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This page explains how you can apply for a visa to come to the UK if you are currently in Hong Kong or Macau. If you currently have temporary permission to stay in Hong Kong or Macau (for example, as a student or a visitor), you can only apply for some types of UK visa - see below.

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK. We strongly advise you not to confirm your travel arrangements until you have received your visa. To find out how long we usually take to process your type of visa, go to the Visa processing times page.

Before you apply, you must:

• prepare the supporting documents that you will need; and
• be ready to enrol your fingerprints and photograph (known as 'biometric information') at our visa application centre in Hong Kong.

If you do not know which supporting documents to provide, the Visa application fees and guides page will help you to find guidance for your visa category.If you are applying under the points-based system, you should provide all the documents specified in the guidance for your visa category. For each document, you should also provide any information or explanation that may help us to make our decision.

If you are applying for any other type of visa, you should provide documents that:

• support the statements that you make in your visa application; and
• show that the information in your application is true.

We will only consider documents submitted with your application. You cannot submit documents after you have completed your application at the visa application centre, unless our staff ask you for them.

For every document that you provide, you must include the original document and a photocopy. This includes a copy of your passport bio-data page (the page containing your photograph). Please ensure that the photocopies are of good quality and can be read easily. If you do not provide a photocopy of each document, we might not return your original documents to you.

You must make your visa application online. After you have completed and submitted your online application form, you will need to print out and sign the completed form. If you do not have access to a printer when you make your online application, you will be able to log in and print out the form later.

As part of your online application, you must make an online appointment to book an appointment at our visa application centre and pay your visa application fee.

You must enrol your fingerprints and facial photograph (known as biometric information) when you attend your appointment. You cannot enrol your finger prints if your finger tips are cut or damaged, or if you have put any form of temporary decoration (such as henna or mehendi) on them. You must wait until the injury has healed or the decoration has faded before making your appointment.If you are part of a family or group, each member of the family or group must make an individual appointment. For example, if you are a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 children you must make 4 individual appointments.After you have completed your online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number (also known has 'GWF reference'). Please make a note of this number.

You must pay the visa application fee online in Hong Kong dollars as part of the online application process using either a Visa card or Master Card. In addition to credit cards debit cards and pre-paid cards bearing the Visa and Master Card logos will be accepted. Other methods of payment will not be accepted.