• Automated Passenger Clearance System
  • Automated Passenger Clearance System for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
  • Pilot Scheme on Express e-Channel
  • Cross Boundary Student Automated Passenger Clearance System
  • Frequent Visitor Automated Passenger Clearance System
• Automated Vehicle Clearance System
  • One Stop Customs and Immigration Clearance

All immigration control points in Hong Kong are installed with e-Channels. Here you can learn whether you are eligible to use a passenger e-Channel and a vehicular e-Channel for self-service immigration clearance.

You can perform self-service immigration clearance at a passenger e-Channel if you are:

• A Hong Kong permanent resident aged 11 or above (using a smart identity card)
• A Hong Kong resident aged 11 or above holding a Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (using a smart identity card and carrying a valid Document of Identity for Visa Purposes)
• A person aged 11 or above who has the right to land or is on unconditional stay in Hong Kong (using a smart identity card)
• A non-permanent resident issued with a notification label (using a smart identity card and carrying a valid travel document)
• A registered cross-boundary primary school student under the age of 11 (using the enrolled valid travel document)
• A registered frequent visitor aged 18 or above (using the enrolled valid travel document)
• A registered Macao permanent resident aged 11 or above (using a Macao permanent identity card)

Automated self-service immigration clearance through e-Channels is simple. You only need to insert your smart identity card into the card reader or place your enrolled travel document / Macao identity card onto the document reader. The e-Channel gate doors will open. After entering the e-Channel, you will need to place a thumb flat on the centre of the fingerprint scanner, as shown in the following illustration. If you have registered with a finger other than a thumb, that finger should be used for identity verification.

This procedure is illustrated in a workflow video that can be accessed through the following link.

• Automated passenger clearance workflow video
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/media/internet_apc.wmv

Only one person is allowed to enter the e-Channel at any one time. While a person is performing fingerprint verification inside the e-Channel, the next person queuing in front of the e-Channel can insert his smart identity card into the reader or place his enrolled travel document / Macao permanent identity card onto the document reader.

To further enhance immigration facilitation to Hong Kong and Macao residents, both the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the Macao Public Security Police Force Immigration Department have introduced the Automated Passenger Clearance System to Hong Kong and Macao residents on 10 December 2009.  Eligible Hong Kong residents and Macao permanent residents may use the automated clearance service specially set up at Sheung Wan Macau Ferry Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui China Ferry Terminal, Macao Border Control Subdivision of the Exterior Harbor and Macao Border Gate Control Point.

Hong Kong Residents’ Enrolment for Macao Automated Passenger Clearance System

Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above holding valid Hong Kong permanent identity card or Hong Kong identity card containing ‘*’, ‘***’ or ‘R’ symbol may attend the Enrolment Office specially set up at the area of the immigration hall before immigration clearance at the Exterior Harbor Control Point or Taipa Ferry Terminal to enrol for the service.  Once enrolled, they may use the Macao Automated Passenger Clearance System.

Eligible residents aged 18 or above may also use the self-service enrolment kiosks set up at the immigration departure hall of Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, the immigration departure hall of China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Information and Liaison Section at 2/F Immigration Tower in Wanchai(Please refer to working hours). Upon enrolment, registrant has to give consent to the Director of Immigration to retrieve the personal data from the chip of the identity card and capture his or her fingerprint templates for transmission to Macao Public Security Police Force Immigration Department for processing his or her enrolment for Macao Automated Passenger Clearance System(Please refer to the Disclaimer). After completion of the enrolment process in Hong Kong, applicants may normally use the Macao autogates within three working days.

Eligible Hong Kong residents aged 11 to 17 are required to approach the Border Control Sub-division of the Exterior Harbor or the Taipa Ferry Terminal in Macao, accompanied by either parent or guardian and submit applicant’s original copy of birth certificate and the Hong Kong identity card of father, mother or guardian (if accompanied by guardian, the original copy of legal authorisation letter or court order should be provided) for enrolment.

Re-enrolment is required if enrolled Hong Kong resident has replaced his or her identity card.

Cancellation of enrolment

Enrolled Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above may apply for cancellation of the enrolment by completing an application form and hand it in person to Macao Public Security Police Force Immigration Officer at any Border Control Subdivision in Macao.  For enrolled Hong Kong residents aged 11-17, their parent or guardian should approach any Border Control Sub-division in Macao in person to complete an application form, hand it to Macao Public Security Police Force Immigration Officer and produce the Hong Kong identity card or passport together with the applicant’s original copy of birth certificate or guardian’s proof of relationship for identity verification.

Working Hours

Information and Liaison Section

Macao Residents’ Enrolment for Hong Kong e-Channel: “Macao Resident e-Channel”

Macao permanent residents aged 11 or above holding valid Macao identity card may attend the Enrolment Office set up inside the immigration arrival hall at the Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan or China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui to enrol for the service.

Macao permanent residents aged 18 or above may perform self-service enrolment in Macao.  After completion of the enrolment process in Macao, applicants may normally use the Hong Kong e-Channels within three working days.

Macao permanent residents aged between 11 and 17 are required to approach the Enrolment Office at the arrival hall of Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan or the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui of Hong Kong with their parent or guardian.  Applicant’s original copy of birth certificate, the Macao identity card of accompanying father/mother or guardian should be provided for identity verification. (Note: if accompanied by guardian, the original copy of legal authorisation letter or court order should be provided.  Where the document is in Portuguese, it must be accompanied by a certified Chinese or English translation)

Re-enrolment is required if enrolled Macao resident has replaced his or her identity card (except the replacement is due to chip failure or expiry of identity card).

Workflow of e-Channel for Macao residents

e-Channels for Macao residents are located at the Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan and the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.  Upon using the e-Channel, successfully enrolled Macao permanent resident has to place his or her enrolled identity card onto the document reader.  When the identity card reading process is finished, he or she will be able to enter the e-Channel for fingerprint verification.  After successful fingerprint verification, a landing slip containing the conditions and limit of stay will be printed upon arrival (Note: No landing slip will be printed upon departure).  After collecting the landing slip, the Macao resident can leave the e-Channel.

Cancellation of enrolment

Enrolled Macao residents aged 18 or above may apply for cancellation of the enrolment by completing the “Cancellation of Enrolment for Macao Resident e-Channel Service” application form and hand it in person to the immigration staff at any control point together with Macao permanent identity card or passport for identity verification.  For cancellation of enrolment of enrolled Macao resident aged 11-17, his / her parent or guardian should complete the “Cancellation of Enrolment for Macao Resident e-Channel Service” application form, hand it in person to the immigration staff at any control point and produce the Macao identity card or passport together with the applicant’s original copy of birth certificate or guardian’s proof of relationship for identity verification.

• Disclaimer for Hong Kong Residents' Enrolment for Macao Automated Passenger Clearance System
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/pdf/mdisclaimer.pdf
• Application form of “Cancellation of Enrolment for Macao Resident e-Channel Service” (Applicable to age 18 or above)
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/SFIM2602.htm
• Application form of “Cancellation of Enrolment for Macao Resident e-Channel Service” (Applicable to age 11 to 17)
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/SFIM2603.htm

A pilot scheme for the Express e-Channel has commenced at the Lo Wu Control Point to provide faster immigration clearance to enrolled Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above who are existing e-Channel users. If you want to take advantage of this service, you should proceed to the enrolment e-Channel upon arriving at or departing from the Lo Wu Control Point. When enrolling, you will be asked to give consent to the Director of Immigration for retrieval of your personal data from the chip of your identity card and storage of such data in a database for subsequent automated immigration clearance. Upon confirmation of enrolment, you will be able to enter the enrolment e-Channel for fingerprint verification to complete the self-service enrolment and immigration clearance.

There is also an enrolment office in the Western Arrival Hall of the Lo Wu Control Point to provide assistance if you cannot complete the self-service enrolment. 

The entrance of the Express e-Channel is installed with a document reader. You need only place the card face of your smart identity card onto the document reader and push it inward to the upper edge.  When prompted to take back the identity card, you can do so and enter the Express e-Channel for fingerprint verification.  After successful fingerprint verification, you can leave the Express e-Channel. 

Please note that you should remove the protective cover from your identity card before using the e-Channel. Your card should also be kept clean and in proper condition.  Damaged, defaced or bent identity cards may not work at Express e-Channels.  If you have applied for a new identity card, you will need to re-enrol when you receive the new card to continue using the Express e-Channel.

If you would like to enquire about and alter enrolled personal data, please contact the Duty Chief Immigration Officer at the Lo Wu Control Point. If you want to cancel the enrolment record, an application form is available through the following link. Please complete the form and submit it to an immigration staff at any Control Point.

• Cancellation of Enrolment for Express e-Channel Service
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/SFIM2601.htm
• Express e-Channel workflow video
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/images/e-channel/express_en.wmv

To provide more convenient immigration services for cross boundary primary school students, cross boundary student e-Channels are installed at the Lo Wu Control Point. To use these services, you must complete the enrolment process and should meet the following criteria:

• Be a cross boundary primary school student under the age of 11;
• Be at least 1.1 m tall; and
• Holding a valid travel document.

When using the cross boundary student e-Channels, you should place your enrolled valid travel document on the document reader, after which the gate will open. You should then place your finger for fingerprint verification in the centre of the fingerprint scanner.

If you need to change your enrolment details, especially after the replacement of a travel document, your parent or guardian should complete the form available at the Lo Wu Control Point and submit it to an immigration staff there. When you reach the age of 11 you should perform self-service immigration clearance at the e-Channels using your new smart identity card.

Further information can be obtained by telephone at 2294 2030, or by viewing the workflow video available through the following link.

• Cross boundary student automated passenger clearance system workflow video
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/images/e-channel/CBS_Internet_2_English.wmv

If you are a frequent visitor to Hong Kong aged 18 or above, you may be eligible for free enrolment to use self-service immigration clearance if you have a valid travel document with a multiple visit visa (if applicable) and one of the following :

• A valid HKSAR Travel Pass or
• An APEC Business Travel Card with the economy code ‘HKG’ or
• Hong Kong International Airport Frequent Visitor Card or
• Frequent Flyer Programme Membership Card issued by an airline which has joined this arrangement (please enquire with your airline).

Successfully enrolled visitors can use designated Frequent Visitor e-Channels at the Hong Kong International Airport.

For enrolment, you will need to visit the enrolment office at the arrival hall in Terminal 1 where you are required to sign an enrolment form, have your fingerprints and photograph taken and have a bar-code sticker affixed to your travel document. You will be required to present your valid HKSAR Travel Pass, APEC Business Travel Card, HKIA Frequent Visitor Card or Frequent Flyer Programme Membership Card and your valid travel document and a multiple visit visa (if applicable). If you need to change any of your personal information afterwards, especially following the replacement of a travel document, you should return to the enrolment office.

After successful enrolment, you will be able to use the Frequent Visitor e-Channel by placing your travel document in the document reader. When the reading process has finished, you will be able to enter the e-Channel to verify your fingerprint. Upon successful fingerprint verification a label containing your conditions of stay will then be printed for collection on arrival (but not departure).  After collecting the label, you can leave the e-Channel.  The label is to be affixed to a blank space of the visa page of your travel document.

The procedure at the Frequent Visitor e-Channel is illustrated in a workflow video that can be accessed through the following link.

• Frequent visitor automated passenger clearance workflow video
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/images/e-channel/FV_e_Channel_Internet_Eng.wmv

All vehicular control points, including Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Shenzhen Bay, have been installed with vehicular e-Channels. You can use your smart identity card to perform automated immigration clearance at these control points if you are a cross-boundary driver who has enrolled in the scheme and are also:

• A Hong Kong permanent resident;
• Hong Kong resident holding a Document of Identity for Visa Purposes;
• A person who has the right to land or is on unconditional stay in Hong Kong; or
• A non-permanent resident who has been issued with a notification label.

You must also carry your valid travel document when passing through the control points.

When enrolling in the scheme, you must give consent to the Director of Immigration to scrutinise and verify your personal particulars kept by the Registration of Persons Office. The consent form, containing details of submission methods, is available at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Shenzhen Bay Control Points.

To ensure smooth and fast clearance, the vehicular e-Channels are installed with both fingerprint verification technology and a face recognition system. When using the e-Channel you should stop your vehicle before the white line and wait for the green traffic light before driving into the channel. While you are driving into the e-Channel, sensors on both sides of the channel will move the checking station to a suitable height, enabling you to place your thumb flat on the fingerprint scanner and simultaneously look at the camera installed at the checking station. If you have registered your smart identity card with a finger other than your thumb, that finger should be used.

If you encounter problems during clearance, you can use the intercom to contact an immigration staff for assistance. Upon completion of the clearance, you can simply drive away.

To cancel your participation in the scheme, please contact the Department at 2294 2030.

If you are the driver of a goods vehicle passing through the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, you can enjoy one-stop customs and immigration clearance. The clearance procedures are outlined in the following illustrations.