Hong Kong Extends APEC Business Travel Card Stay to 90 Days
Crhk · 3 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced Friday that it will extend the visa-free stay period for holders of pre-approved APEC Business Travel Cards from 60 to 90 days, effective this Sunday. The decision comes after China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared a similar policy change earlier the same day, with five participating economies—including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore—agreeing to relax maximum stay limits for cardholders. The new arrangement is timed ahead of the APEC 33rd Leaders' Meeting scheduled for November 18 to 19 in Shenzhen.
Key Points
- The Immigration Department confirmed the extended stay policy takes effect from Sunday (October 31), with the new 90-day limit replacing the previous 60-day ceiling for pre-approved cardholders
- China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the coordinated announcement Friday, specifying that the extended stay applies to APEC Business Travel Card holders visiting mainland China and Hong Kong
- Five APEC economies agreed to the relaxation, with each determining its own implementation timeline—the HKSAR Government chose to align with the Mainland's Sunday start date
- Holders of APEC Business Travel Cards who have not received pre-approval will see no change to their existing entry arrangements under this policy
- The timing coincides with the upcoming APEC 33rd Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen on November 18 to 19, which aims to facilitate greater regional business mobility
Why It Matters
This extension signals Hong Kong's commitment to strengthening its position as a regional business hub by reducing bureaucratic barriers for international business travelers. The synchronized implementation with Mainland China underscores the deeper integration of the two economies and positions Hong Kong to benefit from increased high-level regional engagement surrounding the upcoming APEC summit .
This extension signals Hong Kong's commitment to strengthening its position as a regional business hub by reducing bureaucratic barriers for international business travelers. The synchronized implementation with Mainland China underscores the deeper integration of the two economies and positions Hong Kong to benefit from increased high-level regional engagement surrounding the upcoming APEC summit .