Nepalese Nationals Can Visa-Free Transit Hong Kong Airport Airside

(HONG KONG) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has approved visa-free transit through Hong Kong International Airport for Nepalese nationals starting November 15, 2025, allowing air travelers from Nepal to connect through the airport without a visa as long as they remain within the international transit area. The Immigration Department confirmed the move, saying the arrangement covers Nepalese passport holders on same-day onward flights who do not enter Hong Kong.

It marks a notable shift for a community previously absent from Hong Kong’s visa waiver list, and it aims to ease tight connection windows for travelers headed to destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

Key details of the new transit rule

• Effective date: November 15, 2025
• Who is covered: Nepalese passport holders on same-day onward flights who remain airside (within the controlled transit zone) and do not pass through immigration.
• Scope: Transit only — does not permit entry into Hong Kong.

What Nepalese travelers must do (and avoid)

• Stay airside inside the controlled transit zone; do not pass through immigration.
• Avoid plans that require entering the city, such as:
  • Hotel stays that require landside entry
  • Collecting checked baggage and re-checking with a separate carrier
  • Any activity that moves the traveler landside
• Most useful when:
  • Both arriving and departing flights operate from the same terminal
  • Baggage is checked through to the final destination

Important: If you must collect luggage or switch to a carrier that cannot check bags through, you will need to clear immigration and therefore meet normal visa requirements.

Official rationale and diplomatic background

• The Immigration Department linked the decision to Hong Kong’s role in regional connectivity and policies supporting the Belt and Road Initiative, noting Nepal’s location along that route.
• An HKSAR spokesman said the arrangement will “bring travel convenience to visitors from Nepal and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.”
• The Consulate General of Nepal in Hong Kong confirmed the change follows sustained diplomatic outreach and formal requests to HKSAR authorities. While detailed correspondence was not released, the move reflects operational, airline, and security considerations.

Practical implications for airlines and travelers

• Airlines serving Kathmandu and connecting hubs may restore itineraries that previously avoided Hong Kong due to visa hurdles.
• Travelers should:
  • Keep copies of onward tickets
  • Confirm bags are tagged to the final destination
  • Ensure alignment with carriers’ minimum connection times
• Agents and airlines may advise:
  • Longer buffers or single-ticket itineraries to protect connections and baggage transfers
  • Avoiding itineraries that risk overnighting landside without a visa

Warnings and limitations

• The policy applies only to airside, same-day transits. Irregular operations (delays, cancellations, missed connections) that force landside entry will void the visa-free transit allowance.
• If a missed connection requires an overnight stay that cannot be completed airside, the traveler would need a pre-arranged visa and could otherwise be denied entry.
• The measure is not an invitation to enter Hong Kong for tourism, work, study, or family visits — those require prior visa/entry permit application.

Visitor visa / entry permit — unchanged rules

• All other entry rules for Nepalese citizens remain unchanged.
• Nepalese nationals who plan to visit Hong Kong or need to leave the airport must apply for a visitor visa/entry permit in advance.
• The Immigration Department indicates processing generally takes about 4–6 weeks, with a fee of around HKD 230.
• Official guidance and forms:
  • Visit/Transit information: Immigration Department (HKSAR): Visit/Transit
  • Application form (ID 1003A): Application for Entry for Visit/Transit in Hong Kong (Form ID 1003A)

Operational and industry context

• HKSAR officials framed the move as part of a broader effort to simplify transfers while maintaining border controls.
• Hong Kong International Airport is rebuilding long-haul schedules and feeder links following pandemic disruption, and this policy signals confidence in expanding controlled transit.
• VisaVerge.com notes Hong Kong is leveraging its airport network strength to compete with other hubs; removing friction for Nepalese passengers fits that strategy.

What to expect after implementation

• Carriers must implement the rule at check-in counters and transfer desks with clear instructions to ground staff.
• The immediate impact depends on how quickly schedules and interline/baggage arrangements support seamless airside transfers.
• Industry watchers will look for:
  • Published minimum connection times on routes involving Kathmandu
  • Airport notices detailing terminal connectivity for specific carriers

Bottom line for travelers

• As the policy takes effect on November 15, 2025, Nepalese travelers connecting through Hong Kong should ensure their itinerary remains airside from start to finish to benefit from visa-free transit.
• If entry to Hong Kong is required at any stage, follow standard HKSAR visa procedures and allow sufficient time for processing before departure.