Hong Kong trip planning 2026: pre-arrival registration, Airport Express fares and the Octopus deposit
Hong Kong is the destination travellers from Taiwan most often under-prepare for. The flight is short and the language is familiar, but the pre-arrival registration, the Octopus deposit and the SIM registration rule each have their own conditions, and finding out at the counter costs you time. Here is what to arrange, what it costs and how long it takes, straight from the official notices.
Getting into Hong Kong: how pre-arrival registration works
The main route for Taiwan passport holders is the Immigration Department’s Pre-arrival Registration for Taiwan Residents, done online and free of charge.
- Who it is for: people born in Taiwan, or born elsewhere but who have previously visited Hong Kong as Taiwan residents, holding no travel document issued by an authority other than Taiwan (a Mainland Travel Permit and a Hong Kong entry permit excepted).
- Validity: two months, with two entries allowed in that period and up to 30 days per stay.
- Document requirement: your return travel document needs at least six months of validity.
- Print it: you print the notification slip yourself on A4 paper and sign it, then show it with your passport.
- What you may not do: work, do business or study during the visit.
- Already hold a permit or visa: you do not need this service.
From Hong Kong International Airport: published Airport Express fares
The Airport Express is run by MTR and is the fastest way in. These are the published adult single fares:
| Destination | Octopus / contactless / QR | Smart Ticket | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong Station | HK$120 | HK$130 | HK$215 |
| Kowloon Station | HK$105 | HK$115 | HK$195 |
| Tsing Yi Station | HK$73 | HK$80 | HK$130 |
Children aged 3 to 11 pay HK$60 / 65 to Hong Kong Station, 52.5 / 57.5 to Kowloon and 36.5 / 40 to Tsing Yi; MTR notes that a contactless bank card is charged the adult Octopus fare and does not offer a child fare. The airport publishes the journey as about 24 minutes to Central, running 05:54 to 00:48 daily at roughly 15-minute intervals.
The airport’s own page quotes slightly lower fares than MTR’s and neither carries an effective date. MTR operates the line, so take its table as the reference and confirm at the gate.
Buying an Octopus: deposit and refund rules
- Deposit: HK$50, refundable.
- Where to refund: any MTR Customer Service Centre.
- Three fee cases: a remaining value above HK$1,000, a return within 90 days of issue, or five or fewer payment transactions, charged at HK$11 or 1% of the remaining value, whichever is higher. A Personalised Octopus is HK$10; a damaged or altered card HK$30.
- Timing: refund arrangements are advised within nine working days.
- Long gaps: an adult on-loan Octopus issued after 1 October 2017 becomes inactive after three years with no top-up or payment, and may attract an administrative fee.
Getting online in Hong Kong: eSIM, local SIM or roaming
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Short leisure and business trips | Install over Wi-Fi before you fly, then turn on data roaming |
| Local SIM | Travellers who need a Hong Kong number | OFCA requires real-name registration before activation, prepaid included |
| International roaming | Transits and very short stays | Higher rates; check the daily cap |
| Hotel Wi-Fi | In the room only | No help at an interchange, in a queue or finding a street address |
Real-name registration took effect on 1 September 2021, with full compliance required from 1 March 2022. Visitors without a Hong Kong ID card may register using a valid travel document or passport, up to ten cards per operator.
- ・Works across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and the airport
- ・Pick data and days to match the trip; no physical SIM, no shop visit
- ・Refundable if the signal is unstable or the plan goes completely unused
What a day of data in Hong Kong looks like
| What you are doing | Rough daily use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maps and MTR interchange lookups | 150–300 MB | A dense network, but each lookup is light |
| Social feeds and stories | 300–600 MB | Driven by how much video you watch |
| Photo and short video uploads | 400 MB and up | Victoria Harbour at night pushes this up |
| Restaurant lookups and bookings | 50–150 MB | Including reviews and menus |
| Voice and video calls | 100–300 MB | Budget separately for long calls |
A pre-departure checklist for Hong Kong
- ・No physical SIM to swap and no registration counter
- ・Delivered in about 10 minutes
- ・Refundable if the signal is unstable or the plan goes unused
Support 10:00–17:00 (UTC+8), LINE @peanutmo
Hong Kong trip FAQ
What do Taiwan passport holders need for Hong Kong?
Apply online for Pre-arrival Registration for Taiwan Residents through the Hong Kong Immigration Department. It is free of charge. The department states it is for people born in Taiwan, or born elsewhere but who have previously visited Hong Kong as Taiwan residents, who do not hold a travel document issued by an authority other than Taiwan (a Mainland Travel Permit and a Hong Kong entry permit excepted). If you already hold a valid Mainland Travel Permit or another visa, you do not need it.
How long is the registration valid?
The Immigration Department publishes a validity of two months, allowing two entries within that period and a stay of up to 30 days each time. Your return travel document must have at least six months of validity, and you have to print the notification slip yourself on A4 paper and sign it.
What does the Airport Express cost?
Per MTR's published fares, an adult single to Hong Kong Station is HK$120 by Octopus or contactless card, HK$130 on a Smart Ticket, and HK$215 return; Kowloon is 105 / 115 / 195 and Tsing Yi 73 / 80 / 130. The airport separately publishes a journey of about 24 minutes to Central, running 05:54 to 00:48 daily at roughly 15-minute intervals. The two official sites quote slightly different fares, so treat MTR's table as authoritative and check at the gate.
Can I get the Octopus deposit back?
Yes. Octopus publishes a HK$50 refundable deposit, refundable at any MTR Customer Service Centre. A fee applies in three cases: a remaining value above HK$1,000, a return within 90 days of issue, or five or fewer payment transactions, at HK$11 or 1% of the remaining value, whichever is higher. Refund arrangements are advised within nine working days.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM in Hong Kong?
Yes. OFCA requires real-name registration before activation for every prepaid and contract SIM. Visitors without a Hong Kong ID card can register with a valid travel document or passport, up to ten cards per operator. An eSIM skips the shop entirely.
How much data does a Hong Kong trip use?
Mostly maps, MTR interchange lookups and social uploads. For three days, 1GB a day is usually comfortable; step up if you tether or upload video. See our data sizing guide.
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