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Hong Kong

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
47,829
UK visas issued, 2025
9,704
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
2.6%
NationalityHKISO 3166
Data as at 2025
NA<HKHONG<KONG<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
HK9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Hong Kong need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa with certain passports; eTA needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Living abroad

People born in Hong Kong who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. China421,605
  2. United States268,915
  3. Canada204,515
  4. United Kingdom142,011
  5. Australia116,517
  6. Macao23,816
  7. Taiwan20,726
  8. New Zealand13,920
  9. Japan13,895
  10. Costa Rica4,758
  11. Singapore3,584
  12. Norway2,972

Living abroad by year

620k1.24M19901995200020052010201520202024
620k1.24M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990569,282
1995682,700
2000818,107
2005849,440
2010903,793
20151,031,087
20201,146,271
20241,240,250
Living abroad, 2024
1,240,250
Change since 2000
+51.6%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
34.0%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Hong Kong by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B242,305
  2. F12,057
  3. C1/D1,547
  4. J1472
  5. H1B274
  6. O2192
  7. M1166
  8. L1145
  9. L2133
  10. P199

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

35k69k201720182019202020212022202320242025
35k69k20172019202120232025
Data table
201745,732
201869,441
201963,191
202020,883
20219,991
202220,377
202347,806
202458,768
202547,829
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. I5220
  2. F4170
  3. IR171
  4. IR560
  5. F357
  6. IR232
  7. E127
  8. CR124
Immigrant visas, FY2025
779
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
99
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Hong Kong who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Hong Kong with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1,2552,5102015201620172018201920202021202220232024
1,2552,510201520172019202120232024
Data table
20152,090
20162,510
20172,420
20182,080
20192,020
20201,780
20211,330
20222,300
20232,290
20241,950
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Employment-based preferences830
  2. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens760
  3. Family-sponsored preferences310
  4. Refugees and asylees20
  5. Diversity visa lottery10
  6. Other classes10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Hong Kong)
1,950
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Hong Kong)
1,770
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Hong Kong (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Hong Kong (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Other4,609
  2. Study4,197
  3. Visitor411
  4. Work343
  5. Family144

Visas issued by year

29k59k201020122014201620182020202220242025
29k59k201020132016201920222025
Data table
20108,339
20118,672
201210,056
201311,134
201412,022
201512,063
201612,024
201712,530
201812,447
201912,956
202010,992
202158,689
202240,383
202322,664
202414,977
20259,704
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
15,730
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Hong Kong, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
2025857,1754,085305100
202417510,1955,4703,5105
202314012,2558,0957,535105
20222009,6059,8203,695140
20212354,1256,6302,295325
20201109002,7501,055280
2019851,0702,5901,545205
2018208502,5601,525170
2017558902,5551,360240
201608252,5151,37070
2015305452,18089060
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Hong Kong, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

1743472005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
1743472005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–06154
2006–07116
2007–08129
2008–0997
2009–1092
2010–11123
2011–12152
2012–13220
2013–14191
2014–15263
2015–16246
2016–17257
2017–18170
2018–19157
2019–2095
2020–21119
2021–22258
2022–23347
2023–24187
2024–25152
2025–26100
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills51
  2. Specialist Skills39
  3. Medium-term4
  4. Short-term4
  5. Labour Agreement2
Granted, 2025–26
100
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.1%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Hong Kong living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

7,23914k20232025
7,23914k20232025
Data table
202312,350
202411,829
202514,477
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services3,347
  2. Student2,749
  3. Permanent Resident2,560
  4. Dependent1,802
  5. Spouse or Child of Japanese National969
  6. Business Manager957
  7. Designated Activities769
  8. Highly Skilled Professional600
  9. Long-Term Resident209
  10. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident117
Residents, December 2025
14,477
In work-related statuses
5,279
Share in work-related statuses
36.5%
Students
2,749
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Hong Kong

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Hong Kong, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France3,9123,6841724.4%
Italy2,4562,415411.7%
Germany2,3442,333100.4%
Spain1,4161,40820.1%
Switzerland1,0801,040403.7%
Belgium727694273.7%
Netherlands67364691.3%
Austria370341297.8%
Czechia24023552.1%
Poland10410043.8%
Romania2320313.0%

Applications by year

8,27117k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
8,27117k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20097,260
20108,100
20118,803
20129,365
201310,640
201411,508
201511,878
201613,553
201714,244
201815,485
201916,542
20201,692
2021929
20226,195
202312,908
202413,345
Refusal rate, 2024
2.6%
Refusal rate, 2019
1.6%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Foreign embassies and consulates in Hong Kong

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Hong Kong, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
New Zealand—1—
United Arab Emirates——1
Countries
2
Missions
2
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Hong Kong, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

2404792000200320062009201220152018202120242025
240479200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000136
2001153
2002121
2003120
2004240
2005297
2006294
2007317
2008355
2009348
2010340
2011352
2012367
2013360
2014372
2015387
2016399
2017437
2018425
2019451
2020427
2021453
2022419
2023454
2024458
2025479
Remittances received, 2025
US$479 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.1%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Hong Kong

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Hong Kong → United States
  • Hong Kong → Canada
  • Hong Kong → United Kingdom
  • Hong Kong → Japan
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more