Hong Kong plans to launch new e-Channels at the airport in Q3 2025

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At that time, eligible permanent residents will no longer need to use travel documents or show the encrypted QR codes on their mobile phones for immigration clearance.

Hong Kong's Immigration Department (ImmD) has announced a plan to launch new e-Channels at the Hong Kong International Airport arrival hall in Q3 2025, allowing eligible Hong Kong permanent residents to use facial verification technology for immigration clearance.

Through the new e-Channels, residents will be able to undergo automated immigration clearance using facial recognition, without the need for prior enrolment, or the use of their travel documents or the encrypted QR code generated from the Contactless e-Channel mobile application.

This comes after the implementation of enhanced e-Channel service arrangements for Hong Kong residents. Starting from 31 March 2025, eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged seven to 10 years old, who are at least 1.1 metres tall and hold a smart identity card and a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points.

Image / GovHK