Landing Slips Replace Passport Stamps for Foreign Temporary Residents

Effective immediately, employment visa holders and other foreign nationals who are not permanent residents of Hong Kong will no longer have their passports or travel documents stamped during immigration clearance upon entry, under a new policy from the Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID).

Instead of receiving stamps in passports, most foreign temporary residents will be issued landing slips bearing their name in English, passport number, arrival date, and the expiration date of their stay in Hong Kong. For subsequent entries, landing slips will not be issued and no stamping will be made on their passports or travel documents.

Foreign students, domestic helpers, and workers admitted under the Supplementary Labour Scheme will be issued landing slips upon each arrival. The HKID first implemented the landing slip policy for business visitors and tourists this March.

Foreign nationals should keep their landing slip affixed to their passports or travel documents during their authorized stay in Hong Kong. Those who misplace their landing slip may request a replacement free of charge at the HKID Extension Section, 5/F Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wanchai.

Upon departure, foreign nationals may be requested to present the landing slip, but they will not receive a stamp on their passport. However, loss of the slip is not expected to affect the individual’s ability to exit Hong Kong.

The new policy will not affect non-permanent residents who are enrolled in the e-Channel service, an automated clearance system for certain frequent travelers to Hong Kong.

What This Means for Foreign National Employees and their Families

The landing slip is an important record of a foreign national’s conditions of stay, including the expiration date of his or her stay in Hong Kong. Care must be taken to prevent detaching the slip from the passport or travel document. In addition, foreign nationals are advised to send a copy of their landing slip to their immigration professional immediately after arrival to assist in tracking authorized stays.

This alert is issued for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen Global Immigration Services, or send an email to [email protected].