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Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors Facilitation

Hong KongShort stays and visits

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Hong Kong Read the five questions ↓

For the relevant traveller scope, is a visa, electronic authorisation, visa on arrival or no advance visa normally required?

Eligible visitors who are Mainland, Macao and Taiwan residents continue to use the prevailing entry arrangements for visiting the HKSAR; Mainland residents must apply to the relevant Mainland authorities for travel documents and exit endorsements corresponding to the nature of their visit. The official source does not state the visa requirement for foreign nationals under this scheme.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This bounded answer preserves a supported page statement; a full independent clause review is pending.

What short-visit purposes does this route cover?

The Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors Facilitation Scheme is for visitors invited or sponsored by an authorised host organisation to undertake specified short-term activities beneficial to Hong Kong. The official page lists 17 designated sectors: medical and healthcare; higher education; arts and cultural; sports; heritage; creative industries; innovation and technology; Hong Kong Laureate Forum; aviation; international/mega events; finance; development and construction; environment; occupational safety and health; maritime; think tanks; and other activities within the scheme's official scope. The authorised host must endorse the visitor by invitation letter, and the activity and role in that letter must be followed. Participation is limited to up to 14 consecutive calendar days for each permitted visitor stay; there is no cap on the number of designated activities during that period. Ordinary visitor entry requirements continue to apply, including a visit visa/entry permit where required.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The 17-sector list does not make every activity in a sector eligible: the authorised-host list and its approved facilitation scope govern the activity, and the Immigration Department says these may change. This answer does not determine an individual's visa-free period or entry-document requirements.
  • Scheme purpose and invited/sponsored visitor scope
    It aims to provide immigration facilitation to visitors invited/sponsored by authorised host organisations (“ eligible visitors ”) for undertaking specified short-term activities which are beneficial to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“ HKSAR ”).
  • Scope and 17 designated sectors
    The STV Scheme covers 17 sectors as supported by the relevant government bureaux/departments (B/Ds). The target beneficiaries to be invited are either talent in shortage or that their participation in the short-term activities concerned is conducive to achieving certain policy objectives.
  • Duration per visitor stay and activity limit
    The duration of participation in the specified short-term activities is up to 14 consecutive calendar days , counting from the day when the eligible visitors start to participate in such activities, for each period of permitted stay as visitor (i.e. upon each arrival in the HKSAR). There is no cap on the number of designated short-term activities the eligible visitors may participate in during that 14-day period.
  • Invitation and adherence to activity/role
    Eligible visitors should be endorsed by the authorised host organisations by way of invitation letters . The scope of the specified short-term activities and the roles of the eligible visitors as specified in the invitation letters must be strictly adhered to.
  • Entry arrangements
    The STV Scheme is applicable to eligible visitors, including: nationals of countries who may visit the HKSAR visa-free (“ visa-free nationals ”); persons who require a visa / entry permit to enter the HKSAR for visit; and Mainland, Macao and Taiwan residents.
  • Required visit visa where no visa-free concession applies
    If the eligible visitors are not visa-free nationals, they must obtain visit visas/entry permits before coming to the HKSAR.

What maximum stay, rolling-period rule, validity and entry rules apply?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the maximum stay, validity or entry rules under the scheme.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This bounded answer preserves a supported page statement; a full independent clause review is pending.

What important funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm what funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This bounded answer preserves a supported page statement; a full independent clause review is pending.
  • Captured official page; selected text for short_stay_visit_seo.r4
    Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years under section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance (Chapter 115), Laws of Hong Kong.

Where/how is permission obtained when required, and under what important circumstances can a stay be extended or changed?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm where or how permission is obtained under the scheme or when a stay can be extended or changed.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This bounded answer preserves a supported page statement; a full independent clause review is pending.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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