Is It Safe to Travel to Hong Kong in 2026?
Hong Kong - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories.
Is It Safe to Travel to Hong Kong in 2026?
Hong Kong is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution when traveling to Hong Kong SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Authorities have issued arrest warrants for individuals, including U.S. citizens, located outside of Hong Kong for activities undertaken overseas.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: arbitrary enforcement of local laws, laws that limit civil liberties, recent legal changes regarding national security.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, which can lead to severe legal consequences for actions perceived as dissent or protest.
Business travelers may experience disruptions due to civil unrest and arbitrary law enforcement, impacting meetings and travel plans, particularly in sensitive sectors.
Families with children should be cautious as the legal environment poses risks for civil liberties, and healthcare access may be limited in non-urban areas.
Remote workers can find suitable environments in urban areas with good connectivity, but should remain aware of the legal risks associated with their online activities.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Hong Kong.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution1 region
▶Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Exercise increased caution due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
Hong Kong has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Hong Kong
Protect your trip to Hong Kong — medical care, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation, wherever you're headed.
Mobile data in Hong Kong
Skip roaming fees — get an eSIM and land in Hong Kong with data already working.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Hong Kong has an overall threat severity of 2.8 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 5.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 41/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
Language
Chinese / English
Notable restrictions:
- The Hong Kong SAR government does not recognize dual nationality.
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Hong Kong
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Hong Kong?
▶Is it safe to travel to Hong Kong right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Hong Kong?
▶What vaccines do I need for Hong Kong?
▶Is Hong Kong safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Hong Kong?
More Hong Kong Data
Partly Free — 41/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.