Inbound Travel

Points to Note for Quarantine for Inbound Travellers

Points to Note Before Arrival at Hong Kong

  • Before departing to Hong Kong, please pay attention to the relevant boarding, quarantine and testing arrangements. For details, refer to the information on this page and this Concise Guide.
  • Regarding Designated Quarantine Hotels (DQH), please refer to this webpage.
  • Health Declaration System
    • All inbound travellers are required to submit health declaration form.
    • Travellers can submit the form online (https://www.chp.gov.hk/hdf/).
    • After submitting the online form, the system will generate a QR code. Please save the result and show it to the border control point staff upon entering Hong Kong. The QR code is valid for 48 hours for arrival via Hong Kong International Airport (For arrival via land control points, the QR code is valid for 24 hours).
    • Currently, paper health declaration form is not applicable to travellers arriving in Hong Kong via the Hong Kong International Airport, Passenger Clearance Building of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and Passenger Terminal Building of Shenzhen Bay Control Point. If travellers have problems with the online form (e.g.no applicable mobile device), they may seek assistance from staff of the Department of Health upon arrival in Hong Kong.
  • Please click here to read the relevant FAQs for more information on the arrangement for declaration of non-local COVID-19 vaccination record.
  • Arrivals holding a visa with insufficient validity period will be denied entry.

Quarantine Measures for Inbound Travellers

In view of the latest development in global and local COVID-19 epidemic situations, the Government has implemented various border control measures for inbound travellers in order to build an anti-epidemic barrier to prevent the importation of cases.

For other most updated information, please also refer to daily press releases.

The boarding and quarantine arrangements applicable to a person arriving at Hong Kong depend on:

  • If exemption of quarantine arrangements are applicable to the person arriving at Hong Kong, please refer to relevant webpage
  • Whether the person arriving at Hong Kong is a Hong Kong resident (HKR)
  • What places the person arriving at Hong Kong has stayed in on the day of boarding for/arrival at Hong Kong, or the 21 days before that day
    • Only fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents are allowed to board flights for Hong Kong from high-risk places. For medium-risk places, only Hong Kong residents and fully vaccinated non-Hong Kong residents are allowed to board flights for Hong Kong.
    • See also the details on the grouping of specified places and their respective boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements below.
  • Whether the person arriving at Hong Kong is fully vaccinated and holds a recognised vaccination record
    • Fully vaccinated means the suggested dosage has been administered in accordance with the relevant guidelines of a COVID-19 vaccination course at least 14 days prior to arrival at Hong Kong. For travellers who have recovered from previous COVID-19 infection, they will be required to receive one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to be considered as fully vaccinated.
    • The 14th day after a person has completed a COVID-19 vaccination course is counted by taking the next day after the person received all of the recommended dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccine as the 1st day.
    • For example, for a person who has not been infected with COVID-19 previously and received the last recommended dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 10 May 2021, the "1st day" would be 11 May and the "14th day" would be 24 May. This person can be considered "fully vaccinated" starting on 24 May.
    • Click here for the “List of COVID-19 Vaccines Recognised for Specified Purposes”
    • Click here for the “List of Places of Issuance of Recognised Vaccination Records” (applicable to relevant Group A specified places travellers arriving at Hong Kong)
    • Please refer to documentary proof for completion of vaccination

Please refer to this Concise Guide.

All inbound travellers must pass temperature checks and perform health declaration upon arrival. Those found with symptoms will be referred to the Department of Health for further handling.

Following the end of compulsory quarantine, some inbound travellers will be required to undergo self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days and compulsory testing(s) in accordance with the relevant regulations, depending on the place(s) they have stayed during the relevant period, as well as whether they are fully vaccinated. Please refer to the tables below and the “Arrangements on Testing for Persons Arriving at Hong Kong” section for more information.

Persons who have only stayed in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan

If only stayed in Mainland China or Macao

Persons applicable: HKRs and non-HKRs who have only stayed in the Mainland or Macao on the day of boarding for/arrival at Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day (including those arriving at Hong Kong via land boundary control points or the airport), and who
have not been fully vaccinated have been fully vaccinated
Document requirement:
  1. (If i. arriving via airport and ii. having stayed in Mainland (outside Guangdong Province) or Macao on the day of boarding for/arrival at Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day) Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test with specimen collected within the 3 days prior to, or on the day of the scheduled day of arrival at HK @
  1. (If i. arriving via airport and ii. having stayed in Mainland (outside Guangdong Province) or Macao on the day of boarding for/arrival at Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day) Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test with specimen collected within the 3 days prior to, or on the day of the scheduled day of arrival at HK @
  2. Vaccination record
Quarantine requirement:
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days at designated places (home, hotel or other accommodation);
  2. Undergo 3 tests during compulsory quarantine (DTS sample);
  3. Compulsory testing on the 16th day of arrival at HK (professional swab sampling at a Community Testing Centre (CTC) or a recognised local medical testing institution); and
  4. Compulsory testing on the 19th day of arrival at HK (must be conducted at a CTC)
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 7 days at designated places (home, hotel or other accommodation);
  2. Undergo 2 tests during compulsory quarantine (DTS sample);
  3. Self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days; and
  4. Compulsory testing on the 9th, 12th, and 16th day of arrival at HK (professional swab sampling at a Community Testing Centre (CTC)or a recognised local medical testing institution); and
  5. Compulsory testing on the 19th day of arrival at HK (must be conducted at a CTC)

@The testing institutions for the tests must be:

  1. mutually recognised by the governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong / Hong Kong and Macao (see the lists: medical or testing institutions in the Guangdong Province; medical or testing institutions in Macao; medical or testing institutions in Hong Kong); or
  2. recognised by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (the list can be accessed via the State Council Portal Mini Program (「國務院客戶端」小程序) on nucleic acid testing organisation enquiry (「核酸檢測機構查詢」) function).

If stayed at Taiwan

Persons applicable: Travellers who have stayed in Taiwan on the day of boarding for/arrival in Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day (excluding those who have stayed in Group A specified place(s) and who –
are Hong Kong residents, and who – are Hong Kong residents or non-Hong Kong residents, and who –
have not been fully vaccinated have been fully vaccinated
Boarding requirement:
  1. Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within 72 hours; and
  2. Confirmation of room reservation in a DQH for not less than 21 nights
  1. Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within 72 hours;
  2. Confirmation of room reservation in a DQH for not less than 14 nights; and
  3. Vaccination record
Quarantine requirement:
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in a designated quarantine hotel; and
  2. Undergo 6 tests during compulsory quarantine (professional swab sampling)
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days in a designated quarantine hotel;
  2. Undergo 4 tests during compulsory quarantine (professional swab sampling);
  3. Self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days; and
  4. Compulsory testing on the 16th day of arrival at HK (professional swab sampling at a Community Testing Centre (CTC) or a recognised local medical testing institution); and
  5. Compulsory testing on the 19th day of arrival at HK (must be conducted at a CTC)

Other Points to Note

  • For details on Return2hk Scheme for Hong Kong residents, please refer to this webpage.
  • For details on Come2hk Scheme for non-Hong Kong residents, please refer to this webpage.
  • Inbound travellers who have been to any at-risk places temporarily inapplicable under the Return2hk / Come2hk Scheme in the past 14 days do not fulfill the relevant specified conditions under the Return2hk / Come2hk Scheme and will be subject to compulsory quarantine.
  • For arrangement on exempted persons under "Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation" (Cap. 599C), please refer to this webpage.

Persons who have stayed in overseas places

The Government has categorised the relevant specified places into different groups according to the relevant risk-based boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements:

Group A
Group A specified places
(High-risk) 		Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America
Persons applicable: Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Group A specified place(s) during the relevant period (the day of boarding for/arrival at Hong Kong or during the 21 days before that day) and who -

Have been fully vaccinated and hold recognised vaccination record
Boarding requirement:
  1. Present recognised vaccination record;
  2. Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within 72 hours; and
  3. Confirmation of room reservation in a DQH for not less than 21 nights
Quarantine requirement:
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in a designated quarantine hotel;
  2. Undergo 6 tests during compulsory quarantine (professional swab sampling);
  3. Self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days; and
  4. Compulsory testing on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong at any Community Testing Centre (CTC)
Group B
Group B specified places
(Medium-risk) 		All places outside China which are not Group A or Group C specified places
Persons applicable: Travellers who have stayed in Group B specified place(s) on the day of boarding for/arrival in Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day and who –
are Hong Kong residents, and who – are Hong Kong residents or non-Hong Kong residents, and who –
have not been fully vaccinated： have been fully vaccinated：
Boarding requirement:
  1. Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within 72 hours; and
  2. Confirmation of room reservation in a DQH for not less than 21 nights
  1. Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within 72 hours;
  2. Confirmation of room reservation in a DQH for not less than 14 nights; and
  3. Vaccination record
Quarantine requirement:
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in a designated quarantine hotel; and
  2. Undergo 6 tests during compulsory quarantine (professional swab sampling)
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days in a designated quarantine hotel;
  2. Undergo 4 tests during compulsory quarantine (professional swab sampling);
  3. Self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days;
  4. Compulsory testing on the 16th day of arrival at HK (professional swab sampling at a Community Testing Centre (CTC) or a recognised local medical testing institution); and
  5. Compulsory testing on the 19th day of arrival at HK (must be conducted at a CTC)
Group C
Group C specified places
(Low-risk) 		New Zealand

Persons applicable: Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents who have only stayed in Group C specified place(s), Mainland or Macao during the relevant period (the day of boarding for/arrival at Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day) and who –
have not been fully vaccinated have been fully vaccinated
Boarding requirement:
  1. Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within 72 hours; and
  2. Confirmation of room reservation in a DQH for not less than 14 nights
  1. Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within 72 hours;
  2. Confirmation of room reservation in a DQH for not less than 7 nights; and
  3. Vaccination record
Quarantine requirement:
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days in a designated quarantine hotel;
  2. Undergo 4 tests during compulsory quarantine (professional swab sampling);
  3. Self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days; and
  4. Compulsory testing on the 16th day of arrival at HK (professional swab sampling at a Community Testing Centre (CTC) or a recognised local medical testing institution); and
  5. Compulsory testing on the 19th day of arrival at HK (must be conducted at a CTC)
  1. Undergo compulsory quarantine for 7 days in a designated quarantine hotel;
  2. Undergo 2 tests during compulsory quarantine (professional swab sampling);
  3. Self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days; and
  4. Compulsory testing on the 9th, 12th, and 16th day of arrival at HK (professional swab sampling at a Community Testing Centre (CTC) or a recognised local medical testing institution); and
  5. Compulsory testing on the 19th day of arrival at HK (must be conducted at a CTC)

Other points to note

  • Travellers to Hong Kong should note that even they have conducted a COVID-19 nucleic acid test before returning to Hong Kong, for prudence sake, they will still be mandated to undergo testing for COVID-19 at the DH's Temporary Specimen Collection Centre and wait for their test results at a designated location pursuant to the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599).
  • If their test results are negative, they will be allowed to go to the hotel for which they made the reservation to continue the compulsory quarantine until completion. If their results are positive, the travellers will be transferred to hospital for isolation and treatment. Close contacts of confirmed cases will be sent to quarantine centre. Travellers have to bear their own cost for cancellation of hotel reservation or other relevant charges as a consequence of the positive test result.
  • The DH will issue compulsory quarantine orders to these returnees. The relevant government department will also arrange electronic wristbands for them (except for those undergo compulsory quarantine in Designated Quarantine Hotels). According to quarantine orders, they shall neither leave their hotel rooms nor move around in the hotel during the entire quarantine period. Leaving designated rooms will be regarded as a breach of the quarantine order and constitutes a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum imprisonment for six months and fine of $25,000.
  • Regarding foreign domestic helpers coming to work in Hong Kong, please refer to this webpage.
  • For arrangement on exempted persons under "Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation" (Cap. 599E), please refer to this webpage.

Boarding Requirements

Relevant Mainland (except Guangdong) or Macao travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport

From 9 August 2021, anyone who boards a flight for Hong Kong from the Mainland(except Guangdong) or Macao must present prior to boarding a flight for Hong Kong a negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 the sample for which was taken on the day or within three days prior to the scheduled time of arrival. Persons who fail to present the relevant negative test result will not be allowed to board for Hong Kong.

Relevant Taiwan or overseas travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport

From 9 August 2021, anyone who boards a flight for Hong Kong if having stayed in Taiwan or overseas places, has to comply with 3 basic requirements, including:

  1. Present prior to boarding (i) a negative result proof of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 the sample for which was taken within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft and (ii) confirmation of room reservation at a designated quarantine hotel for the required compulsory quarantine duration;
  2. Subject to "test and hold" arrangement at the airport upon arrival in Hong Kong; and
  3. Upon confirmation of negative test result, board the designated transport arranged by the Government to go to a DQH to undergo compulsory quarantine.

Relevant Inbound Travellers - Group A Specified Places

Any persons who have stayed in Group A specified places on the day of boarding or during the 21 days before that day are not allowed to board a flight for Hong Kong, except those who fulfil the 3 aforementioned basic requirements and the following additional conditions (on return, they will be subject to the Group A quarantine arrangement):

  1. Hong Kong residents who have completed their courses of vaccination and present recognised vaccination records (refer to “Documentary proof for completion of vaccination” for details); or
  2. Accompanied minors who are Hong Kong residents or children of Hong Kong residents who are below the age of 12, if all the accompanied persons fulfilled condition (a) stated above.

The following persons will not be affected:

  1. A person who is in transit in Hong Kong;
  2. A person exempted by the Chief Secretary for Administration from compulsory quarantine under section 4(1) of either the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) or Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E); and
  3. A person who is a Hong Kong resident, and who has commenced his/her journey in Hong Kong and is deemed as an inadmissible person by the authorities of the place of his/her destination;

If any conditions specified by the Secretary for Food and Health is not met in relation to any relevant traveller on the conveyance, each of the operators of the conveyance commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to the maximum penalty of a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. If an operator fails to comply with a requirement to provide information, or knowingly or recklessly provides any information that is false or misleading in a material particular, he or she is liable on conviction to the maximum penalty of a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.

As for travellers, if a traveller coming to Hong Kong fails to comply with a requirement to provide information, or knowingly or recklessly provides any information that is false or misleading in a material particular, he or she is liable on conviction to the maximum penalty of a fine at level 3 ($10,000) and imprisonment for six months.

The operator of the specified aircraft should submit to the Department of Health (DH) before the specified aircraft arrives at Hong Kong a document in a form specified by the DH confirming that each relevant traveller has, before being checked-in for the flight to Hong Kong on that aircraft, produced for boarding on the aircraft the documentary proof to show that the above conditions are met (template). The above-mentioned inbound travellers who fail to produce the relevant specified documents will be refused to board the flight.

Negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19

Relevant Mainland (except Guangdong) or Macao travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport

Negative result proof of PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 should include:

  1. the relevant Mainland or Macao traveller underwent a test for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) the sample for which was taken from the person on the day of arrival at Hong Kong or within the three days before the scheduled day of arrival at Hong Kong;

  2. the test conducted on the sample is a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19;

  3. the result of the test is the relevant Mainland or Macao traveller was tested negative for COVID-19; and

  4. the test was conducted by a laboratory / testing institution that is

    1. mutually recognised by the governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong / Hong Kong and Macao (see the lists: medical or testing institutions in the Guangdong Province; medical or testing institutions in Macao; medical or testing institutions in Hong Kong); or
    2. recognised by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (the list can be accessed via the State Council Portal Mini Program (「國務院客戶端」小程序) on nucleic acid testing organisation enquiry (「核酸檢測機構查詢」) function).

Relevant Taiwan or overseas travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport

Negative result proof of PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 should include:

  1. A test report in English or Chinese issued by a laboratory or healthcare institution bearing the name of the relevant traveller matching that in his or her valid travel document to show that:
    1. the relevant traveller underwent a nucleic acid test for COVID-19, the sample for which was taken from the relevant traveller within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the specified aircraft (“specified aircraft” means a civil aviation aircraft that arrives at, or is about to arrive at Hong Kong, i.e. the aircraft which is directly landing Hong Kong);
    2. the test conducted on the sample is a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19; and
    3. he relevant traveller was tested negative for COVID-19; and
  2. If the relevant report is not in English or Chinese or does not contain all of the above information, a written confirmation in English or Chinese issued by the laboratory or healthcare institution bearing the name of the relevant traveller matching that in his or her valid travel document and setting out all of the above information. The said written confirmation should be presented together with the test report; and
  3. Documentary proof in English or Chinese to show that the laboratory or healthcare institution is ISO 15189 accredited or is recognised or approved by the relevant authority of the government of the place in which the laboratory or healthcare institution is located.

Note: The Government specifies that the relevant test must be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid test. Results of tests conducted using other testing platforms (e.g. reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification, RT-LAMP) cannot be considered to have fulfilled the relevant specified boarding requirement.

Confirmation of room reservation in a Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH)

Confirmation of room reservation in a Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH) should include:

  1. A confirmation in Chinese or English of room reservation in a DQH in Hong Kong for not less than 21/14/7 nights (according to the above quarantine period as specified under Quarantine Measures for Inbound Travellers), starting from the day of scheduled date of arrival in Hong Kong.
  2. A Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH) refers to Hotels/Guesthouses as published on the Government’s thematic webpage on Designated Hotels for Quarantine (www.designatedhotel.gov.hk)

Example: if a traveller is subject to 21-day compulsory quarantine, regardless of his/her time of arrival, the relevant hotel reservation is required to cover for not less than 22 Days 21 Nights starting on the scheduled day of arrival. If his/her scheduled date of arrival at Hong Kong is 01 Janurary (Day 1), his/her hotel reservation should start from 01 January until 22 January or later (i.e. Check-in date on 01 January and check-out date on 22 January or later).

Documentary proof for completion of vaccination (if applicable)


Click here for the “List of COVID-19 Vaccines Recognised for Specified Purposes”

Recognised vaccination record (applicable to relevant Group A specified places travellers arriving at Hong Kong) should include:

  1. A vaccination record issued by Hong Kong, or an authority or recognised institution of a place on the “List of Places of Issuance of Recognised Vaccination Records”, bearing the name of the relevant vaccinated traveller matching that in his/her valid travel document to show in Chinese or English that:
    1. the relevant traveller has received dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccine and the date on which the last dose was administered; and
    2. the name of the vaccine administered; and
  2. A written confirmation in English or Chinese issued by the healthcare institution or a relevant authority of the government of the place where the vaccine was administered, bearing the name of the relevant vaccinated traveller matching that in his/her valid travel document and setting out all of the above information if the vaccination record is not in English or Chinese or does not contain all of the above information. The said written confirmation should be presented together with the vaccination record.

Vaccination record (for all other relevant persons arriving at Hong Kong ) should include:

  1. A vaccination record in English or Chinese issued by Hong Kong or by relevant authorities or recognised institutions of the places where the vaccines were administered, bearing the name of the relevant vaccinated traveller matching that in his/her valid travel document to show that:
    1. the relevant traveller has received dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccine and the date on which the last dose was administered; and
    2. the name of the vaccine administered; and
  2. A written confirmation in English or Chinese issued by relevant authorities or recognised institutions of the places where the vaccines were administered, bearing the name of the relevant vaccinated traveller matching that in his/her valid travel document and setting out all of the above information if the vaccination record is not in English or Chinese or does not contain all of the above information. The said written confirmation should be presented together with the vaccination record.

Boarding and Quarantine Arrangements for Accompanied Children

For persons who have stayed in high-risk Group A specified places, Hong Kong residents who have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised vaccination record may board flights for Hong Kong. For Hong Kong residents or children of Hong Kong residents aged under 12 who are yet to be vaccinated, they can also board flights for Hong Kong if they are accompanied by Hong Kong residents who fulfilled the boarding requirements. These accompanied children must undergo compulsory quarantine together with the accompanying persons in designated quarantine hotels (DQHs) for 21 days, and undergo compulsory testing on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong.

For children aged under 12 (whether they are Hong Kong residents or not) who have stayed in medium-risk Group B specified places, Taiwan or low-risk Group C specified places (but have not stayed in any Group A specified places) and are yet to be vaccinated, upon arrival at Hong Kong together with a fully vaccinated person fulfilling boarding requirements, they may undergo compulsory quarantine with the accompanying person for the same shortened quarantine period in DQHs applicable to the accompanying persons, subject to the following requirements. On completion of the quarantine period of the accompanying persons, the accompanied minors can return home with the accompanying persons for self-isolation at home until the end of their otherwise full quarantine period (i.e. 21 days for those arriving from Group B and Taiwan, and 14 days for Group C applicable to non-vaccinated persons):

  1. all accompanying persons who are placed under compulsory quarantine in DQHs together with the accompanied minors have been fully-vaccinated;
  2. if the accompanied minors and the accompanying persons need to take public transport for the purpose of going home from DQHs, they can only take taxis and must not disembark on the way;
  3. all household members aged 12 or above who stay with the accompanied minors during their time of isolation must be fully vaccinated. If there are other minors aged under 12 among the household members and they have not yet been vaccinated, those minors must also isolate at home during the same period;
  4. the accompanied minors not yet vaccinated and other minors in the household cannot have contact with other persons who have not yet been fully vaccinated (except minor members of the same household also isolating at home); and
  5. the accompanied minors and the other household members staying together during the home isolation will be subject to specified compulsory testing: If the compulsory quarantine period in DQHs is 7 days, they must undergo compulsory testing on the 9th, 12th, 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong. If the compulsory quarantine period in DQHs is 14 days, then they must undergo compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong. Household members aged 12 or above must undergo compulsory testing on the 19th day at a Community Testing Centre (CTC).
  6. The relevant government department will also arrange electronic wristbands for the accompanied minors (except for those under the age of 6) during the self-isolation period.

Testing Arrangements for Persons Arriving at Hong Kong

The Government announced that further steps will be taken to replace deep throat saliva (DTS) specimen by combined nasal and throat swab samples collected by professionals (professional swab sampling) as recognised compulsory testing method except for certain circumstances, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of COVID-19 testing arrangements.

Persons who arrive in Hong Kong from 8 September 2021 onwards that fall under the categories below must undergo testing with professional swab sampling at a Community Testing Centre (CTC) or a recognised local medical testing institution, so as to comply with the compulsory testing requirement:

  • Arrivals in Hong Kong who have completed compulsory quarantine or isolation in a designated quarantine hotel (DQH) or at home but still need to undergo compulsory testing
  • Arrivals in Hong Kong under the Return2hk Scheme and Come2hk Scheme

Compulsory testing using deep throat saliva specimen will continue to be conducted under certain circumstances, for example, testing provided by the medical practitioners for suspected symptomatic patients; testing for inbound travellers during home quarantine or isolation; confirmatory tests for inbound travellers staying at DQHs or quarantine facilities; and testing for persons who are incapable of receiving professional swab sampling due to health or age reasons. As per existing mechanism, the Government distributes sufficient deep throat saliva specimen collection packs to inbound travellers who are required to undergo home quarantine or isolation at boundary control points. Other inbound travellers (including persons arriving Hong Kong under Return2hk Scheme or Come2hk Scheme to be launched later) will not receive specimen collection packs.

Persons conducted the compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing results of the test and the relevant medical certificate (if applicable) for checking when a prescribed officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.

Persons who arrive at Hong Kong and who have only stayed in the Mainland or Macao on the day of arrival at Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day

Staff of the Department of Health will distribute specimen collection bottles to persons subject to compulsory quarantine, to cover their compulsory quarantine period when they arrive at Hong Kong. They should collect deep throat saliva samples using the specimen bottles as per the guidelines on the specified testing dates, and return the specimen collection bottles by the same day. If necessary, the relevant persons subject to compulsory testing may also choose to obtain the specimen collection bottles from post offices, general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority or vending machines set up at MTR stations via family or friends. Regarding routes to submit specimens, please refer to this webpage.

For persons returning under the Return2hk Scheme, please refer to this webpage.

For persons returning under the Come2hk Scheme, please refer to this webpage.

Persons who have stayed in places outside China

Those arriving Hong Kong via the Hong Kong International Airport will be required to proceed to the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) set up in the restricted area of the Airport for COVID-19 testing immediately upon arrival. They will need to stay at the TSCC to wait for test results. Regarding Quarantine Procedures for entry via Airport, please refer to this webpage.

There will be testing by combined nasal and throat swabs for persons subject to quarantine at designated quarantine hotels. According to the epidemic development and needs, the Government will arrange extra virus testing for persons subject to quarantine at hotels. Young children are required to submit stool samples during their quarantine period. (Note: Charged door-to-door specimen collection service is not applicable to persons undergoing compulsory quarantine at the Designated Quarantine Hotel.)

Other points to note

  • Regarding compulsory testing outside quarantine period, persons subject to compulsory testing must undergo testing on specified testing dates according to relevant instructions, with professional swab sampling at a community testing centre (CTC) or a recognised local medical testing institution. The final compulsory test after the completion of quarantine or isolation by persons arriving at Hong Kong must be conducted in CTCs; please refer to relevant details and instructions.
  • According to the epidemic development and needs, the Government will arrange other rounds of virus testing for inbound travellers. Please refer to relevant instructions for details.
  • Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901 which operates from 9am to 6pm.
  • Pursuant to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J), the Government published in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, requiring relevant inbound travellers to undergo COVID-19 test(s) on specified day(s) after arrival. Any person who fails to comply with the testing notice commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him/her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.
  • Besides facing prosecution, persons under compulsory quarantine at home who fail to conduct testing according to compulsory testing requirements may be required to complete the rest of the quarantine period at a designated quarantine centre.

FAQs

Please refer to this webpage.

More Information

Health Monitoring Checklist for Arriving Travellers
Return2hk
Come2hk
Exemption from Compulsory Quarantine Arrangement for inbound travellers from the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan
Exemption from Compulsory Quarantine Arrangement for inbound travellers from foreign places
Testing and self-isolation arrangement for air crew, sea crew and other exempted persons - Frequently Asked Questions
How to Report Breaches of Quarantine Orders
“StayHomeSafe” Mobile App User Guide
Infection Control Advice for Person under Compulsory Home Quarantine
Note for Compulsory Quarantine
Fact Sheet for Coronavirus Disease 2019
Health Advice on Prevention of Pneumonia and Respiratory Tract Infection
Hand Hygiene
Use Mask Properly
Social Distancing
Keep Clean Be Healthy
Points to Note for Household Members
Wellcation - 21-day Quarantine Wellness Kit / 14-day Quarantine Wellness Kit