Hong Kong visa and international medical insurance guide

January 04, 2019

Hong Kong is a great vacation spot packed with extraordinary things to do. You can take in Hong Kong’s breath-taking sky line while floating in a ferry or take a tram ride up to Victoria peak and bask in the exquisite views of the city. There’s a lot to get excited about when organizing your visit. To fully enjoy your adventure, make sure you give yourself peace of mind and organize your travel insurance policy as soon as possible, so you can kick back, relax and enjoy your vacation knowing that you have got all your bases covered.
 
Aside from finding the right cover for you, here are some other important travel tips to be aware of before you set off on your adventure:

Visa Information for Hong Kong

Do I Need a Visa to Visit Hong Kong?

No

U.S. Citizens traveling to Hong Kong for up to 90 days do not need a Visa. Your U.S. passport must be valid for at least one month from your date of arrival. You should also have a valid return ticket. If you plan to also visit mainland China, please read the China visa and medical insurance guide.

Health and Medical Advice

Before jetting off on your travels, you should check for any health risks, required vaccinations and any epidemic breakouts occurring in Hong Kong. It’s also a good idea to find out where the nearest hospital is in case of an emergency.

Do I Need to be Vaccinated When Travelling to Hong Kong?

There are no obligatory vaccination shots for travelling to Hong Kong, but we would highly recommend that you get protected against Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, and Rabies as well as getting your routine vaccinations updated. The standard vaccines are:

-    MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
-    Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis
-    Influenza
-    Polio
-    Chickenpox

Book an appointment with your local practitioner or find your local Passport health clinic. You should book an appointment, at the latest, four to six weeks before your trip, giving enough time for the vaccinations to take effect.

Emergency Contact Information in Hong Kong

No one ever wants to have to call the emergency services whilst they’re on vacation, but unfortunately, accidents happen and it’s important to be prepared for when they do.

Emergency number (Police, Ambulance, Fire service): 999

Hong Kong Local Laws and Customs

Drugs

There are severe penalties for drug offences in Hong Kong. Individuals will be arrested for any drug offences.

Imports/exports

There has been an introduction of strict laws in Hong Kong regarding all elephant ivory products – this includes souvenirs. Lawbreakers could receive fines or be imprisoned.

Other laws

Do not take part in public demonstrations or take any photos of military installations, as this is illegal.


Safety and Security

Safety

Hong Kong is one of the safest places in the world with very low crime rates in Hong Kong; however, like any other tourist destinations, be aware of pickpocketing in crowded or popular areas.

Fraud and deception are common in Hong Kong so it's important remain aware and always ask for valid I.D. cards from authorities. In some situations, people may try to sell you ‘designer’ or ‘valuable’ goods, but they may not be authentic.

Only exchange money in reputable places such as banks or licensed money changers.

U.S. Embassy  
U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau
26 Garden Road
Central, Hong Kong
Phone: (852) 2523-9011
Fax: (852) 2845-1598

Useful Tips for Hong Kong

Official Languages: Chinese and English  
Chinese and English are the official languages of Hong Kong.

Currency: Hong Kong dollar
Before your trip make sure to exchange enough Hong Kong dollar for your spending requirements and to get the best exchange rates.

Plug Sockets: Types G and D
Hong Kong uses Types G and D plug sockets. The standard voltage and frequency is 220V and 50 Hz. We would recommend that you buy a plug adapter if you don’t have one already.

You can determine if you need a converter or a transformer by looking at the appliance rating plate. A dual voltage rated appliance will display for example ‘INPUT: 110-240 V’ on the appliance body. In this case, you wouldn’t need a converter or transformer.

© 2018 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. For informational purposes, UHG does not guarantee the correctness or completeness of the information.