificate issued by accredited hospital.

5. Dependant Visa is issued to the lineal relatives of a person who is a holder of an employment visa (except foreign domestic helpers and imported workers), or a student visa of HK. The following additional documents are required:

a. One copy of the sponsor's HK ID and the sponsor's telephone number;

b. Proofs of relationship between applicant and sponsor.

Note: In addition to the above-mentioned documents, other information/documents in support of the application may be required by the processing officer in individual cases.

V. How to apply

Applicants may submit the application to the Consular office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Philippines in person or through an authorized travel agency. Applicants may also make the application directly to HK Immigration Department.

VI. Processing time

The regular processing time is 4 working days. Express services are available for next-working-day and third-working-day release. Applications requiring HK Immigration Department assessment need more processing time.

VII. Visa fee

1600 pesos.

For express service, additional 1700 pesos or 1100 pesos will be charged respectively for the next or the third-working-day release. For applications requiring HK Immigration Department assessment, additional 1350 pesos of facsimile fee will be charged.

VIII. Contact HK Immigration Department

1. For more information about HK visa/entry permit, please visit the website of HK Immigration Department:http://www.immd.gov.hk/index.html.

2. HK Immigration Department is located at Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Tel: 00852-28241212 or 28246111, F