Hong Kong

The ETIAS application procedure for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders is uncomplicated to handle and is expected to require each passenger no more than 10 minutes to input their data.
Such data include:

• personal information like full name and surname, birthplace, birth country, birth date
• contact details
• scheduled travel to Europe related information
• eligibility and background questions

It is very important to notice that applicants from Hong Kong must be in possession of a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport in order to be eligible for ETIAS.
Those who do not hold such kind of passport are indeed required to apply for a Visa at the relevant Consulate of the Schengen Country they wish to visit.
The same obligation applies to all those Hong Kong Nationals whose travel to ETIAS Area does not fit in the aforementioned purpose and duration of stay limits. For additional details and exceptions on this matter check the FAQ session of our website. [link FAQ- DO I NEED AN ETIAS?]

Hong Kong travelers should notice that ETIAS is only valid for journeys not to any EU or European country but only to the 34 Countries that are linked to the Schengen Area. As a matter of fact, there currently are 2 EU Nations that are not part of Schengen. Such countries are: Republic of Ireland (EIRE) and Cyprus. Among these only Ireland is free to decide whether to become one day part of the border-free European travel area and, because of this condition, is not linked to ETIAS system that will hence not be a requirement to access its territory. Cyprus on the other hand, even if currently part of EU and not yet of the Schengen Area, is committed to become Schengen Member and therefore will enforce, from its very inception, the obligation to hold a valid ETIAS to all legitimate Visa Waiver visitors.
To the same extent it is important to stress that the United Kingdom has left the European Union in 2021 and never was part of the Schengen Area; UK is therefore not part of the ETIAS Area.

Once the application has been submitted Hong Kong Citizens will receive the outcome on their personal e-mail. Such notification will in the majority of cases occur in less than 3 days since the application has been submitted and paid for.
It is therefore strongly recommended to apply for ETIAS Visa Waiver at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time towards the Europe.
If for any reason candidates need to urgently receive feedback to their ETIAS application, they are invited to flag the “urgent procedure” button in the application form.

Since The ETIAS approval will only be sent directly to each candidates’ personal e-mail it is very important for each applicant to input a valid and working e-mail account when they fill out the required form.

Once received the positive outcome, ETIAS Visa Waiver to citizens of Hong Kong is valid for 3 years and allows for multiple trips to the EU / Schengen Area and it is also valid to enter any of the 34 States participating in the program from either air, land and sea borders.
Applicants whose passport expire in less than 3 years must notice that their ETIAS will cease to be valid along with the passport used for the request.
Being digitally linked to the candidate’s passport ETIAS Visa Waiver approval does not necessarily have to printed to be carried upon travelling.

Upon each travel the Hong Kong passport to which the Visa Waiver is linked to, must have at least 3 months of remaining validity since the end of the stay in the ETIAS Area.
ETIAS should basically be considered as a security pre-clearance that European authorities will issue to eligible applicants that, according to the electronic background check, do not seem to pose a threat to the hosting nations. Obtaining such a pre-clearance will simplify but not eliminate border controls upon arrival in the Schengen Area from abroad. A quick screening and identity check will still be carried out to all incoming visitors and, in some case, a random selection of them can be asked to undergo further controls that might also imply the request for additional documents and, albeit rarely, an interrogation.
Among the supplementary documents that could be required are:

• return ticket to origin country
• onwards ticket to a non-ETIAS Member Country where the visitor has a proven right to enter (i.e. valid visa or visa waiver rights)
• proof of sufficient funds to support the entire stay in ETIAS Countries
• any other document that could demonstrate the actual aim of the journey

A travel health insurance is not a compulsory condition to ETIAS travelers but is still strongly recommended.