Non-Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents Can Apply for 5-Year Travel Permit Cards to China

Following the announcement on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Establishment Day, non-Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents can soon cross the Chinese border with speedy clearance at self-service gates, with China travel permit cards starting to be issued from the 10th of July.

This Pacific Prime article acts as a guide to provide you with essential information about this new government initiative– What it means to non-Chinese Hong Kong residents, what documents are needed for application, and things to prepare that benefit travel between Hong Kong and China.

What Does It Mean To Non-Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents?

The initiative is expected to enable foreign talents to do business in the Greater Bay Area of southern China more easily. The permit will allow the holder to travel to mainland China multiple times within the 5-year validity period, with each stay lasting 90 days.

Mainland authorities foresee the new policy facilitating personnel exchanges in areas such as business and investment, culture and tourism, education, and scientific research to support Hong Kong’s better integration into the overall development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Chief Executive John Lee expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Central Government while acknowledging that many non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents have deep roots in Hong Kong, and they have contributed significantly to the development of Hong Kong.

Lee then concluded the announcement– “We firmly believe that international talent of Hong Kong companies can enjoy the long-awaited clearance convenience for northbound travel with this travel permit card”.

Applying For the 5-Year Travel Permit Card

From documents and fees to application center addresses, you want to be fully prepared to ensure a seamless application process for the 5-year travel permit card. Here’s everything that you need to know:

The first step would be to start an application online. You need to complete the form as required; and at the end of the process, you will be asked to make an appointment in any of the application centers at your convenience.

Application Centers

Once you have a date secured on the online booking system, you will need to visit your appointed China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Ltd. application center. There are a total of five permanent and one temporary application centers, listed below:

Documents Required For Travel Permit Card Application (Adult)

Upon arrival at the application center, you will be required to provide the following documents:

1. Hong Kong permanent resident identity card with at least 6 months of validity
2. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Passport with at least 6 months of validity
3. 1 full-face photo taken within the last six months*
4. Completed online form with personal information
5. An A4 double-sided hard copy of the above documents

*Photo specifications: 48 x 33mm, white background, uniform lighting, no technical manipulation of human features, no head or face coverings

Additional Documents Required For Travel Permit Card Application (Child)

If you wish to apply for your child as well, bring along:

1. Parents’ Hong Kong permanent resident identity card
2. Birth certificate or relevant document proving the relationship between the applicant and the legal guardian

Application Fees

To complete the application process, you must pay the following application fees:

Note 1: If under special circumstances where a letter of approval is required, an additional fee of HKD $200 will be charged.

Note 2: If you choose the local postal express service provided by Hong Kong Post to collect your travel permit card, an additional fee of HKD $40 will be charged.

Does Hong Kong Health Insurance Provide Coverage in China?

It depends on the insurance policy you have secured in Hong Kong. While Hong Kong insurance plans are starting to provide more and more coverage in China, it is hard to guarantee that you are fully protected from expensive out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

It is recommended to have Chinese local health insurance, or better yet, international health insurance. It ensures you have coverage in China and Hong Kong with one insurance company so you don’t have to worry about communication with multiple insurance companies, which could be daunting.

Pacific Prime has a team of insurance experts to help you assess your current insurance plan, or assess your healthcare needs if you don’t have one secured. We guarantee to help you acquire adequate coverage in China to protect yourself from any possible accidents or health problems.

Get in touch with our expert advisors today to prepare for your upcoming trips to China!

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Eric Chung

Content Creator at Pacific Prime Hong Kong

Eric is an experienced content writer specializing in writing creative copies of marketing materials including social media posts, advertisements, landing pages, and video scripts.

Since joining Pacific Prime, Eric was exposed to a new world of insurance. Having learned about insurance products extensively, he has taken joy and satisfaction in helping individuals and businesses manage risks and protect themselves against financial loss through the power of words.

Although born and raised in Hong Kong, he spent a quarter of his life living and studying in the UK. He believes his multicultural experience is a great asset in understanding the needs and wants of expats and globe-trotters.

Eric’s strengths lie in his strong research, analytical, and communication skills, obtained through his BA in Linguistics from the University of York and MSc in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Bristol.

Outside of work, he enjoys some me-time gaming and reading on his own, occasionally going absolutely mental on a night out with friends.

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