My Experience with the Hong Kong e-Channel

[NSun]

I do not think there has been much discussion on AFF on this subject so...back in August all Australian passport holders became eligible to use their e-channel system (subject to having no 'adverse record' in Hong Kong and being over 16). Prior to that only frequent flyers (i.e. Qantas gold and above) and certain card holders such as APEC Business Travel could enrol, but now all Australians can. So, last week in Hong Kong I decided to enrol in it and I thought I'd share my experience. How to skip the queues at Hong Kong Airport passport control

Although one can enrol at Hong Kong Airport just before the Baggage Reclaim I had it done in the city - Level 7 of the Immigration Tower (7 Gloucester Rd Wan Chai). It was one small office - big enough for 2 people. I asked if I could enrol and I was able to do so within 5 minutes - it helped that no one else was seeking to enrol. I had to have a picture taken, my finger scanned and I had to sign a contract agreeing to conditions such as not overstaying (I would still get the 'landing slip' with a date I would have to leave by) and not taking up employment or forming a business whilst enrolled (presumably I could easily obtain a visa if I wanted to or had to stay longer or work in Hong Kong).

So, when I was leaving Hong Kong (through the International Airport) I still had to go through the liquid check but just after I could use the e-channel gates. The sole difference between them and the Smart Gates in Australia and New Zealand is that instead of taking a picture of my I had to scan my finger. Although much guidance on YouTube shows scanning a bar code on the back I was able to scan my photo page as the Smart Gates. I did not have to fill in a 'departure card'.

So, has anyone else enrolled in the e-channel since the law changed or has been enrolled previously and still is?

 

[Austman]

So, when I was leaving Hong Kong (through the International Airport) I still had to go through the liquid check but just after I could use the e-channel gates.

To note, Australians can use the e-channel gates when leaving HKG even without enrolling. I did it twice a couple of weeks ago. No waiting either time at those gates.

FWIW there was nearly no waiting at the regular HKG passport control either on the above 2 times I arrived. But there was waiting at the rooms to enroll in the e-channel system, so I skipped that (it's actually after passport control). I know lines can be quite long at HKG but with 4 pass-throughs recently it was all pretty quick.

 

[moa999]

Had the sticker on my passport for about 8 years and used it 10+ times.
Very easy and better now that they just give you the entry slip (initially it was a sticker that took up a bit of space).

I actually relocated the barcode from the outside of passport to the inside for better longwlevity

 

[defurax]

To note, Australians can use the e-channel gates when leaving HKG even without enrolling. I did it twice a couple of weeks ago. No waiting either time at those gates.

FWIW there was nearly no waiting at the regular HKG passport control either on the above 2 times I arrived. But there was waiting at the rooms to enroll in the e-channel system, so I skipped that (it's actually after passport control). I know lines can be quite long at HKG but with 4 pass-throughs recently it was all pretty quick.

Stupid question, but how does this work if they don't have your fingerprint on records?

 

[Austman]

Stupid question, but how does this work if they don't have your fingerprint on records?

e-Channel Services for Visitors | Immigration Department

No fingerprints needed on departure. But even if there were, it's possible to match them with the fingerprints you gave on arrival - eg SIN does this.

 

[defurax]

e-Channel Services for Visitors | Immigration Department

No fingerprints needed on departure. But even if there were, it's possible to match them with the fingerprints you gave on arrival - eg SIN does this.

Thanks for the link. I've been registered for e-channel for a few years now but it seems the procedure might be different if scanning the e-channel barcode instead of the passport ID page.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Stupid question, but how does this work if they don't have your fingerprint on records?

That was going to be my question too! the gate doesn't open until you put your finger there... but if they're collecting fingerprints on arrival that would explain it.

I don't know if the barcode on the back actually works these days? for the last year or so I've had to open the passport to scan the main page.

 

[Austman]

That was going to be my question too! the gate doesn't open until you put your finger there... but if they're collecting fingerprints on arrival that would explain it..

How up to date is your information? Maybe I'm mistaken but I've used the HKG exit e-channels twice in the past month and I don't recall a fingerprint reader. It was like leaving Australia. There are fingerprint readers when you try this elsewhere eg in SIN.

 

[defurax]

I don't know if the barcode on the back actually works these days? for the last year or so I've had to open the passport to scan the main page.

Last time I scanned the barcode to leave Hong Kong was end of August.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How up to date is your information? Maybe I'm mistaken but I've used the HKG exit e-channels twice in the past month and I don't recall a fingerprint reader. It was like leaving Australia. There are fingerprint readers when you try this elsewhere eg in SIN.

couple days ago

slide passport in, remove passport, barrier opens. place finger on reader, second barrier opens.

same for entry, except after you've placed your finger it issues a record of entry before the second barrier opens.

HKG does have a couple different e-channels... I dunno if they're any different in operation (e-gate and frequent traveller gate).

 

[andyhui01]

^if the gates are the same as the HK Resident gates. The fingerprint reader is right below the screen on the 2nd step.

Funny thing is even though those egates are more than 10 years old in Hong Kong. They work so much quicker than Australian ones as 1 gate processes 2 passengers at the same time. The Australian ones can only do 1 at a time even though it is a 2 step process like HK. I just put it down to Hong Kong efficiency.

 

[Austman]

^if the gates are the same as the HK Resident gates. The fingerprint reader is right below the screen on the 2nd step.

They are a separate set of gates, clearly marked as foreigner e-channel gates. I might add that there was almost no-one using them on the two occasions I used them in the past month. Zero waiting for me each time.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

^if the gates are the same as the HK Resident gates. The fingerprint reader is right below the screen on the 2nd step.

Yeah, one assumes there has to be some sort of match between the passenger attempting to enter/leave and the passport. Otherwise you could potentially escape law enforcement if you didn't have to provide a finger print or photo.

It's always a bit of a lottery as to which gate I can use... I'm pretty sure I used the residents gate this time, but other times it has failed to read the passport. And I haven't been able to use the barcode at all for a couple years, only the main passport page.

 

[andyhui01]

^You should be able to use the residents gate as they have passport scanners as well. I have seen people use Passports at the Residents gate with no issue (don't know what permit/visas they have though).

 

[Austman]

And, although I might be mistaken, there's no mention of fingerprints here:

e-Channel Services for Visitors | Immigration Department

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And, although I might be mistaken, there's no mention of fingerprints here:

e-Channel Services for Visitors | Immigration Department

That would be more in line with the Aussie system.

Perhaps it's working on two systems? if your fingerprints are registered the fingerprint button lights up, otherwise the camera works?

That being said, there was no camera on the gates I used this week. So maybe I'm eligible (somehow) to use both and picked the one without?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I seem to have lost the 'edit' button on my mobile.

I was going to add that I have been registered for about 10 years now, and they captured my fingerprints as part of the initial registration. I think those transferred over when I got my new passport.

 

[Austman]

Just confirmed with my +1.

We are 100% sure there is no fingerprint requirement when using the dedicated e-channel lanes (for visitors only?), at HKG airport. We did this 4 times in the past month.

And confirmed here:

Passport e-channels to launch for foreign visitors

"No fingerprints are needed for identification"

I'm just not 100% sure if there were a separate set of gates just for visitors or not (I think there were)... But nearly no-one was using them when we were there.

To note too that this possibility only became available on 10th October 2017.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

seems there might be dual capability (photo *or* fingerprint) depending on your registration, and also the difference between residents and e-visitors only (which some folk, maybe those with fingerprints, can use both)

I was wondering why I could easily find gates this time... sometimes in the past I had to use a different gate (non resident maybe)

 

[Austman]

seems there might be dual capability (photo *or* fingerprint) depending on your registration, and also the difference between residents and e-visitors only (which some folk, maybe those with fingerprints, can use both)

100% sure we did not need fingerprints.