Publications and Press Releases

14 December 2017

Following the launch of the self-service departure for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure) at Hong Kong International Airport, the Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (December 14) that the service will be extended to other control points, namely Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, Hung Hom, Shenzhen Bay, Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok, China Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal and Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, with effect from next Monday (December 18). In addition, photos of visitors will be taken at arrival clearance counters to assist in authenticating their identity through face recognition technology. Smart Departure aims to provide greater travel convenience for visitors while enhancing the effectiveness of immigration control. The above arrangement is not applicable to Hong Kong residents.

Smart Departure employs face recognition technology for identity verification, which facilitates self-service departure for visitors. Visitors aged 11 or above who hold valid electronic travel documents compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organization's requirements, and issued by designated countries or regions as announced by the ImmD, may perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels at control points without prior enrolment.

According to the existing arrangement, all arriving visitors will be issued with landing slips. Upon completion of arrival clearance at immigration counters, the landing slips of visitors eligible for using the Smart Departure service will additionally bear the Smart Departure logo (a specimen is enclosed at Annex). For details, please visit the ImmD's website at www.immd.gov.hk/sd. For visitors who have enrolled for the e-Channel service, their immigration arrangements will remain unchanged.

In addition, the ImmD will install cameras at arrival clearance counters to take real-time photos of visitors, which will be compared with the photos in their travel documents through face recognition technology for the purpose of identity verification.

Landing slip bearing the Smart Departure logo