The Immigration Department has relaxed, with immediate effect, the eligibility criteria for its Pilot Seamless e-Channel service at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) port, marking the city’s latest push toward contact-free border control. Previously, only frequent travellers who had passed through the HZMB passenger hall at least ten times in 90 days—and who pre-registered via a mobile app—could use the fully automated lane that merges enrolment and clearance into a single ‘walk-through’ gate. Under the new rules unveiled on 24 September 2026, Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above with a smart ID card qualify after six crossings in the past 90 days. Adults can now register on the spot simply by opting in at designated e-Channels; the system captures biometrics, issues confirmation and processes the exit or entry in one go. Since the pilot launched on 25 June, about 14,000 residents have enrolled and the channels have handled more than 100,000 passenger movements. Officials say shortening the enrolment threshold will double throughput ahead of the National Day ‘Golden Week’ rush and provide data for rolling out seamless lanes to Hong Kong International Airport and Lo Wu station in 2027. For business travellers and cross-border drivers, the benefits are tangible: faster clearance during peak hours, fewer document checks and less physical contact—an important consideration for health-conscious employees. Corporations running shuttle services across the Greater Bay should update staff travel policies to encourage early enrolment and factor the six-trip rule into roster planning. Residents who do not meet the threshold can still pre-register via the Contactless e-Channel app, but processing times at conventional counters may lengthen as staff redeploy to manage the new system. Looking ahead, the Immigration Department is studying whether to open the service to Mainland visitors holding electronic exit-entry permits and to lower the age limit to seven by using facial recognition tied to newly issued smart ID cards—changes that could further streamline the region’s 240-million-trip annual traveller flow.
Source: news.gov.hk
