Applying for a Hong Kong Visa: My Experience
Getting a Hong Kong visa is quite straightforward online. I'm sharing my recent experience as a student in South Korea, applying from here. I also checked info from Malaysian friends who applied from Malaysia, and the process seems similar.
Online Application Steps
First, head to the official Hong Kong government website:
Scroll down and click on the green "ONLINE APPLICATION FOR ENTRY FOR VISIT/TRANSIT in HK" button.
Tick all the boxes, fill in the security code, and proceed.
Fill in all your personal details, date of entry, flight information, and purpose of visit.
Under "Details of Proposed Stay in HK," specify your intended entry date, the number of days you plan to stay, and select "visit" if you're going for tourism.
You can apply for Single, Double, Triple, or Multiple entry visas. The fee is the same, so I opted for a Double entry visa instead of Single.
Documents to Prepare and Upload
You'll need to upload these supporting documents:
- Recent passport-sized photo with a white background (4x6 cm)
- Valid travel documents: Upload all pages of your passport, including visas and entry/exit stamps from other countries (basically, every page except the blank ones).
- Proof of financial standing: Bank statements for the last 6 months.
- Proof of transportation: Your flight tickets and hotel bookings.
- Other supporting documents (if any): I included my Korean residence card and a student certificate from my university.
Also, prepare a cover letter with these basic points:
- Introduce yourself.
- Mention your love for travel and exploring different cultures.
- Briefly outline your itinerary in Hong Kong.
- Express your hope to receive the visa.
After completing the information and uploading the documents, you'll reach the "Declaration of Applicant" section. Choose "applicant" (self-application).
Agree to the terms, click "SIGN," and sign your name in the pop-up window. Follow the instructions and click "Submit."
The "Transaction Details" screen will appear. Screenshot or save this page for future reference.
Waiting for Confirmation
I submitted my application on December 13th and received the confirmation email on December 17th.
The VOEV - XXXX-XXX number is your application reference number. Use it to check your application status.
Visa Approval and Payment
On January 6th, I received an email with my visa and payment instructions. I applied for a Double entry visa but received a Triple entry visa!
Important: Wait until closer to your travel date before making the payment to maximize the visa validity period. I paid immediately, and the validity period was shorter than I wanted.
My Expenses for 4 Days 3 Nights
- Flights: Approximately RM 1,600
- Accommodation: Approximately RM 480
- Disneyland Ticket: Approximately RM 760
- Visa Fee: Approximately RM 127
- Spending Money: Approximately RM 740 + RM 1,140
If you skip Disneyland and limit your shopping, your expenses will likely be lower.
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