Our Services

e-Channel Service for Residents

Please select:

e-Channel


Eligibility Criteria

A Hong Kong resident holding smart identity card if fulfilling the following criteria:

  1. A Hong Kong permanent resident aged 11 or above;
  2. A Hong Kong resident aged 11 or above holding a Document of Identity for Visa Purposes;
  3. A Hong Kong resident aged 11 or above who has the right to land or is on unconditional stay in Hong Kong;
  4. A Hong Kong resident issued with a notification label (Hong Kong residents who stay in Hong Kong as foreign domestic helpers, students or imported workers are required to complete the enrolment before they can use the e-Channel service); or

A registered cross-boundary primary school student under the age of 11 (using the enrolled valid travel document) can perform automated immigration clearance at an e-Channel

Using e-Channel

Upon using the e-Channel, an eligible Hong Kong resident only needs to place his / her smart identity card on the top-left corner of an e-Channel's document reader with the photo face-down, or insert his / her smart identity card into the card reader with the photo face-down.  When the reading process has finished, the smart identity card has to be taken back and he / she will be able to enter the e-Channel.  After entering the e-Channel, he / she will need to place his / her registered thumb or finger flat on the centre of the fingerprint scanner, as shown in the following illustration.

   Simple guide to fingerprint verification

After successful fingerprint verification, the passenger can leave the e-Channel.

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

Video on e-Channel Workflow for Hong Kong Residents

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

e-Channel with Voice Navigation Function

To facilitate visually impaired persons to enjoy self-service immigration clearance service, both the Arrival Halls and the Departure Halls of Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, Macau Ferry Terminal Control Point, Shenzhen Bay Control Point, China Ferry Terminal Control Point, Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point, Lo Wu Control Point, Hung Hom Control Point and Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point are now equipped with voice navigated e-Channels. Braille maps are provided at the above-mentioned control points for visually impaired persons to locate the voice navigated e-Channels, and they may proceed to the e-Channels for conducting immigration clearance by following the tactile guide paths.

The voice navigation function can be activated by pressing the activation button with speaker sign. Visually impaired persons may then follow the voice instructions to complete the immigration clearance process. In addition to the voice navigation function, Braille tags are also affixed next to the activation button, the card insertion slot and the fingerprint scanner to facilitate visually impaired persons in completing the self-service immigration clearance process.

   Braille tags next to the activation button and card insertion slot of the voice-navigated e-Channel Braille tags next to the fingerprint scanner of the voice-navigated e-Channel e-Channel with Voice Navigation Function

Express e-Channel

The Express e-Channel Service is available at Lo Wu Control Point, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Control Point to provide faster immigration clearance to enrolled Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above who are existing e-Channel users.

Enrolment 

An eligible resident should proceed to the enrolment e-Channel upon arriving at or departing from Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay Control Points for enrolment to use this service.  At the enrolment, he / she will be asked to give consent to the Director of Immigration for retrieval of his / her personal data from the chip of his / her identity card and storage of such data in a database for subsequent automated immigration clearance.  Upon confirmation of enrolment, he / she 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 Eastern Arrival Hall of Lo Wu Control Point, Arrival Hall of Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and Arrival Hall of Shenzhen Bay Control Point to provide assistance to those who cannot complete the enrolment.

    Self service enrolment Document reader

Using Express e-Channel

The entrance of the Express e-Channel is installed with a document reader.  An enrolled resident only needs to place the card face of his / her smart identity card onto the document reader and push it inward to the upper edge.  When prompted to take back the identity card, he / she can do so and enter the Express e-Channel for fingerprint verification.  After successful fingerprint verification, he / she can leave the Express e-Channel.  It should be noted that any protective cover should be removed from the identity card before using the Express e-Channel.  The card should also be kept clean and in proper condition.  Damaged, defaced or bent identity cards may not work at the Express e-Channels.  If the smart identity card is replaced, re-enrolment is required before continuing to use the Express e-Channel.

An enrolled resident could contact the Duty Chief Immigration Officer at Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line or Shenzhen Bay Control Points to enquire about and to change the enrolment details.  For cancellation of enrolment record, a cancellation form should be completed and submitted it in person to an immigration staff at any Control Point.  The cancellation form is available through the following link.

Cancellation of Enrolment for Express e-Channel

The procedure for using Express e-Channel is illustrated in a workflow video that can be accessed through the following link.

Video on Express e-Channel Workflow

Cross-boundary Student e-Channel

 Cross-boundary Student e-Channel

To provide more convenient automated immigration clearance service for cross-boundary primary school students, Cross-boundary Student e-Channels are installed at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spurline Control Point.

Eligibility Criteria

A Cross-boundary Student can perform automated immigration clearance at the Cross-boundary Student e-Channel after successful enrolment if fulfilling the following criteria:

  1. A cross-boundary primary school student under the age of 11;
  2. At least 1.1 m tall; and
  3. Holding a valid travel document.

Using Cross-boundary Student e-Channel

Upon using the Cross-boundary Student e-Channel, the enrolled student should place his / her enrolled travel document onto the document reader. When the reading process has finished, he / she will be able to enter the Cross-boundary Student e-Channel.  After entering the Cross-boundary Student e-Channel, he / she will need to place his / her enrolled thumb or finger flat on the centre of the fingerprint scanner to verify his / her fingerprint.  After successful fingerprint verification, he / she can leave the Cross-boundary Student e-Channel.

  Using Cross-boundary Student e-Channel  Using Cross-boundary Student e-Channel

For any changes of enrolment details, especially after the replacement of the enrolled travel document, parent or guardian should complete the Change of Registered Particulars Application Form (available at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spurline Control Point) and submit it to an immigration staff at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau Spurline Control Point. When an enrolled student reaches the age of 11, he / she should perform automated immigration clearance at the e-Channels using the new smart identity card.

The procedure for using the Cross-boundary Student e-Channel is illustrated in a workflow video that can be accessed through the following link.

Video on Cross-boundary Student e-Channel Workflow

Using e-Channel by Foreign Domestic Helpers, Students or Imported Workers

Eligibility Criteria

Hong Kong residents who are staying in Hong Kong as foreign domestic helpers, students or imported workers and meet the following eligibility criteria can enrol for the e-Channel service:

  1. Aged 11 or above;
  2. Holders of foreign domestic helper, student or imported worker visas who have successfully activated their visas and completed the immigration clearance at the traditional counters upon arrival in Hong Kong;
  3. Holders of Hong Kong smart identity card; and
  4. The permitted conditions of stay is still valid.

Enrolment

Eligible Hong Kong residents may choose to enrol for the e-Channel service via the “Contactless e-Channel” mobile application free of charge. Details of the enrolment steps using “Contactless e-Channel” mobile application are available through the following link:

Click here for the details of enrolment steps using “Contactless e-Channel” Mobile Application

28-11-2023