UK ETA for Hong Kong Residents 2026: BNO and HKSAR Passports

Whether a Hong Kong resident needs a UK ETA in 2026 comes down to the passport: travel on an HKSAR passport and you need the £20 ETA, but travel on a British National (Overseas) passport and you do not need one at all. Travellers who hold both often get confused by this. Below is which document to use, what the ETA costs and how to apply.

TL;DR: Only travellers on an HKSAR passport need a UK ETA. It costs £20 and lasts two years. BN(O) passport holders are exempt. If you hold both, decide which passport you will travel on before you book.

Your passport	UK ETA needed?	Short-stay entry
HKSAR passport	Yes — £20	Up to 6 months
BN(O) passport	No — exempt	Up to 6 months
British Overseas Territories citizen	No — exempt	Varies

Key facts at a glance:

• HKSAR travellers must hold an ETA before boarding, costing £20 since 8 April 2026 (gov.uk/eta).
• BN(O) passport holders are listed among those who do not need an ETA (gov.uk: who does not need an ETA).
• An HKSAR ETA covers unlimited trips for two years, each stay up to six months.
• Every HKSAR traveller needs their own ETA, children included.
• Applications go through the official UK ETA app or website, before departure.

Not certain which passport places you in which group? The gov.uk visa checker and the UK entry requirements checklist confirm your route in minutes.

Do Hong Kong residents need a UK ETA?

Some do, some do not: the ETA is mandatory on an HKSAR passport but not required on an Overseas passport, which the Home Office lists as exempt. Hong Kong is a non-visa nationality, so the standard SAR passport now needs online authorisation. BN(O) status, a form of British nationality, sits outside the ETA scheme entirely.

The practical upshot is simple. If your only travel document is an HKSAR passport, you apply and pay £20. With a valid Overseas passport, you can travel without one. Carrying two travel documents? See which passport to use if you hold two.

HKSAR vs BN(O) passport: which do you use?

Use the passport that matches your plans: the HKSAR passport needs a £20 ETA for six-month visits, while an Overseas passport skips it and also opens the separate BN(O) visa route for longer stays. Many Hong Kong families own both, so the choice is theirs to make trip by trip.

For a short holiday, either works — that Overseas route simply saves the fee and the form. For anyone planning to live, study or work in the UK long term, that Overseas visa is the relevant path, not the ETA. Confirm your eligibility on the official channels rather than assuming.

Situation	Best document	Why
Two-week holiday, hold HKSAR only	HKSAR + ETA	ETA required, £20
Two-week holiday, hold BN(O)	BN(O) passport	No ETA, no fee
Planning to relocate	BN(O) visa route	Long-stay path

How much is the ETA and how do you apply?

An HKSAR passport holder pays £20 and applies online in about 10 minutes, using the passport and a payment card. The fee rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026. There is no family rate, so a household of four travelling on HKSAR passports pays £80 in total. BN(O) travellers pay nothing.

For HKSAR applicants, the steps are:

1. Check the passport. It must be a valid HKSAR passport — check your passport is valid first.
2. Prepare the basics. A card, an email address, and the items in documents you need to apply.
3. Complete the form. Enter your details, add a photo, answer the questions and pay £20. See the £20 UK ETA fee for what is covered.
4. Track approval. Use check your ETA application status; it links to the passport automatically.

Filling in forms for the whole family? We can review and submit each HKSAR application for you — handy if older relatives would rather not deal with the online steps. You keep control of the trip; we catch the errors that cause delays. For a full comparison, a full cost breakdown lays out every charge.

What Hong Kong travellers should know at the UK border

At the UK border, HKSAR travellers with an approved ETA and Overseas passport holders alike use an ePassport gate or a Border Force desk, and both routes are checked digitally. Travellers aged 8 or over can use the eGates at major airports. The key is consistency: enter on the same passport you used to plan the trip.

Carry proof of your return flight and accommodation. Questions are uncommon, but a short chat about the purpose of your visit can happen on arrival. Whichever passport you travel on, do not switch documents mid-journey — book, board and enter on one.

Pro tip: If you carry both passports, pick one before you book flights and use it for the airline booking, check-in and the border. Booking with your HKSAR passport and then showing the Overseas one at the gate can easily cause confusion.

Take a Hong Kong couple where one holds a BN(O) passport and the other only an HKSAR passport. For a week in London, the BN(O) partner travels ETA-free, while the partner on the SAR document applies online and pays £20. Both can enter smoothly, provided each uses the right document and books under the matching name and passport.

Practical tips for Hong Kong travellers heading to the UK

Pick your passport first, apply early if you are on an HKSAR document, and never mix the two mid-trip — those three habits prevent the most common problems. The rules apply the same across England, Scotland and Wales.

If you renew an HKSAR passport, the old ETA does not carry over, because the authorisation is tied to the specific passport. A new book means a fresh application. You do not have to print or show your ETA confirmation, since it is linked to your passport, but keeping the approval email to hand can help if questions come up at check-in.

• Time your application. HKSAR applicants should read when to apply for your ETA to leave a buffer.
• Renewing a passport? Start with renewing your ETA before you travel.
• Bringing children? Each child on an HKSAR passport needs one: ETAs for babies and children.
• Exploring beyond London? The same rules cover the whole UK — see visiting Scotland with an ETA.
• Refused before? What to do if your ETA is refused explains the next steps.

We are an independent assistance service, not a government body. You can apply directly on gov.uk (£20), or use our checking and support service.

Want expert eyes before you pay? Our team checks and submits each HKSAR ETA so nothing is missed — a relief when you are arranging travel for relatives who prefer not to tackle the form.

Hong Kong travellers: frequently asked questions

Do Hong Kong residents need a UK ETA in 2026?

It depends on the passport. HKSAR travellers need a £20 ETA; BN(O) passport holders are exempt and travel without one (gov.uk).

Do BN(O) passport holders need an ETA?

No. The Home Office lists British National (Overseas) passport holders as exempt from the ETA requirement. They can enter the UK for short stays on that passport alone.

How much is the ETA for HKSAR travellers?

It costs £20 per person and lasts two years. The fee rose from £16 on 8 April 2026, and every HKSAR traveller pays the same amount (gov.uk/eta).

I hold both passports — which should I use?

Either works for a short visit. Travelling on an Overseas passport skips the ETA and the fee; the HKSAR passport needs the £20 ETA. Choose one and use it for booking, boarding and the border.

Can HKSAR travellers work in the UK on an ETA?

No. The ETA covers tourism, family visits and short business trips only. Longer stays, work or study need the correct visa, such as the BN(O) route for eligible residents.

Do Hong Kong children need their own ETA?

Children travelling on an HKSAR passport each need their own ETA, applied for by a parent. Children on a BN(O) passport do not need one.

How long does the HKSAR ETA take to approve?

Most applicants get a decision within one working day, but it can take up to three working days, so apply well before you travel.

Is the UK ETA a visa for Hong Kong residents?

No. The ETA is a travel authorisation for short visits, not a visa. Longer moves to the UK use the separate BN(O) visa route rather than the ETA.

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Last updated: 2026-10-13 — verified against the gov.uk schedule.