Answer to One China Travel Question
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Q: I want to visit Hongkong only for six to seven days. I am a resident of pakistan. Do i need transit visa or any kind of visa?
| | A: Citizens of Pakistan need to have visa to visit Hong Kong unless they are holders of diplomatic or official passport. In the latter case, the Pakistani citizens can visit Hong Kong for up to 14 days without visa. If you are not a holder of Pakistani diplomatic or official passport and are traveling to Hong Kong as a private citizen, you need to have visa. The visa rule seems to apply to transit passengers too, namely those who just stop over in Hong Kong and will stay on the airside during the stay at the airport. In any event, since you're going to stay in Hong Kong for about a week, you're not just transiting through Hong Kong but visiting Hong Kong. You can apply for your visa at the Chinese diplomatic or consular station close to you. You can also apply for your visa by sending mail to the Hong Kong immigration department. Also be aware of the fact that Mainland China and Hong Kong have different visa requirements. If you want to make a trip to mainalnd China during your stay in Hong Kong, you need to apply for a visa to do so. It used to be that foreign visitors can apply for their visa to visit mainland China while they're in Hong Kong, but it seems that the Chinese government has tightened control over the mainland China visa application process (due to the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing), and foreign citizens should apply for their visa to visit mainland China in their home country.
In any event, double-check with Chinese embassy or consulate to make sure you are properly prepared for your trip to Hong Kong before you set out.
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