In a significant move to streamline air-to-air connectivity, Hong Kong’s Immigration Department announced on 14 November that travellers holding Nepalese passports may now transit through Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) without a visa, provided they remain in the sterile transit area and depart on an onward flight within the same itinerary. The change took effect at 00:00 on 15 November 2025.
Hong Kong already enjoys extensive air links with South Asia, and the new facility plugs a long-standing gap for Nepalese travellers, who previously needed to obtain a transit visa that could take up to four weeks to process. Industry analysts note that the exemption will strengthen HKIA’s competitiveness against other Asian hubs such as Doha and Singapore, both of which market themselves aggressively to South Asian carriers. According to airline schedules, Cathay Pacific, Nepal Airlines and several Gulf carriers route passengers between Kathmandu and North America, Europe and Australasia via Hong Kong.
![Hong Kong Grants Visa-Free Airport Transit to Nepalese Nationals from 15 November]()
For multinational employers, the development removes an administrative hurdle for staff of Nepalese nationality who routinely connect through Hong Kong on short notice for project work or emergency roster changes. Travel-management companies say corporates can now avoid the extra cost of rerouting via Dubai or Bangkok and shave at least a day off mobilisation timelines. The move also dovetails with the HKSAR Government’s strategy of deepening links with Belt-and-Road economies; Nepal formally signed up to the initiative in 2017.
Practically, the exemption only covers airside transits: Nepalese travellers wishing to pass immigration to collect luggage or overnight in the city must still apply for an entry visa in advance. The Immigration Department has reminded airlines that passengers who inadvertently leave the transit zone will be refused entry and repatriated at carrier expense. Carriers have therefore updated their system messages and will brief ground staff accordingly.
Looking ahead, travel and trade bodies in both Hong Kong and Kathmandu are pushing for a full mutual visa-waiver agreement that would allow short-stay visits for business meetings and tourism. While officials say broader talks are “on the radar”, they stress that the current phase is designed to test security protocols and passenger demand before any further liberalisation is considered.
Hong Kong already enjoys extensive air links with South Asia, and the new facility plugs a long-standing gap for Nepalese travellers, who previously needed to obtain a transit visa that could take up to four weeks to process. Industry analysts note that the exemption will strengthen HKIA’s competitiveness against other Asian hubs such as Doha and Singapore, both of which market themselves aggressively to South Asian carriers. According to airline schedules, Cathay Pacific, Nepal Airlines and several Gulf carriers route passengers between Kathmandu and North America, Europe and Australasia via Hong Kong.
For multinational employers, the development removes an administrative hurdle for staff of Nepalese nationality who routinely connect through Hong Kong on short notice for project work or emergency roster changes. Travel-management companies say corporates can now avoid the extra cost of rerouting via Dubai or Bangkok and shave at least a day off mobilisation timelines. The move also dovetails with the HKSAR Government’s strategy of deepening links with Belt-and-Road economies; Nepal formally signed up to the initiative in 2017.
Practically, the exemption only covers airside transits: Nepalese travellers wishing to pass immigration to collect luggage or overnight in the city must still apply for an entry visa in advance. The Immigration Department has reminded airlines that passengers who inadvertently leave the transit zone will be refused entry and repatriated at carrier expense. Carriers have therefore updated their system messages and will brief ground staff accordingly.
Looking ahead, travel and trade bodies in both Hong Kong and Kathmandu are pushing for a full mutual visa-waiver agreement that would allow short-stay visits for business meetings and tourism. While officials say broader talks are “on the radar”, they stress that the current phase is designed to test security protocols and passenger demand before any further liberalisation is considered.
