Delegate & Exhibitor FAQs

The 41^st Congress of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) will be held in conjunction with the 37^th Hong Kong Ophthalmological Symposium at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Hong Kong, China, from February 5 to 8, 2026.

View the Attendance figures for previous APAO Congresses here (P4-5)

Get ready to join us in Hong Kong!

Delegate FAQs

How can I register for APAO 2026?

Please create a Congress account here to register and participate in the scientific program.

How much is the registration fee?

Based on the 2024 GDP rankings for countries and regions published by the International Monetary Fund, we have categorized registration fees into three tiers: 1-50, 51-100, and 101 and below. Each GDP ranking bracket corresponds to a different registration fee structure. For further information, please visit our registration fee schedule here.

Do I need a visa to visit Hong Kong?

All visitors to Hong Kong must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the planned departure date from Hong Kong. Nationals of about 170 countries and territories may visit Hong Kong visa-free for a period ranging from 7 days to 180 days. Please visit the HKSAR Immigration Department’s website for more information.

How can I get an invitation letter and a visa supporting letter?

The invitation letter and visa supporting letter can be accessed and downloaded through the APAO Congress System once you log into your account, by navigating to “Registration > Invitation Letter DIY” from the left-hand menu to generate your invitation letter. Once the registration fee is fully paid, the Visa Letter tab will be activated, allowing you to download the visa supporting letter.

How can I submit an abstract to APAO 2026?

Please submit your abstract via the APAO Congress System before September 1, 2025 [23:59 Hong Kong Time (GMT +8)].

Please visit here for General Guidelines for Submission.

Does the congress accept encore abstracts?

APAO welcomes encore abstracts, excluding those previously presented at an APAO congress or published in an APAO journal.

Is there a registration fee for submitting an abstract?

Submitting the abstract does not require a registration fee. You can choose to pay the registration fee only when you decide to attend the conference. However, please note that registration fees vary depending on the payment period. For more detailed registration information, please visit the conference website.

When will I know if my abstract has been accepted?

Results will be notified to the submitter by end of October.

Will I get an attendance certificate and a CME certificate?

After attending the congress, delegates may obtain an attendance certificate. Presenters will additionally be awarded a presentation certificate. Electronic certificates can be downloaded from your personal congress account.

Does the APAO offer travel grants?

Yes, APAO offers two types of Travel Grants:

Prof. Yasuo Tano Travel Grants (10 awards) – for ophthalmologists across the Asia-Pacific, with priority given to applicants from developing countries and those under 40.

Young Ophthalmologists (YO) Travel Grants (5 awards) – for young ophthalmologists (including licensed doctors, residents, trainees, fellows) under 40, from developing Asia Pacific countries.

How can I apply for a travel grant?

Applications must be submitted via the congress system. After logging in, navigate to ‘Registration’ and click on the ‘APAO Travel Grants’ tab. The online application will close on September 30, 2025, at 23:59 (GMT+8). Please check here for more details.

What benefits will travel grant winners receive?
- funding of US$300 for those residing in Hong Kong, or US$1,000 for those living elsewhere
- complimentary registration for the APAO 2026 Congress
- invitation to the Congress Cultural Party
What is the Achievement Award Program?

The APAO Achievement Award Program celebrates and honors participants of the APAO Annual Congress for their valuable time and contributions to our scientific programs. Every type of presentation—whether Free Paper, Poster/ePoster, Video, or Instruction Course—earns you points toward your APAO Achievement Award.

Per Congress, one point is awarded per category regardless of the number of presentations made in the same category. An individual can earn a maximum of four points from the same congress.

What are the benefits of the Achievement Award Program?

Awardees can enjoy complimentary registration for the Congress in the year they receive the awards. They will be recognized at an award presentation ceremony and receive an Achievement Award ribbon. Their photos will be published in the Congress Program Book.

How can I participate the Achievement Award Program?

Points are calculated automatically by the APAO Central Secretariat. Once you reach one of the following award thresholds — Achievement Award (10 points), Senior Achievement Award (30 points), or Life Achievement Honor Award (60 points) — you will be identified as a potential awardee, and the Secretariat will contact you to arrange for the award presentation during the Congress.

You can log in to your APAO ID account here to check your current points record. For full details on point allocation and award criteria, please visit APAO Achievement Award Program web page.

Exhibitor FAQs

Exhibitor registration
- How can I exhibit at the APAO 2026 Congress?

Please find details about exhibition opportunities at APAO 2026 in the sponsorship prospectus and fill in the booking form.

- How do I make changes to a registration I already submitted?

First, please locate your confirmation email titled “Registration confirmed for The 41^st Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress – Exhibitor Booking.”
You may update your information by clicking “Manage your registration” in the confirmation email and entering your confirmation number.

- How many badges will my company receive?

1 complimentary exhibitor badge is allocated for every 3 square meters of booth space. If a booth is less than 3 square meters, the exhibitor will still receive 1 badge minimum.

- How can I purchase additional badges?

You can either:
– include them when filling in the booking form during registration, or
– adjust your order later via the Manage Registration portal in the confirmation email if you’ve already registered.

- Does the exhibitor badge get me into all events?

Exhibitors are only allowed to enter the Exhibition Hall. Exhibitors are NOT permitted to enter the session rooms to attend any Invited Programs or Submitted Programs. Please purchase a trade delegate badge for attending the Scientific Sessions.

- Where can I download my invoice?

Please scroll to the bottom of your confirmation email, and you will find the invoice link.

- When is the payment deadline?

All exhibitor space fees must be paid in full by Friday, October 31, 2025.

We assign the booth location based on the company’s earned priority points and payment date. If you would like to gain extra 5 points of the priority points, we suggest settling the full payment before September 15, 2025.

Booth
- When and how to choose my booth?

The priority of booth assignment will be assessed according to the company’s earned priority points and payment date. Companies with the greatest number of points are assigned first, progressing to companies with the fewest. Please find more information here about the Priority Points Program.

If you would like to gain extra 5 points of the priority points, we suggest settling the full payment before September 15, 2025.

The booth assignment will be arranged probably in Oct. Please stay tuned.

- How much is the booth?

The price depends on the location and booth size you choose. A 3m x 3m standing booth in Hall 5FG costs US$8,000. Please find out more on p.33 of our sponsorship prospectus.

If you would like to proceed with the booking, please fill in the booking form.

- What’s the difference between Hall 5E and Hall 5FG?

Hall 5FG is the main exhibition hall, featuring the main sponsors, the Showcase Theatre, and Wet Labs. Hall 5E is the annex, housing the Posters Area.

- What is the difference between “Space Only” and “Shell Scheme” booths?

Space Only refers to raw floor space without booth construction or fittings. This option is ideal for companies that want a fully customized stand design.

Shell Scheme refers to a standard booth package.

- What comes with my booth?

A 3m x 3m standing booth includes the following:

- - Complimentary exhibitor badges for 3 persons per 9 square meters
  - Schell scheme with fascia panel, if required
  - Needle-punched carpet flooring
  - Two 10W LED spotlights
  - One information counter (1m x 0.5m x 0.75m)
  - Two folding chairs
  - One 5A/240V socket (Power supply time: 09:00 ‒ 18:00)
  - Daily cleaning of the aisles and common areas
Sponsorship and other promotional opportunities
- What are the benefits of sponsoring APAO 2026?

General benefits are:

- - Company name and logo on sponsored item(s)
  - Acknowledgment in promotional materials
  - Acknowledgment on the congress website
  - Acknowledgment with company logo in the Exhibition Directory
  - Company name and logo on sponsorship acknowledgment boards, which will be prominently displayed throughout the congress venue
  - Priority choice of exhibition space
  - Use of congress logo on company communications relating to the APAO 2026 Congress
Exhibition, set up and amenities
- How long does the APAO Exhibition last?

Feb 5-7, 2026

- How can I collect my Exhibitor Badges?

Please visit the registration counter located on 5/F, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) during the following hours:

February 4, 2026	11:00 – 18:00
February 5, 2026	08:00 – 18:00

- When can I set up and decorate my booth?

Booth construction setup: February 3, 2026, 08:00 – 23:30

Decoration and touch-up: February 4, 2026, 09:00 – 22:00

Exhibitors are allowed to go inside the Exhibition Hall to set exhibit materials: February 4, 2026, 09:00 – 22:00

Final touch-up and cleansing of the venue (Only for the Official Contractor AMC (Exhibits) Ltd.): February 4, 2026, 19:00 – 23:30

- Will complimentary Wi-Fi be available within the exhibition hall?

Free Wireless LAN service operated by the venue is available for only light and casual usage of 60 minutes by a limited number of users simultaneously. The wireless connection may fail or become slow and/or unstable during the exhibition period and will disconnect if the connection is idle for over 30 minutes.

If you require continuous access to the internet, you will need to order broadband internet service for the duration of the show. To get a quote, please contact our official contractor AMC (Exhibits) Ltd at APAO2026Exhibition@arconmarketing.com.

Delegate & Exhibitor FAQs