How to Get a Hong Kong Statement of Travel Records in 2026
You can apply for a Hong Kong statement of travel records online, by post, or in person, and the fee is HK$160. Two limits matter most if you live outside Hong Kong: the Immigration Department issues records for the past ten years only, and it sends the finished certificate by registered mail. These figures come from the Immigration Department's FAQ page on immigration clearance (出入境检查).
Processing takes about ten working days once the department has your documents and your payment, with working days meaning Monday to Friday excluding public holidays. Postal delivery time is not counted in those ten days.
What does a Hong Kong statement of travel records show?
It is a certificate listing four things: the data subject's English name, date of birth, the entry and exit dates that fall inside the period you asked for, and the control points where the person cleared immigration as a traveller.
The certificate is a record of movements, not an assessment. It sets out dates and control points and stops there.
How do you apply in 2026?
The department lists three channels: online submission, submission by post, and submission in person. It also keeps a separate page, "Details of application for statement of travel records" (有关申请出入境纪录证明的详细资料), which carries the application steps, supporting documents and payment arrangements.
The order of steps is the same whichever channel you pick:
- Choose the channel you can use.
- Collect the data subject's personal and travel document details.
- Complete the application.
- Submit it and pay the fee.
- Wait for the department to process it.
- Receive the certificate by registered mail.
Payment works differently by channel, so decide that before you start rather than after.
How far back do the records go?
Ten years. The Immigration Department states that it can only provide travel records for the past ten years.
If the period you need to document sits further back than that, a statement of travel records will not cover it. No additional years are available on request.
What information do you need before you start?
The department asks for these details about the data subject:
- English name
- Chinese name, where applicable
- Sex
- Date of birth
- Hong Kong identity card number, if any
- Nationality
- Travel document numbers, including current and previously used documents
Old passport numbers are worth digging out. The department prepares the certificate from the information you supply, and it warns that if you cannot provide enough information it may be unable to process the application or identify the relevant travel records. A ten-year window usually spans at least one passport renewal.
How much does it cost, and how do you pay?
The fee is HK$160. How you pay depends on the channel.
| Channel | How the fee is paid |
|---|---|
| Online, or via the Immigration Department mobile app | The department emails you a payment page link after it finishes vetting the application. You enter your application number and pay by FPS, PPS, a mainland e-wallet (Alipay, WeChat Pay or UnionPay App only), or card (VISA, Mastercard, UnionPay or JCB only). |
| By post or in person | Send or bring the fee with the application. Pay by crossed cheque, bank draft or cashier's order, made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". Do not enclose cash or post-dated cheques. |
How long does it take, and how will it reach you?
About ten working days, counted from when the department has both the required documents and the fee. Public holidays are excluded, and Saturdays and Sundays are not working days.
The certificate is issued by registered mail. Postal delivery time sits outside the ten working days, so build your own buffer around it.
Can you apply for a child, a deceased relative, or someone else?
Yes, in defined circumstances. A person who is not the data subject can apply if they are the parent of a minor data subject, if they hold the data subject's written authorisation, or if a court has appointed them to handle the data subject's affairs. Supporting documents must be submitted with the application.
For a child under 18, the department asks for a copy of the child's identity document, a copy of proof of your relationship such as a birth certificate, and a copy of the page of your own identity document that carries your personal details and signature. Your signature on the form must match the signature on that copy.
For a deceased parent, spouse or child, you must state the reason for the request on the form. You also need the death certificate, the deceased person's identity document such as a travel document, proof of your relationship, and the personal details and signature page of your own identity document. The signature on the form must match the copy you submit.
What can the certificate do for a Hong Kong status matter?
People usually ask for this document when they need to show when they were physically in Hong Kong. It gives you entry and exit dates with the control points used, which is the underlying evidence for those questions.
It does not itself state a conclusion. Whether a period in Hong Kong counts toward residence or eligibility for a particular status is decided under the rules that apply to that status, and the certificate is one piece of evidence fed into that decision.
This article explains published procedures for general reference. It is not advice on an individual case and carries no promise about how any application will turn out. For your own situation, rely on the Immigration Department's current published requirements or on a qualified professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back does a Hong Kong statement of travel records go?
The Immigration Department provides travel records for the past ten years only. Periods older than that fall outside what the certificate can cover.
How long does an application take?
About ten working days after the department receives the required documents and the fee. Working days are Monday to Friday excluding public holidays, and postal delivery time is not included.
How much does a statement of travel records cost?
The fee is HK$160. Online applicants pay after the department finishes vetting, using FPS, PPS, a mainland e-wallet or a card; postal and in-person applicants pay by crossed cheque, bank draft or cashier's order.
Can I apply if I live outside Hong Kong?
Applications can be submitted online or by post, neither of which requires you to attend in person. The certificate is issued by registered mail, and postal delivery time is not included in the ten working days.
Can I apply on behalf of someone else?
You can, if you are the parent of a minor data subject, hold the data subject's written authorisation, or have been appointed by a court to handle their affairs. Each case requires supporting documents, and deceased relatives are limited to a parent, spouse or child.
What if I cannot remember an old passport number?
Provide what you can, including numbers of documents you used previously. The certificate is prepared from the information you give, and the department says insufficient information may leave it unable to process the application or identify the records.