‘At the airport, everything fell apart': Indian travel blogger, son miss out on ‘amazing' birthday celebration in Hong Kong's Disneyland, details what went wrong

Indian Express

3 days ago

Indian travel blogger Roslin Dwivedi and her family's plans to spend a birthday in Hong Kong's Disneyland were 'shattered' owing to a slight mismatch in the details on the Pre-Arrival Registration that is required for Indians visiting the region. Documenting the disappointment, the blogger shared on Instagram, 'We dreamt of an amazing birthday vacation, Disneyland, lots of unique places, shopping, and local food experiences, but all that was shattered when we were denied boarding for Hong Kong. Going back home, I couldn't stop crying.'
Notably, Indian passport holders can visit Hong Kong for up to 14 days without a visa. Still, they need to complete one essential step — to submit Pre-Arrival Registration (PAR) online. This mandatory slip allows multiple entries within six months.
Stressing that 'it feels like reliving a nightmare', Roslin added, 'Getting a Hong Kong PAR (Pre-Arrival Registration) as an Indian is usually simple, but there's no guarantee. We filled out the form, hit submit, and it was approved in seconds. But here's the catch: your application must exactly match your passport'.
The blogger said that their issue was with the 'Place of Issue' section. 'There was no option that matched our passport, and no way to manually type it in (unlike the place of birth option). We thought it wouldn't matter. But at the airport, the airline couldn't check us in because of that mismatch. They tried for an hour, even called immigration, but nothing worked. It was heartbreaking—our son cried because he was excited for Disneyland. What made it worse? No human is reviewing your PAR—just a system that gives a yes or no. Even if the error isn't your fault, you can be denied boarding. I genuinely hope Hong Kong improves this system or turns it into a proper, paid visa process so travelers don't face this confusion or disappointment,' she continued.
In another post, detailing the 'back story,' Roslin recalled that the family felt the issue was a 'minor' one. 'But just to be safe, we emailed Hong Kong immigration, hoping for clarity. Two weeks passed. There was no clear answer, saying yes, you are good to go, or no, this is not acceptable. We assumed it wouldn't matter much. But at the airport — everything fell apart. We were denied boarding. We tried explaining to the airline staff that there's nothing we could do to change the form or change what's printed on our passports. They understood. They even reached out to immigration on our behalf — both via phone and email — but again, no real-time help came.'
However, 'a small light came through'. 'Hong Kong Immigration called us back. They apologised for the confusion and the delay, and kindly offered us a visa valid for 6 months. Cathay Pacific airline also followed up, checking how they could support us post-incident.'
Taking a cue from the incident, we reached out to an expert to learn more.
Santosh Pawaskar, visa head at R K Vacations, stated that the Hong Kong Immigration Department mandates Indian nationals to complete an online PAR as a prerequisite for visa-free entry for up to 14 days or transit purposes. 'What happens if you don't have barcode/pre-arrival registration is that airlines may refuse to board you for Hong Kong-bound flights. 'Even if you arrive, Hong Kong Immigration may deny entry, forcing you to return to your departure point and endure significant inconvenience,' said Pawaskar.
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Pawaskar stressed that the PAR for Hong Kong is completed at least 2–3 business days before the travel date to avoid any inconvenience. 'A travel associate makes sure the arrival is safe without any problems. For PAR, the documents required are minimal—just your passport (which should be valid for at least 6 months from your travel date), flight details, accommodation information, and employment details (if applicable).'
According to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Immigration Department website, 'All family members are required to apply for PAR individually'.
Pawaskar said that generally, PAR is rejected due to:
1. Incorrect or Mismatched Passport Details
2. Expired or Near-Expiry Passport
3. Duplicate or Multiple Applications
4. Previous Overstay or Violation in Hong Kong
5. Inconsistent Information
6. Technical/May be server issue
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What can help?
One of the comments said, 'This is such an important reminder'. 'If the HKPAR dropdown doesn't have the exact 'Place of Issue' from your passport, it's safest to skip PAR and apply for a proper visa. The system is automated, and any mismatch — even if it's not your fault — can lead to denied boarding. More awareness is definitely needed!' Agreeing, Pawaskar said that 99 per cent of the time, the issue can be resolved by quickly applying for a visa, which incurs an additional fee.
What to do if your PAR is rejected?
*Check the rejection reason to understand why your application was denied.
*If the issue is minor, correct the error and submit a new application.
*Apply for a formal Hong Kong Visit Visa if you plan to stay longer than 14 days.
Tips for a smooth PAR application
*Even though PAR is instant, apply a few days before your trip to avoid last-minute hassles.
* Ensure all information matches your passport and travel plans.
*Always carry a printed and signed copy of your PAR slip.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to