Hong Kong Expands Immigration Facilitation Scheme to Central Asia and the Middle East

• Effective Oct. 1, 2026, Hong Kong will expand its Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons to include eligible nationals from Central Asia and the Middle East and allow all government bureaus and departments to issue invitations.  

Facilitation Scheme to Central Asia and the Middle East 

The Hong Kong Government announced an expansion of its Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons, effective Oct. 1, 2026.  

The changes are intended to promote business, trade and cultural exchanges by broadening the program’s geographic coverage and expanding participation across government departments.  

Key Changes 

Under the expanded scheme: 

• Coverage will extend beyond Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to include select countries and regions in Central Asia and the Middle East.  
• All Hong Kong government bureaus and departments will be able to issue invitations under the scheme, rather than only a limited number of designated agencies.  

Expanded Country Coverage 

The scheme will now include: 

• ASEAN member states. 
• Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. 
• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.  

Benefits for Invited Visitors 

Eligible invited individuals may benefit from: 

• One-stop application processing through an electronic platform. 
• Streamlined visa application requirements, where applicable. 
• Easier access to self-service immigration clearance. 
• Faster processing at Hong Kong border control points.  

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