HKIA Frequent Arrivals Card

[Isochronous]

I remember seeing the Frequent Arrivals Card immigration queue at HK airport earlier in the year and then did some Googling, whereupon I discovered that if you clear customs at HKIA 3 times within 12 months, you are eligible to get this card. Since I will achieve this by the end of this year I thought I would apply.

However, the website now appears to apply that the card is no longer available to new applicants. However, there is a website that talks about an e-channel that you can apply for under the same 3 visits in 12 months policy: GovHK: Immigration Clearance through e-Channels

Does anybody have any experience with this new system? Is it worth me clearing immigration in HK tomorrow for the 3rd time to go to this office to sign up?

You are eligible to enroll for use of the e-Channel service if you are:

1. Aged 18 or above;
2. Holding a valid travel document and where appropriate, valid multiple visit visa;
3. Holding one of the following documents:
   • HKSAR Travel Pass;
   • APEC Business Travel Card with ‘HKG’ printed on the reverse side;
   • Hong Kong International Airport Frequent Visitor Card
   • Frequent Flyer Programme membership card issued by airlines which have joined this scheme (please enquire with your airline).
4. For passengers not holding one of the documents mentioned in item 3:
   • Holding valid travel document which is not required to have entry visa / permit for entering HKSAR;
   • Have made visits to the HKSAR by air via the Hong Kong International Airport for no less than 3 times in the past 12 months immediately before enrolment for the e-Channel service
5. No adverse record in the HKSAR

For enrolment, you will need to visit the enrolment office at the arrival hall in Terminal 1 upon your arrival. You are required to sign an enrolment notice, have your fingerprints and photograph taken and have a bar-code sticker affixed to your travel document. You will be required to present your valid HKSAR Travel Pass, APEC Business Travel Card, HKIA Frequent Visitor Card or Frequent Flyer Programme Membership Card and your valid travel document and a multiple visit visa (if applicable). Please notify us for re-enroll if there is change to the enrolled information such as replacement of travel document and/or residential status in the HKSAR.
Successfully enrolled visitors can use the Frequent Visitor e-Channels in the following control points.

• Hong Kong International Airport
• Lo Wu
• Lok Ma Chau Spur Line
• Shenzhen Bay
• Macau Ferry Terminal
• China Ferry Terminal

After successful enrolment, you will be able to use the Frequent Visitor e-Channel by placing your travel document in the document reader. When the reading process has finished, you will be able to enter the e-Channel to verify your fingerprint. After successful fingerprint verification, a landing slip containing the conditions and limit of stay will be printed upon arrival only for your safe custody. After collecting the landing slip, you can leave the e-Channel.
The procedure at the Frequent Visitor e-Channel is illustrated in a workflow video that can be accessed through the following link.

 

[NM]

I remember seeing the Frequent Arrivals Card immigration queue at HK airport earlier in the year and then did some Googling, whereupon I discovered that if you clear customs at HKIA 3 times within 12 months, you are eligible to get this card. Since I will achieve this by the end of this year I thought I would apply.

Note that addition to the HKIA Frequent Visitor card, you may also qualify for their electronic passport processing system. I had this previously using my APEC card as the "qualifying document" and they place a bar code on the back of you passport and scan your finger print. Then entry and exit is through the E-Gates and generally very fast. When my APEC card expired, I was able to have the "qualifying document' changed to be my Qantas Gold Frequent Flyer membership card. Yes, that's right, all Qantas Gold and Platinum FF members can register for this electronic processing and by using a FF card that shows Lifetime Member, my electronic processing only expires when my passport expires.

I have HKIA Frequent Visitor card too, but have only used it once when the E-gates were down upon one entry. Otherwise I find the E-gates are very quick and easy.

 

[moa999]

Yes have also had the e-channel thru my APEC card.
On last months trip to HKG I had planned to replace it with my QFF card but they have now closed the airside RHS echannel booth and the only one now is just after the exit to main passport control - where a line of 12 people and one officer greeted me,

 

[yohy?!]

e-channel and frequent visitor are the same thing essentially - access to the electronic gates and biometric clearance through immigration.

don't fret on the long line to sign up they are quite efficient - i was done in about 15 minutes with 5 people ahead of me in queue.

once you have the passport barcode and your fingerprint on file HKIA becomes one of the quickest airports to clear, get baggage and onto the airport train

 

[serfty]

I qualified and obtained a FVC twice.

The second time, it qualified
for enrolment with the e--channel.

So with a barcode on my PP and either index finger scanned, through I go.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[NM]

e-channel and frequent visitor are the same thing essentially - access to the electronic gates and biometric clearance through immigration.

Are you certain about that? Has this changed recently? When I last used my KLIA FVC it just allowed me to "jump the queue" and use a special lane but still required me to be manually processed, have immigration paperwork completed and passport stamped. I was not about to use the e-channel just with FVC. As Serfty says, I think it may be able to be used as the "qualifying document" to allow application for e-channel and barcode on the passport, but in its own right I do not believe it can be used for e-channel clearance.

 

[Isochronous]

So I gather the three arrival stamps in my passport are enough to show to the office tomorrow. Hopefully my flight is on time or early and I can do this!

 

[Joshua]

Yes have also had the e-channel thru my APEC card.
On last months trip to HKG I had planned to replace it with my QFF card but they have now closed the airside RHS echannel booth and the only one now is just after the exit to main passport control - where a line of 12 people and one officer greeted me,

So the QFF is eligible in the scheme? That surprises me.

I have been meaning to do this myself, I visit there frequently enough. No APEC card though, but a QFF is ok? I may be a tad confused...

 

[NM]

So I gather the three arrival stamps in my passport are enough to show to the office tomorrow. Hopefully my flight is on time or early and I can do this!

They will likely just provide you with an application form which you will need to complete and post off along with a copy of the passport pages. I think I was able to apply via email with scans of the relevant passport pages. When I applied there was no option to apply in person at the airport - just to collect the application form from there.

 

[NM]

So the QFF is eligible in the scheme? That surprises me.

I have been meaning to do this myself, I visit there frequently enough. No APEC card though, but a QFF is ok? I may be a tad confused...

QFF Gold card was enough for the e-channel application, not for HLIA FVC. That was the case when I did it a few years back. When my APEC card expired they asked if I was a member of a FF program and I gave them my AA and QF cards and they said QF Gold card was acceptable as the "qualifying document" and reactivated my e-channel access on the spot.

 

[Joshua]

QFF Gold card was enough for the e-channel application, not for HLIA FVC. That was the case when I did it a few years back. When my APEC card expired they asked if I was a member of a FF program and I gave them my AA and QF cards and they said QF Gold card was acceptable as the "qualifying document" and reactivated my e-channel access on the spot.

Ah, awesome. We've both been WP and just lined up like fools, well not anymore! Never needed the FVC, e-channel would be enough.

My concern was I had my passport swiped earlier this year so I had plenty of stamps in that but only one in the current one + one in an emergency passport from KL. Will find out in a few weeks if I make a day trip up there.

 

[serfty]

Ah, awesome. We've both been WP and just lined up like fools, well not anymore! Never needed the FVC, e-channel would be enough.

My concern was I had my passport swiped earlier this year so I had plenty of stamps in that but only one in the current one + one in an emergency passport from KL. Will find out in a few weeks if I make a day trip up there.

You will need to pass immigration like normal first.

The e-Channel registration 'booths' were just past immigration but before you reach the luggage hall.

They were only open certain times - check the OP, Isochronus has posted some research.

Here's the current times: (GovHK: Immigration Clearance through e-Channels)

Hong Kong International Airport

Arrival North Hall (after arrival counters) Arrival South Hall (after arrival counters) ​

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. ​

 

[cosi]

Great system.

Last month the e-channel stopped my passage. Staff quickly identified my APEC card had expired and I just need to re-enrol at the registration desk.

Now I am enrolled in the system until my passport expires on 29th June 2020.

I wish other countries had this system.

 

[Mal]

Have been on echannel for ages. It now covers most entry points (including ferry) so that is awesome. Originally as a foreign passport it only covered airport.

Note The barcodes are being phased out in favour of scanning the front passport page. My barcode no longer works in some machines.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[SeatBackForward]

You will need to pass immigration like normal first.

The e-Channel registration 'booths' were just past immigration but before you reach the luggage hall.

They were only open certain times - check the OP, Isochronus has posted some research.

Here's the current times: (GovHK: Immigration Clearance through e-Channels)

Hong Kong International Airport

Arrival North Hall (after arrival counters) Arrival South Hall (after arrival counters) ​

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. ​

cough..no good for my 5am arrival.

Oh well. Next time.

 

[wandering_fred]

The advantage of the HKFV card is/was that a traveling companion was normally allowed to queue with you.

I doubt that will work for e-channel. Nevertheless, I will register the next time I transit HKG.

Fred

 

[NM]

The advantage of the HKFV card is/was that a traveling companion was normally allowed to queue with you.

I doubt that will work for e-channel. Nevertheless, I will register the next time I transit HKG.

Fred

Definitely not for e-channel. Each person using e-channel must be registered for the service. While technically HKFV card is for individual only, in most cases the "guard" at the start of the line is ok with your travelling partner joining you in the shorter queue.

 

[moa999]

Note The barcodes are being phased out in favour of scanning the front passport page. My barcode no longer works in some machines.

Interesting. So does it scan the info on the passport front page? or use the chip?
Is this at HKIA or other ports...

 

[SeatBackForward]

Interesting. So does it scan the info on the passport front page? or use the chip?
Is this at HKIA or other ports...

I just had an interesting visit to the HKIA frequent visitor enrolment office..

She didn't have a picture of a QF Platinum card in her folder so she wouldn't accept it. There was a Silver, Gold and Chairman's Lounge picture but no WP.

luckily I also took my TK Gold card which she did accept, but entered the details as SQ.

It registers the passport, you don't get a card anymore. You scan the passport then do finger prints.

HK doesn't stamp passports anymore either, they just staple a receipt which gets removed when you leave.

 

[Mal]

Interesting. So does it scan the info on the passport front page? or use the chip?
Is this at HKIA or other ports...

Good question. (And one I'm late answering)... Doesn't seem to use the chip. Just the MRZ data and your fingerprint.