Hong Kong has withdrawn the visa-free facility for Indians who will have to complete a pre-arrival registration from Monday. The Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals will be implemented on January 23. The Hong Kong immigration department said in an announcement on its official website that the online service for Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals is now open. It said, Indian nationals must apply for and successfully complete pre-arrival registration online before they can visit or transit Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, visa-free, if seeking to enter the region during transit. It said, the Pre-arrival registration is not required for Indian nationals in direct transit by air and not leaving the airport transit area.

A notice on the Indian Consulate in Hong Kong said, Indian passport holders without the Pre-Arrival Registration Slip, except those belonging to any of the exempted categories, would not be allowed to board a conveyance bound for Hong Kong. It said, a Pre-Arrival Registration is normally valid for a six month period or until the expiry date of the Indian passport linked to it, whichever is earlier.