Mainland China Travel Permits for Non-Chinese Hong Kong and Macau Expats
Non-Chinese permanent residents in Hong Kong and Macau can apply for Mainland China travel permits for short-term purposes besides work, studying, or news coverage. With a validity of five years, the holder can travel to Mainland China multiple times for a maximum of 90 days with each stay.
In this Pacific Prime Hong Kong blog post, we will discuss the Mainland China travel permits available for Hong Kong and Macau expats as well as the different requirements and application process.
Overview: The Mainland China Travel Permit
The Mainland China travel permit for non-Chinese expats in Hong Kong and Macau is an electronic card, featuring a permanently unchanged nine-digit number exclusive to each holder.
Numbers beginning with HA are for non-Chinese expats in Hong Kong while numbers beginning with MA are for non-Chinese expats in Macau.
The front of the card displays the holder’s photo, name, birth date, gender, validity period, issuing authority, certificate number, and renewal times. Meanwhile, the back of the card displays the Hong Kong or Macau permanent identity card number, Chinese name, and the duration of the stay.
The validity of the travel permit is five years, and the holder can travel to Mainland China as many times as they would like for a maximum of 90 days in each stay. The holder can travel to Mainland China for any short-term purposes besides work, studies, or news coverage activities.
General Required Documents
Below are the general required documents for the Mainland China travel permit application:
- Completely filled-out Mainland China travel permit application form for Hong Kong and Macau expats with the applicant’s recent photo pasted.
- Valid Hong Kong or Macau permanent resident identity card.
- A passport valid for no less than six months (excluding certificates not recognized by the Chinese government).
- National certificates issued within six months before the application date, including the Notice of Application for Access to Information from the Hong Kong Immigration Department or the Certificate of Personal Data from the Identification Services Bureau of the Macau SAR.
- Copies of the aforementioned required documents.
Requirements for Minors
Non-Chinese Hong Kong expats under 11 without a Hong Kong identity card can provide a Notice of Application for Access to Information issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department to prove their status as a Hong Kong permanent resident.
Applicants under 18 must present their parents or guardians’ original identity certificates such as passports or proof of guardianship. If valid legal birth certificates or guardianship documents aren’t in Chinese or English, the documents must be translated to Chinese or English.
Replacements or Renewals
Permit holders can apply for replacements or renewals if the permit has gotten damaged, lost, or expired, the validity period is less than six months, the identity information of the holder is altered, or if the electronic chip is invalid.
The original permit must be submitted when applying for renewals. When applying for a replacement due to loss or theft, you must also sign a statement of loss.
You can apply for permit renewals and replacements at the China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited, the China Travel Service (Macau) Limited, or the exit/entry administration agencies of the public security department at or above the municipal level in Mainland China.
The Application
To apply for the Mainland China travel permit, start by logging into the China Travel Service (CTS) Entry Permit Service Hong Kong Limited or China Travel Service (Macau) Limited.
Next, select the Appointment Application under the Non-Chinese menu to fill out the application form online and upload your identity certificates for the initial review.
If your application isn’t approved, you will receive an email notification specifying any additional information or documents needed.
Make sure that you follow all the instructions in the email carefully so that you may log into the pre-application system to provide the necessary documents or information accordingly until the application is approved.
Once you receive the approval email, log into the Application Confirmation platform to schedule an appointment at a designated service center for a specific date and time. At the scheduled appointment, you must bring all required original documents.
It’s also worth noting that parents or legal guardians must accompany any applicants under the age of 18.
Once you arrive at the application service center, you must take a photo, obtain a qualified barcode receipt, print out your physical photo, and then collect an application number at the inquiry counter. After that, wait for your number to be called in the designated waiting area.
When your number is called, proceed to the assigned counter for the application, complete the payment, and get the receipt. First-time applications will cost HKD $260 (MOP 268.2), and the application will take around 20 working days.
Collecting the Permit
When it’s time to collect your Mainland China travel permit, you must bring the receipt as well as your Hong Kong or Macau identity card to the counter and claim your permit in person on or after the scheduled collection date according to the receipt.
For applicants under the age of 18, parents or guardians can claim the permit on their behalf.
You must collect the permit within 12 months from the scheduled date. If you fail to collect the permit in time without justifiable reasons, you will be deemed to have voluntarily waived the permit collection, and the permit will be canceled.
Conclusion
With the Mainland China travel permit, non-Chinese Hong Kong or Macau expats can now travel to Mainland China for short-term purposes as many times as they would like for a maximum of 90 days with each stay.
Make sure, when applying, that you submit all required documents for a smooth, hassle-free process, and collect your permit as soon as you can. For parents with children under the age of 18, make sure to also accompany them during the application.
As an experienced insurance broker, Pacific Prime Hong Kong has helped both expats and locals find various travel insurance plans and more, matching both their unique healthcare needs and budget range.
Whether you’re an expat in Hong Kong or Macau, our team of specialists is more than happy to help you find an appropriate travel insurance plan to ensure your safety and well-being during your trip to China. What’s more, we can also offer impartial advice at no additional cost.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch with us and get a free quote for plan comparisons.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts, Media & Communication major (concentration: Creative Content) from Mahidol University International College (MUIC). During the compulsory major elective period in the summer of 2021 and voluntarily during the summer of 2022, he also interned as a video and photo editor at Mbrella Films.
He has experience working as an English Content Writer at a real estate buying/renting/selling platform in Thonglor. There, he crafted company blog posts on a multitude of topics. Topics include market trends, legal issues and disputes in property businesses, financial guides, expat guides, home insurance, home decoration and maintenance, and weekly real estate news quick-recaps. Occasionally, as part of the blog-writing process, he would also translate existing Thai blogs to English.
In his free time, Guy enjoys doing scriptwriting and storytelling for comic strips, watching movies, and listening to music (particularly film scores).
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