Hong Kong Visa for UAE Residents: Visa-Free Days by Passport, Pre-arrival Registration for Indians and the e-Visa

The short answer: Whether you need a Hong Kong visa depends on your passport, and the rules differ more than for most destinations. Emiratis get 30 days visa-free. Egyptians get 90 days and Filipinos 14 days, also visa-free. Indians get 14 days visa-free once they complete a free online Pre-arrival Registration (PAR). Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals need a visa, even to change planes at Hong Kong airport. They can apply online to Hong Kong's Immigration Department, which issues an e-Visa; allow about four weeks.

Hong Kong is about eight hours' non-stop flight from Dubai or Abu Dhabi. It is part of China but runs its own immigration system, so a Chinese visa doesn't get you into Hong Kong, and a Hong Kong entry doesn't get you into mainland China.

Hong Kong visa for UAE residents at a glance

Passport	Entry to Hong Kong (October 2026)
United Arab Emirates	Visa-free, 30 days
Egypt	Visa-free, 90 days
Philippines	Visa-free, 14 days
India	Visa-free, 14 days, after free online Pre-arrival Registration
Pakistan	Visa required, including for airport transit
Bangladesh	Visa required, including for airport transit
Sri Lanka	Visa required, including for airport transit

These are the rules for ordinary passports, from the Immigration Department's visa-free table, updated in August 2026. Your UAE residence visa doesn't change them.

Emiratis, Egyptians and Filipinos: visa-free

Holders of these passports simply fly. Emiratis can stay up to 30 days, Egyptians up to 90 days and Filipinos up to 14 days. Carry a passport with at least six months' validity to be safe, your return ticket and your hotel booking, and be ready to show you can pay for the trip. Visitors can't work or study in Hong Kong.

Indian nationals: Pre-arrival Registration

Indian passport holders can visit Hong Kong for up to 14 days without a visa, but only after completing Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) online. PAR has applied since January 2017, so it isn't new, but it still catches people who arrive without it.

• Where: through the Immigration Department's PAR page, which links to the GovHK online form
• Cost: free
• Result: usually instant
• Validity: six months, for any number of visits of up to 14 days each, on the same passport
• What to carry: your passport, valid at least six months, and the signed notification slip printed on plain white A4 paper

Registering again is needed if you renew your passport or your details change. A successful PAR doesn't guarantee entry, so carry your return ticket, hotel booking and proof of funds as well. Ignore websites that charge for PAR: the government service is free.

Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals: a visa first

Ordinary passport holders from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka need a visa for any purpose, including airside transit at Hong Kong airport. If you are flying via Hong Kong to somewhere else, check this before you book.

You can apply in three ways:

1. Online, directly to the Immigration Department, through GovHK. The visa is issued as an e-Visa, a QR code you show on your phone or on paper at the immigration counter. For most UAE residents this is the simplest route.
2. Through the Chinese mission in the UAE. The Immigration Department's guidebook says applications can be made through the nearest Chinese diplomatic or consular mission, and some missions pass them to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre. Check the current arrangement with the Chinese Consulate-General in Dubai or the Embassy in Abu Dhabi before you go.
3. Through a sponsor in Hong Kong, such as a friend or a company there, who submits the application on your behalf.

Documents

For an online application, the guidebook asks for scans of:

• Your passport bio page and a recent photo
• Proof of funds and employment, such as bank statements and a salary certificate
• Your flight itinerary
• Proof of the purpose of your trip: a tour booking or itinerary for a holiday, an invitation for a business trip, or proof of the relationship for a family visit
• Your sponsor's documents, if you have a sponsor in Hong Kong

Include your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID as well, to show where you live.

Fee and processing time

The Immigration Department says a visit visa normally takes four weeks once it has every document, and it doesn't start until the file is complete. Apply at least six weeks before you fly. The visa fee was reported to rise to HK$330 on 8 September 2025; check the amount when you apply, as fees paid through a Chinese mission can differ.

Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China are separate

Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China each run their own entry rules.

• A Chinese visa, or one of mainland China's visa-free or transit schemes, doesn't cover Hong Kong. Check Hong Kong's rules for your passport separately.
• Hong Kong entry doesn't cover mainland China. A day trip to Shenzhen or Guangzhou needs its own permission. See our China visa guide.
• Macau has its own visa-free list, which isn't the same as Hong Kong's. Check it before planning a ferry trip.

Flights from the UAE

• From Dubai: Emirates and Cathay Pacific fly non-stop to Hong Kong in about eight hours.
• From Abu Dhabi: Etihad brought back its non-stop Hong Kong flights in November 2025, several times a week.

Hong Kong is four hours ahead of the UAE. Schedules change by season, so check with the airline before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Hong Kong?

It depends on your passport. Emiratis, Egyptians and Filipinos don't. Indians don't, but must complete free Pre-arrival Registration online first. Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals need a visa, which they can apply for online.

Do Indians in Dubai need a visa for Hong Kong?

No, but they must complete Pre-arrival Registration online before they travel. It is free, usually instant, valid for six months and allows visits of up to 14 days each. Carry the printed, signed notification slip.

Do Pakistanis need a visa for Hong Kong from the UAE?

Yes, for any visit and even for airside transit at Hong Kong airport. Apply online to Hong Kong's Immigration Department, through the Chinese mission in the UAE or through a sponsor in Hong Kong, and allow about four weeks.

How long can Filipinos stay in Hong Kong without a visa?

Up to 14 days. Egyptians can stay up to 90 days and Emiratis up to 30 days, all without a visa.

Does a China visa work for Hong Kong?

No. Hong Kong runs its own immigration system, so a mainland Chinese visa or transit scheme doesn't cover it. Check Hong Kong's rules for your passport separately.

How long is the flight from Dubai to Hong Kong?

About eight hours non-stop, on Emirates or Cathay Pacific. Etihad flies non-stop from Abu Dhabi several times a week.

Planning a trip to Hong Kong

Four or five days covers Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the Peak and Lantau, with a day in Macau if your passport allows it. See our visa services for help with the paperwork, browse holiday packages, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• China visa for UAE residents
• Singapore visa for UAE residents
• Thailand visa for UAE residents
• Japan visa from Dubai

Last checked 9 October 2026 against the Hong Kong Immigration Department's visa-free table, its Pre-arrival Registration page and its guidebook for visit and transit visas, GovHK's online application page, reporting on the September 2025 fee change and airline schedules. This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current requirements with the Hong Kong Immigration Department before you apply or travel.