12 December 2013
The Immigration Department announced that with effect from today (December 12), holders of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport will be able to enrol for the automated immigration clearance services in the Republic of Korea. Reciprocally, holders of the Republic of Korea passport will be able to enrol for the e-Channel services in Hong Kong.
An Immigration Department spokesperson said that Hong Kong signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the use of automated immigration clearance services on a mutual basis with the Korea Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea on July 30 this year. The enrollment criteria and procedures have been concluded. Hong Kong residents aged 17 or above holding a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport who are eligible to use the Hong Kong e-Channel and have no adverse record in the Republic of Korea can perform pre-enrollment on the Internet at this website www.ses.go.kr. Hong Kong residents can also check the pre-enrollment result using the website and print the Notification Slip after successful pre-enrollment. They should take their Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport, which should be valid for at least 6 months, and the Notification Slip to enrollment centres in the Republic of Korea to register for enrollment for the use of the automated clearance service. Enrollment procedures include collection of fingerprints and photo-taking.
Holders of a valid Republic of Korea passport aged 17 or above, who are also current member of the Smart Entry Service of Korea and have no adverse record in Hong Kong, can perform pre-enrollment at the GovHK website and print the Notification Slip after successful pre-enrollment. They should take their Republic of Korea passport, which should be valid for at least 6 months, and the Notification Slip to the enrollment office at Hong Kong International Airport to register for enrollment for the e-Channel service. The enrollment procedure includes the taking of fingerprints and photos.
Enrollment is on a voluntary basis and is free of charge. For detailed information, please visit the homepage of the Immigration Department at www.immd.gov.hk.
The spokesperson added that the implementation of mutual use of automated immigration clearance services would allow greater travel convenience for holders of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport and the Republic of Korea passport, and would enhance trade, business and tourism links between Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea.