The Immigration Department announced today that to further facilitate visitors and enhance clearance efficiency, with effect from tomorrow, the eligibility criteria for the self-service immigration clearance (e-Channel) service for frequent visitors will be relaxed, and the enrolment procedure for the e-Channel service will be simplified.

Under the new arrangement, frequent visitors, including those holding valid travel documents and multiple visit visas, who have visited Hong Kong via Hong Kong International Airport two or more times in the past 24 months and who meet the relevant criteria, may enrol for the e-Channel service free of charge.

This enables them to perform self-service immigration clearance at all control points in Hong Kong using the e-Channel and enjoy a more convenient and efficient travel experience.

Moreover, the enrolment procedure for the e-Channel services has been simplified.

When registering at designated enrolment offices, eligible visitors holding valid electronic travel documents are only required to present their valid travel document used for entry, have their photo taken and sign a consent form. Fingerprint collection is no longer required.

The enrolment procedure for visitors holding non-electronic travel documents remains unchanged.

To perform arrival clearance, a newly enrolled visitor should place their travel document on the document reader of the e-Channel.

Upon entering the e-Channel, visitors using electronic travel documents should look at the camera for facial recognition, while those using non-electronic travel documents should place their enrolled finger flat on the fingerprint scanner for fingerprint verification.

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