Just wondered if anyone has been to HK and back in the same day. Does it cause any problems at immigration?I am just a tourist so am intending on going to HK and come back into Taiwan to get a furthur 30days here.
What kind of visa are you on?
if you are on the 5 year multiple entry visa, then you are good to go.
I have done the HK passport stamping trip.
With the right flight timing, and/or help from the airline folks, it is quite possible to do a quick in & out thru the appropriate passport controls and back on the plane within 45 mins.
This may allow you make the next flight back to the island.
If you ask the right airline counter attendants, they will show you the employee doors which by-pass a lot of walking.
As in a great part of life…Timing is everything.
So long as you have the right Taiwan visa, there’s no problem doing the same day HK run. China Airlines has these visa run flights and they’re very helpful. You get off the plane, a flight attendant is there asking anyone going back to Taipei? They’ll direct you to the right gate number after passing through customs. I was able to do it in 45 mins from landing, customs/immigration entry, customs/immigration exit, boarding return for Taipei.
Thanks for the info. I don’t have a visa. I will leave Taiwan at the end of September so I just want the 30 day stamp on entry. Should this be OK?
Well, where are you from?
How many days visa free do you get upon entry, if any - depends on your nationality?
if you have to apply for a visa in HK, then it should not be too bad to get 30 days, but you might have to stay overnight there.
I’m British. No visa and don’t really want to apply for one as I’ve no intention of staying longer than 30 days. I should get 30 days visa free on entry, but just wondered if they get funny about you going out and coming back in straight away without a visa.
Last week I booked a quickie visa run* ticket but cancelled at the last moment when I got a new visitor visa in Taiwan thanks to guanxi. You can fly to Hong Kong in the evening and get back to Taiwan around midnight. The agent I booked through was Interlink Travel and the person who handled my booking was Jeannie. She assured my you don’t have to go through immigration at Hong Kong - just the transit lounge. I haven’t actually done it myself - I am just taking Jeannie’s word for it. Remember you have to have an onward flight booked and a savvy travel agent can fix that for you. Interlink may not be the rock-bottom cheapest, but they do know what expats need.
*Actually a misnoma here - this kind of trip is for people who don’t need a visa, i.e. are entitled to visa exemption, or can get a landing visa (not the same thing as visa exemption).
No problem, first flight out in the morning, visit HK, return with the last flight to Taiwan.
From HK airport to HK island take the airport express train, if you go/return the same day it’s free on the trip back to the airport I believe. You also can buy a tourist pass for bus and MTR system at the airport, it’s called octopus card. HK is worth visiting.
If you are elegible for a 30 day visa free stay and don’t want more … or you have a multiple entry visa … go for it.
I did a few 1 day visa trips to HK … it’s close but doable. 
One day visa trip is no problem - in three hours you’re back in Taipei. Important: Don’t forget your return ticket (the one which flies you off Taiwan 30 days later). You are supposed to not to come to Taiwan without return ticket. I once flew to HK and left it in the Hotel - big trouble with the airline company (Cathay), who say they are liable to fly somebody in without.
They asked me to buy a new ticket, which I then didn’t had to do, but fill out some paperwork. It’s not so nice standing in the HK airport with just a book and an ipod and not being allowed to fly.