The move follows the outsourcing of the UK visa service in Hong Kong to VFS Global. VFS Global already successfully delivers UK visa services across Asia Pacific, including in mainland China.
The new Visa Application Centre in Hong Kong will provide greater convenience and choice to customers.
British Consul General to Hong Kong, Caroline Wilson, said:
The move to a commercial partner for visa applications will provide greater convenience and choice to our customers through extended opening hours and a range of premium services such as the new Passport Passback service which will be launched here in Hong Kong in April.
The Passport Passback service will enable customers to keep their passport whilst a decision is being made on their application, allowing them to travel during this period.
An SMS application tracking service will also be available to customers.
There will be no change to the actual application process for customers and visa applications will continue to be sent to our visa decision making hub in Manila and assessed by UKVI staff.
There will be no change to processing times. We will continue to operate our successful 3-5 day priority visa service for non-settlement applicants and 10 day priority service for settlement applicants.
We are working closely with our commercial partner VFS Global to ensure a smooth transition for our customers. Further information on changes to our global visa service are on the UK Visas and Immigration website and information on the new Visa Application Centre and optional value added services will be published on the Hong Kong pages of the UKVI website from 21 March.
Further information:
The new Visa Application Centre will be located at: 15th Floor, Leighton Centre, 77 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Opening Hours: 08.00 to 15.00 (08.00 to 18.00 during the summer peak season).
Information on VFS Global is available on its website.
A new UK visa enquiry service will also be available from 1 April. It will be available to customers in Hong Kong during local working hours and offer a range of enquiry options including a free recorded service, a premium call service for those who wish to speak with a customer service officer, a web-chat service and a free email enquiry service.