Does a Nepali need a transit visa for a technical stop in Hong Kong?
I have a Nepali passport and am traveling SFO-SIN (from San Francisco to Singapore). I see on the ticket it says 1 HR stop in Hong Kong. When I called my travel agency they said it's for a technical stop and no passengers will be getting off. On visa website for Hong Kong, it clearly says Nepal passport holders need a transit visa, including for airside transit.
What does it mean?
Edit: I did call Singapore airlines and they said I won't need a transit visa since there will be no boarding pass issued for HKG. I asked her to check with her supervisor too and she confirmed the same. My flight is next Saturday and there is no time for me to get a transit visa now. Is there a consular office for Hong Kong in US where I can call and confirm? On internet I only found Chinese Embassy number to contact and they never pick up the phone.
Update:
I got a call from Singapore Airlines today asking what passport I have and if I can have transit in Hong Kong (a little too late to call of course). Later they left a voicemail saying if you are from so or so country you can't have transit in HKG without a visa and of course Nepal passport was one of them. So I had to call back and fight with the operator for over an hour that THEY had told me it was ok for me to travel just a week ago. They blamed my ticketing agent for booking it in the first place. After couple of hours of back and forth, and a long long wait on hold they agreed to get me direct flight from SFO to SIN provided that I pay the flight change cost. Such a hassle !!
transit-visas hkg nepali-citizens technical-stops
edited Jan 15 '17 at 2:42
pnuts
26.8k367164
asked Jan 6 '17 at 17:53
NeeraNeera
584
|
show 3 more comments
I have a Nepali passport and am traveling SFO-SIN (from San Francisco to Singapore). I see on the ticket it says 1 HR stop in Hong Kong. When I called my travel agency they said it's for a technical stop and no passengers will be getting off. On visa website for Hong Kong, it clearly says Nepal passport holders need a transit visa, including for airside transit.
What does it mean?
Edit: I did call Singapore airlines and they said I won't need a transit visa since there will be no boarding pass issued for HKG. I asked her to check with her supervisor too and she confirmed the same. My flight is next Saturday and there is no time for me to get a transit visa now. Is there a consular office for Hong Kong in US where I can call and confirm? On internet I only found Chinese Embassy number to contact and they never pick up the phone.
Update:
I got a call from Singapore Airlines today asking what passport I have and if I can have transit in Hong Kong (a little too late to call of course). Later they left a voicemail saying if you are from so or so country you can't have transit in HKG without a visa and of course Nepal passport was one of them. So I had to call back and fight with the operator for over an hour that THEY had told me it was ok for me to travel just a week ago. They blamed my ticketing agent for booking it in the first place. After couple of hours of back and forth, and a long long wait on hold they agreed to get me direct flight from SFO to SIN provided that I pay the flight change cost. Such a hassle !!
transit-visas hkg nepali-citizens technical-stops
edited Jan 15 '17 at 2:42
pnuts
26.8k367164
asked Jan 6 '17 at 17:53
NeeraNeera
584
Here has crew and passengers require visas for any stop in China. Here (from 2009) has you don't ever go near immigration.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 19:38
IF Npr1 and Neera are one and the same then may be a case for an account merge.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 20:16
In 2012 I flew through HK with Air New Zealand, on a single flight code (NZ38 LHR-AKL). We definitely had to leave the plane for an hour or two and there was some form of showing-passports formality, but there doesn't seem to have been a passport stamp as a result - it may have been for ID purposes or to check that we did indeed have an outbound boarding pass and weren't meant to get off in HK. Hard to say for sure at this distance...
– Andrew
Jan 6 '17 at 20:31
3
@pnuts: Hong Kong has a completely different visa policy from the rest of China, so it wouldn't be surprising if HKG were an exception to a blanket statement about tech stops in China.
– Nate Eldredge
Jan 7 '17 at 0:23
1
It is true that SQ1 Singapore-bound passengers are issued only a single boarding pass at SFO. If Singapore Airlines thinks this makes your stop a "technical stop" (they will know what is allowed at HKG) and is willing to let you board the plane on that basis I don't think you'll be seeing anyone in Hong Kong that will contradict them. It sounds like you are good to go.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 22:58
|
show 3 more comments
I have a Nepali passport and am traveling SFO-SIN (from San Francisco to Singapore). I see on the ticket it says 1 HR stop in Hong Kong. When I called my travel agency they said it's for a technical stop and no passengers will be getting off. On visa website for Hong Kong, it clearly says Nepal passport holders need a transit visa, including for airside transit.
What does it mean?
Edit: I did call Singapore airlines and they said I won't need a transit visa since there will be no boarding pass issued for HKG. I asked her to check with her supervisor too and she confirmed the same. My flight is next Saturday and there is no time for me to get a transit visa now. Is there a consular office for Hong Kong in US where I can call and confirm? On internet I only found Chinese Embassy number to contact and they never pick up the phone.
Update:
I got a call from Singapore Airlines today asking what passport I have and if I can have transit in Hong Kong (a little too late to call of course). Later they left a voicemail saying if you are from so or so country you can't have transit in HKG without a visa and of course Nepal passport was one of them. So I had to call back and fight with the operator for over an hour that THEY had told me it was ok for me to travel just a week ago. They blamed my ticketing agent for booking it in the first place. After couple of hours of back and forth, and a long long wait on hold they agreed to get me direct flight from SFO to SIN provided that I pay the flight change cost. Such a hassle !!
transit-visas hkg nepali-citizens technical-stops
edited Jan 15 '17 at 2:42
pnuts
26.8k367164
asked Jan 6 '17 at 17:53
NeeraNeera
584
I have a Nepali passport and am traveling SFO-SIN (from San Francisco to Singapore). I see on the ticket it says 1 HR stop in Hong Kong. When I called my travel agency they said it's for a technical stop and no passengers will be getting off. On visa website for Hong Kong, it clearly says Nepal passport holders need a transit visa, including for airside transit.
What does it mean?
Edit: I did call Singapore airlines and they said I won't need a transit visa since there will be no boarding pass issued for HKG. I asked her to check with her supervisor too and she confirmed the same. My flight is next Saturday and there is no time for me to get a transit visa now. Is there a consular office for Hong Kong in US where I can call and confirm? On internet I only found Chinese Embassy number to contact and they never pick up the phone.
Update:
I got a call from Singapore Airlines today asking what passport I have and if I can have transit in Hong Kong (a little too late to call of course). Later they left a voicemail saying if you are from so or so country you can't have transit in HKG without a visa and of course Nepal passport was one of them. So I had to call back and fight with the operator for over an hour that THEY had told me it was ok for me to travel just a week ago. They blamed my ticketing agent for booking it in the first place. After couple of hours of back and forth, and a long long wait on hold they agreed to get me direct flight from SFO to SIN provided that I pay the flight change cost. Such a hassle !!
transit-visas hkg nepali-citizens technical-stops
transit-visas hkg nepali-citizens technical-stops
edited Jan 15 '17 at 2:42
pnuts
26.8k367164
asked Jan 6 '17 at 17:53
NeeraNeera
584
edited Jan 15 '17 at 2:42
pnuts
26.8k367164
asked Jan 6 '17 at 17:53
NeeraNeera
584
edited Jan 15 '17 at 2:42
pnuts
26.8k367164
edited Jan 15 '17 at 2:42
pnuts
26.8k367164
edited Jan 15 '17 at 2:42
pnuts
26.8k367164
26.8k367164
asked Jan 6 '17 at 17:53
NeeraNeera
584
asked Jan 6 '17 at 17:53
NeeraNeera
584
asked Jan 6 '17 at 17:53
NeeraNeera
584
584
Here has crew and passengers require visas for any stop in China. Here (from 2009) has you don't ever go near immigration.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 19:38
IF Npr1 and Neera are one and the same then may be a case for an account merge.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 20:16
In 2012 I flew through HK with Air New Zealand, on a single flight code (NZ38 LHR-AKL). We definitely had to leave the plane for an hour or two and there was some form of showing-passports formality, but there doesn't seem to have been a passport stamp as a result - it may have been for ID purposes or to check that we did indeed have an outbound boarding pass and weren't meant to get off in HK. Hard to say for sure at this distance...
– Andrew
Jan 6 '17 at 20:31
3
@pnuts: Hong Kong has a completely different visa policy from the rest of China, so it wouldn't be surprising if HKG were an exception to a blanket statement about tech stops in China.
– Nate Eldredge
Jan 7 '17 at 0:23
1
It is true that SQ1 Singapore-bound passengers are issued only a single boarding pass at SFO. If Singapore Airlines thinks this makes your stop a "technical stop" (they will know what is allowed at HKG) and is willing to let you board the plane on that basis I don't think you'll be seeing anyone in Hong Kong that will contradict them. It sounds like you are good to go.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 22:58
|
show 3 more comments
Here has crew and passengers require visas for any stop in China. Here (from 2009) has you don't ever go near immigration.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 19:38
IF Npr1 and Neera are one and the same then may be a case for an account merge.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 20:16
In 2012 I flew through HK with Air New Zealand, on a single flight code (NZ38 LHR-AKL). We definitely had to leave the plane for an hour or two and there was some form of showing-passports formality, but there doesn't seem to have been a passport stamp as a result - it may have been for ID purposes or to check that we did indeed have an outbound boarding pass and weren't meant to get off in HK. Hard to say for sure at this distance...
– Andrew
Jan 6 '17 at 20:31
3
@pnuts: Hong Kong has a completely different visa policy from the rest of China, so it wouldn't be surprising if HKG were an exception to a blanket statement about tech stops in China.
– Nate Eldredge
Jan 7 '17 at 0:23
1
It is true that SQ1 Singapore-bound passengers are issued only a single boarding pass at SFO. If Singapore Airlines thinks this makes your stop a "technical stop" (they will know what is allowed at HKG) and is willing to let you board the plane on that basis I don't think you'll be seeing anyone in Hong Kong that will contradict them. It sounds like you are good to go.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 22:58
Here has crew and passengers require visas for any stop in China. Here (from 2009) has you don't ever go near immigration.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 19:38
Here has crew and passengers require visas for any stop in China. Here (from 2009) has you don't ever go near immigration.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 19:38
IF Npr1 and Neera are one and the same then may be a case for an account merge.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 20:16
IF Npr1 and Neera are one and the same then may be a case for an account merge.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 20:16
In 2012 I flew through HK with Air New Zealand, on a single flight code (NZ38 LHR-AKL). We definitely had to leave the plane for an hour or two and there was some form of showing-passports formality, but there doesn't seem to have been a passport stamp as a result - it may have been for ID purposes or to check that we did indeed have an outbound boarding pass and weren't meant to get off in HK. Hard to say for sure at this distance...
– Andrew
Jan 6 '17 at 20:31
In 2012 I flew through HK with Air New Zealand, on a single flight code (NZ38 LHR-AKL). We definitely had to leave the plane for an hour or two and there was some form of showing-passports formality, but there doesn't seem to have been a passport stamp as a result - it may have been for ID purposes or to check that we did indeed have an outbound boarding pass and weren't meant to get off in HK. Hard to say for sure at this distance...
– Andrew
Jan 6 '17 at 20:31
3
3
@pnuts: Hong Kong has a completely different visa policy from the rest of China, so it wouldn't be surprising if HKG were an exception to a blanket statement about tech stops in China.
– Nate Eldredge
Jan 7 '17 at 0:23
@pnuts: Hong Kong has a completely different visa policy from the rest of China, so it wouldn't be surprising if HKG were an exception to a blanket statement about tech stops in China.
– Nate Eldredge
Jan 7 '17 at 0:23
1
1
It is true that SQ1 Singapore-bound passengers are issued only a single boarding pass at SFO. If Singapore Airlines thinks this makes your stop a "technical stop" (they will know what is allowed at HKG) and is willing to let you board the plane on that basis I don't think you'll be seeing anyone in Hong Kong that will contradict them. It sounds like you are good to go.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 22:58
It is true that SQ1 Singapore-bound passengers are issued only a single boarding pass at SFO. If Singapore Airlines thinks this makes your stop a "technical stop" (they will know what is allowed at HKG) and is willing to let you board the plane on that basis I don't think you'll be seeing anyone in Hong Kong that will contradict them. It sounds like you are good to go.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 22:58
|
show 3 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
I suspect that you do need a transit visa. First of all, your travel agent is incorrect that "no passengers will be getting off"; it is possible to book travel on flight SQ1 from SFO to HKG only, with HKG as your final destination. You can try it out on the Singapore Airlines website. So this isn't a true technical stop.
There will likely be people getting off at HKG. And unless the airline has some very special procedures, it would probably be possible for you to get off too, whether or not you are supposed to. As such, it makes sense that you would have to have an airside transit visa.
To be certain, you should call the airline and ask.
answered Jan 7 '17 at 2:25
Nate EldredgeNate Eldredge
21.7k779103
1
Agree on "call the airline", they're more likely to know than the travel agent.
– Andrew
Jan 7 '17 at 13:24
6
SQ1 was my regular flight to HK. When I was taking it everyone got off at HKG, with the Singapore passengers passing a security check to get back to the departure level and reboard but not seeing immigration. Any visa enforcement for transit would need to be done by the airline (Timatic says a visa is required) so calling the airline to confirm is good advice.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 16:46
add a comment |
According to Timatic, the database used by airlines:
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a Hong Kong (SAR
China) Permanent Identity Card.
and
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a travel document
issued by Hong Kong (SAR China) with "Holder's eligibility for
Hong Kong (SAR China) Permanent Identity Card verified .
None of the exceptions apply to you, as such you need a visa.
answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:59
CrazydreCrazydre
52.7k1198232
add a comment |
protected by Nate Eldredge Dec 4 '18 at 16:57
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
I suspect that you do need a transit visa. First of all, your travel agent is incorrect that "no passengers will be getting off"; it is possible to book travel on flight SQ1 from SFO to HKG only, with HKG as your final destination. You can try it out on the Singapore Airlines website. So this isn't a true technical stop.
There will likely be people getting off at HKG. And unless the airline has some very special procedures, it would probably be possible for you to get off too, whether or not you are supposed to. As such, it makes sense that you would have to have an airside transit visa.
To be certain, you should call the airline and ask.
answered Jan 7 '17 at 2:25
Nate EldredgeNate Eldredge
21.7k779103
1
Agree on "call the airline", they're more likely to know than the travel agent.
– Andrew
Jan 7 '17 at 13:24
6
SQ1 was my regular flight to HK. When I was taking it everyone got off at HKG, with the Singapore passengers passing a security check to get back to the departure level and reboard but not seeing immigration. Any visa enforcement for transit would need to be done by the airline (Timatic says a visa is required) so calling the airline to confirm is good advice.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 16:46
add a comment |
I suspect that you do need a transit visa. First of all, your travel agent is incorrect that "no passengers will be getting off"; it is possible to book travel on flight SQ1 from SFO to HKG only, with HKG as your final destination. You can try it out on the Singapore Airlines website. So this isn't a true technical stop.
There will likely be people getting off at HKG. And unless the airline has some very special procedures, it would probably be possible for you to get off too, whether or not you are supposed to. As such, it makes sense that you would have to have an airside transit visa.
To be certain, you should call the airline and ask.
answered Jan 7 '17 at 2:25
Nate EldredgeNate Eldredge
21.7k779103
1
Agree on "call the airline", they're more likely to know than the travel agent.
– Andrew
Jan 7 '17 at 13:24
6
SQ1 was my regular flight to HK. When I was taking it everyone got off at HKG, with the Singapore passengers passing a security check to get back to the departure level and reboard but not seeing immigration. Any visa enforcement for transit would need to be done by the airline (Timatic says a visa is required) so calling the airline to confirm is good advice.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 16:46
add a comment |
I suspect that you do need a transit visa. First of all, your travel agent is incorrect that "no passengers will be getting off"; it is possible to book travel on flight SQ1 from SFO to HKG only, with HKG as your final destination. You can try it out on the Singapore Airlines website. So this isn't a true technical stop.
There will likely be people getting off at HKG. And unless the airline has some very special procedures, it would probably be possible for you to get off too, whether or not you are supposed to. As such, it makes sense that you would have to have an airside transit visa.
To be certain, you should call the airline and ask.
answered Jan 7 '17 at 2:25
Nate EldredgeNate Eldredge
21.7k779103
I suspect that you do need a transit visa. First of all, your travel agent is incorrect that "no passengers will be getting off"; it is possible to book travel on flight SQ1 from SFO to HKG only, with HKG as your final destination. You can try it out on the Singapore Airlines website. So this isn't a true technical stop.
There will likely be people getting off at HKG. And unless the airline has some very special procedures, it would probably be possible for you to get off too, whether or not you are supposed to. As such, it makes sense that you would have to have an airside transit visa.
To be certain, you should call the airline and ask.
answered Jan 7 '17 at 2:25
Nate EldredgeNate Eldredge
21.7k779103
answered Jan 7 '17 at 2:25
Nate EldredgeNate Eldredge
21.7k779103
answered Jan 7 '17 at 2:25
Nate EldredgeNate Eldredge
21.7k779103
answered Jan 7 '17 at 2:25
Nate EldredgeNate Eldredge
21.7k779103
21.7k779103
1
Agree on "call the airline", they're more likely to know than the travel agent.
– Andrew
Jan 7 '17 at 13:24
6
SQ1 was my regular flight to HK. When I was taking it everyone got off at HKG, with the Singapore passengers passing a security check to get back to the departure level and reboard but not seeing immigration. Any visa enforcement for transit would need to be done by the airline (Timatic says a visa is required) so calling the airline to confirm is good advice.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 16:46
add a comment |
1
Agree on "call the airline", they're more likely to know than the travel agent.
– Andrew
Jan 7 '17 at 13:24
6
SQ1 was my regular flight to HK. When I was taking it everyone got off at HKG, with the Singapore passengers passing a security check to get back to the departure level and reboard but not seeing immigration. Any visa enforcement for transit would need to be done by the airline (Timatic says a visa is required) so calling the airline to confirm is good advice.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 16:46
1
1
Agree on "call the airline", they're more likely to know than the travel agent.
– Andrew
Jan 7 '17 at 13:24
Agree on "call the airline", they're more likely to know than the travel agent.
– Andrew
Jan 7 '17 at 13:24
6
6
SQ1 was my regular flight to HK. When I was taking it everyone got off at HKG, with the Singapore passengers passing a security check to get back to the departure level and reboard but not seeing immigration. Any visa enforcement for transit would need to be done by the airline (Timatic says a visa is required) so calling the airline to confirm is good advice.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 16:46
SQ1 was my regular flight to HK. When I was taking it everyone got off at HKG, with the Singapore passengers passing a security check to get back to the departure level and reboard but not seeing immigration. Any visa enforcement for transit would need to be done by the airline (Timatic says a visa is required) so calling the airline to confirm is good advice.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 16:46
add a comment |
According to Timatic, the database used by airlines:
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a Hong Kong (SAR
China) Permanent Identity Card.
and
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a travel document
issued by Hong Kong (SAR China) with "Holder's eligibility for
Hong Kong (SAR China) Permanent Identity Card verified .
None of the exceptions apply to you, as such you need a visa.
answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:59
CrazydreCrazydre
52.7k1198232
add a comment |
According to Timatic, the database used by airlines:
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a Hong Kong (SAR
China) Permanent Identity Card.
and
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a travel document
issued by Hong Kong (SAR China) with "Holder's eligibility for
Hong Kong (SAR China) Permanent Identity Card verified .
None of the exceptions apply to you, as such you need a visa.
answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:59
CrazydreCrazydre
52.7k1198232
add a comment |
According to Timatic, the database used by airlines:
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a Hong Kong (SAR
China) Permanent Identity Card.
and
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a travel document
issued by Hong Kong (SAR China) with "Holder's eligibility for
Hong Kong (SAR China) Permanent Identity Card verified .
None of the exceptions apply to you, as such you need a visa.
answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:59
CrazydreCrazydre
52.7k1198232
According to Timatic, the database used by airlines:
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a Hong Kong (SAR
China) Permanent Identity Card.
and
- Visa required, except for Passengers with a travel document
issued by Hong Kong (SAR China) with "Holder's eligibility for
Hong Kong (SAR China) Permanent Identity Card verified .
None of the exceptions apply to you, as such you need a visa.
answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:59
CrazydreCrazydre
52.7k1198232
answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:59
CrazydreCrazydre
52.7k1198232
answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:59
CrazydreCrazydre
52.7k1198232
answered Jan 11 '17 at 22:59
CrazydreCrazydre
52.7k1198232
52.7k1198232
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by Nate Eldredge Dec 4 '18 at 16:57
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
Here has crew and passengers require visas for any stop in China. Here (from 2009) has you don't ever go near immigration.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 19:38
IF Npr1 and Neera are one and the same then may be a case for an account merge.
– pnuts
Jan 6 '17 at 20:16
In 2012 I flew through HK with Air New Zealand, on a single flight code (NZ38 LHR-AKL). We definitely had to leave the plane for an hour or two and there was some form of showing-passports formality, but there doesn't seem to have been a passport stamp as a result - it may have been for ID purposes or to check that we did indeed have an outbound boarding pass and weren't meant to get off in HK. Hard to say for sure at this distance...
– Andrew
Jan 6 '17 at 20:31
3
@pnuts: Hong Kong has a completely different visa policy from the rest of China, so it wouldn't be surprising if HKG were an exception to a blanket statement about tech stops in China.
– Nate Eldredge
Jan 7 '17 at 0:23
1
It is true that SQ1 Singapore-bound passengers are issued only a single boarding pass at SFO. If Singapore Airlines thinks this makes your stop a "technical stop" (they will know what is allowed at HKG) and is willing to let you board the plane on that basis I don't think you'll be seeing anyone in Hong Kong that will contradict them. It sounds like you are good to go.
– Dennis
Jan 7 '17 at 22:58