Publications and Press Releases

16 August 2016

The Immigration Department (ImmD) today (August 16) announced that in order to provide greater travel convenience to Hong Kong residents and Korean visitors, Hong Kong and Korea will streamline the enrolment procedures for the use of automated clearance services on a mutual basis.  
 
According to the existing arrangement, eligible holders of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport are required to complete pre-enrolment on the Internet and produce the printed Notification Slip upon enrolment for the use of the automated clearance service at the enrolment centres in Korea. With effect from August 22 this year, HKSAR electronic passport holders will be able to enrol for the service directly at enrolment centres in Korea without the need for pre-enrolment. The enrolment criteria remain unchanged.
 
HKSAR electronic passport holders aged 17 or above with no adverse record in Korea can enrol for the service at the enrolment centres in Korea with their passport, which must have at least six months' validity. Successful applicants will be able to use the automated immigration clearance system in Korea. Those who have already completed pre-enrolment on the Internet but have not yet enrolled at enrolment centres in Korea can also directly enrol for the use of the service at the enrolment centres in Korea without producing the Notification Slip if they meet the enrolment criteria under the new arrangement.
 
Reciprocally, holders of the Korean passport who are aged 17 years or above and have no adverse record in Hong Kong can take their Korean passport with a validity period of at least six months to the enrolment offices at Immigration Headquarters, the Hong Kong International Airport or the Macau Ferry Terminal to enrol for the e-Channel service in Hong Kong directly without performing pre-enrolment on the Internet. 
 
Enrolment is on a voluntary basis and is free of charge.
 
The service of pre-enrolment on the Internet will not be available from August 22 this year. HKSAR passport and Korean passport holders whose enrolment for using automated clearance services under the existing arrangement is still valid are not required to enrol again.
 
For detailed information, please visit the websites of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk and the Korean authority at www.ses.go.kr.