ETA required
HKSAR passport holders need a UK ETA
ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025
A Hong Kong SAR passport is on the ETA national list. A People’s Republic of China passport is not — PRC holders need a visitor visa. A British National (Overseas) visa is different again: if you already have BN(O) permission to stay in the UK, you travel on that visa, not an ETA. Pick the document you will actually present at the airline desk. Cathay Pacific from HKG to Heathrow will check the matching authorisation. ETA fee £20 on GOV.UK. Macao SAR passports are also on the ETA list (we do not have a separate Macao page — use the official checker).
Hong Kong SAR travel facts
| Passport | Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Roll-out | ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025 |
| What you need | UK ETA (£20) |
| Stay | Usually up to 6 months as a visitor |
| Work | Not allowed on visit permission |
| Landside transit | ETA required if you pass UK border control |
Mistakes hksar passport holders make
- Applying for an ETA on an HKSAR passport when you will fly on a BN(O) visa in a different document.
- Using a PRC passport in the ETA app. It will not be the right route.
London notes for Hong Kong SAR arrivals
CX typically uses Heathrow T3. If you already live in the UK on BN(O), this page is not your inbound route — you already have permission. Visitors: contactless on the Tube; do not buy a visitor Oyster unless you want the souvenirs.
FAQs
- HKSAR vs BN(O) vs PRC — which UK permission?
- HKSAR passport visitors: ETA. BN(O) visa holders: travel on that visa. PRC passport: Standard Visitor visa, not ETA.
- Do children on HKSAR passports need their own ETA?
- Yes.
Other passports
Bodhixt is not affiliated with UKVI. Confirm on GOV.UK before you book. Apply via https://www.gov.uk/eta only.