To ease Christmas-peak congestion, Hong Kong’s Immigration Department has dropped the minimum age for using automated e-Channel gates from 11 to seven for holders of mainland Chinese electronic passports, electronic Exit-Entry Permits (e-EEP) and Smart Departure participants. The change took effect on 22 December.
Automated gates process passengers in 20–30 seconds—less than half the time required at a staffed counter—so extending access to young children should ease queues for family travellers and tour groups. The policy also aligns Hong Kong with Shenzhen and other Greater Bay Area ports that already allow seven-year-olds to use e-gates, reinforcing cross-border integration goals.
![Hong Kong Lowers e-Channel Age to Seven for Mainland Passport and e-EEP Holders]()
For families and business travellers who still need help securing the right travel documents, VisaHQ offers a quick, user-friendly way to obtain Chinese visas, Exit-Entry Permits and other paperwork in advance. Visit https://www.visahq.com/china/ to see how the platform streamlines applications and keeps you updated on the latest entry rules—so your whole party can glide through Hong Kong’s upgraded e-Channel gates without last-minute surprises.
For relocating families and executives travelling with children, mobility teams should update arrival briefings and remind guardians that children under 11 must still be accompanied by an adult in e-Channel lanes. Airlines are revising onboard announcements, and travel-management companies are adding the new age rule to itinerary notes.
Officials say further biometric upgrades, including contact-free fingerprint scanners, will be rolled out in 2026 to accelerate clearance even more.
Automated gates process passengers in 20–30 seconds—less than half the time required at a staffed counter—so extending access to young children should ease queues for family travellers and tour groups. The policy also aligns Hong Kong with Shenzhen and other Greater Bay Area ports that already allow seven-year-olds to use e-gates, reinforcing cross-border integration goals.
For families and business travellers who still need help securing the right travel documents, VisaHQ offers a quick, user-friendly way to obtain Chinese visas, Exit-Entry Permits and other paperwork in advance. Visit https://www.visahq.com/china/ to see how the platform streamlines applications and keeps you updated on the latest entry rules—so your whole party can glide through Hong Kong’s upgraded e-Channel gates without last-minute surprises.
For relocating families and executives travelling with children, mobility teams should update arrival briefings and remind guardians that children under 11 must still be accompanied by an adult in e-Channel lanes. Airlines are revising onboard announcements, and travel-management companies are adding the new age rule to itinerary notes.
Officials say further biometric upgrades, including contact-free fingerprint scanners, will be rolled out in 2026 to accelerate clearance even more.
