Q1: Who can apply for the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens) (hereinafter referred to as the "Permit")? How can they submit the application?

A: Permanent residents in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region who are non-Chinese citizens (hereinafter referred to as non-Chinese Hong Kong and Macao permanent residents) and who wish to travel to the mainland of China for short-term purposes such as investment, visiting relatives, tourism, business, seminars, and exchanges may apply for the Permit through China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited and China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd., authorized by the Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China. The Permit approved and issued by the exit-entry administration of the public security department is valid for five years. During its validity, the holder may travel to the mainland of China multiple times, with each stay not exceeding 90 days. To apply for the Permit for the first time, non-Chinese Hong Kong and Macao permanent residents shall submit their applications to China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited and China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. To renew or replace the Permit, the holder may apply to China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited, China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd., or the exit-entry administration of the public security department at or above the municipal level in the mainland of China.

Q2: What documents are needed to apply for the Permit?

A: To apply for the Permit, the originals and copies of the following documents are required: (I) Application Form for Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens) filled in completely and accurately, with the applicant's recent photo pasted; (II) Valid Hong Kong or Macao permanent identity card. A non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent resident under the age of 11 who has not obtained a Hong Kong permanent identity card may provide the Notice of Application for Access to Information issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, which states that he/she is a Hong Kong permanent resident. Guardians accompany an applicant under the age of 18 shall present the original identity certificates, such as passports and proof of guardianship; (III) A valid ordinary passport (excluding passports not recognized by the government of China), with a validity period of no less than 6 months; (IV) Nationality certificates, including the Notice of Application for Access to Information issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the Certificate of Personal Data issued by the Macao Identification Services Bureau. The nationality certificate must be issued within 6 months prior to the date of application; (V) Other necessary application documents. The processing authority shall protect the personal information submitted by the applicant in accordance with the law.

Q3: What are the requirements for applying for the Permit?

A: (I) Applicants shall go to the processing authority in person to apply for the Permit. Applicants under the age of 18 shall be accompanied by their guardians for application. (II) The holder shall not work, study, or engage in news coverage activities in the mainland of China with the Permit. Those who intend to carry out the above-mentioned activities in the mainland of China shall apply for a visa, stay permit, or residence permit from the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the Macao Special Administrative Region, or from the exit-entry administration of the public security department at or above the municipal level in the mainland of China in accordance with laws and regulations. (III) Those who apply for renewal or replacement of the Permit in the mainland of China may stay legally in the Mainland with the original Application Receipt of Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens), or they can apply for a one-time exit travel document to leave the Mainland and then submit an application for renewal and replacement to China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited or China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. authorized by the Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China.

Q4: How long does it take to apply for the Permit? How much does it cost, and how does the applicant collect the Permit?

A: (I) The Permit will be issued within 20 working days after the application officially accepted. (II) The Permit is valid for five years. The fee for first application in Hong Kong or Macao SAR is HKD 260, while that for renewal or replacement in the mainland of China is CNY 230. (III) Applicants shall collect the Permit at application offices by themselves with the Application Receipt of Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens). For applicants under the age of 18, their legal guardians can collect the Permit on their behalf. (IV) Applicants shall collect the Permit within 12 months from the scheduled date of collection. If they fail to collect it in time without justifiable reasons, they will be deemed to have voluntarily waived the collection, and the Permit will be canceled.

Q5: Can the Permit holders use the E-channel for immigration inspection when entering and exiting the mainland of China?

A: In accordance with the Announcement of the Ministry of Public Security on Retaining Fingerprints and Other Biological Information of Entry Foreigners in 2017, Permit holders can go through immigration clearance through E-channels after completing fingerprint collection procedures at ports of entry. In addition, Permit holders are not required to fill in the Arrival Card when entering the mainland of China with the Permit.

Q6: What are the matters needing attention during the stay in the mainland of China with the Permit?

A: (I) During their stay in the mainland of China, the Permit holders shall register with the police in accordance with laws. (II) For those who apply for renewal or replacement of the Permit in the mainland of China, their duration of stay will be calculated from the entry time with the original Permit. (III) To stay for more than 90 days in the mainland of China due to force majeure or other justifiable reasons, the Permit holders shall apply for an extension of stay up to 90 days to local exit-entry administration of the public security department at or above the municipal level in the mainland of China.

Q7: What should one do if his/her Permit is lost, stolen or damaged?

A: If the Permit is lost or stolen, or if the information on the Permit is incomplete or the integrated chip cannot be read due to damage, the holder shall submit an application for replacement of the Permit to China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited or China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. authorized by the Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China, or the exit-entry administration of the public security department at or above the municipal level in the mainland of China. To apply for replacement due to lost or stolen, the applicant shall sign a statement of loss. For those who apply for renewal or replacement in the mainland of China, can stay legally with the original Application Receipt of Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens) before collecting a new Permit.

Q8: What should one do if his/her Permit is about to expire or has already expired?

A: If the validity period of the Permit is less than 6 months, the holder may submit an application for renewal to China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited or China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. authorized by the Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China, or the exit-entry administration of the public security department at or above the municipal level in the mainland of China. If the validity period of the Permit is less than 20 working days or has expired, the holder may apply for the renewal of the Permit to China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited or China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. The current Permit shall be submitted when applying for renewal.

Q9: What should the holder do if his/her personal particulars or other information have changed?

A: If the holder's name, gender, date of birth, nationality or any other personal particulars changes, the holder shall submit an application for renewal of the Permit to China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited or China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. authorized by the Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China, or the exit-entry administration of the public security department at or above the municipal level in the mainland of China. The applicant shall present the updated Hong Kong or Macao permanent identity card, passport, necessary documents and current Permit at the time of application. In case of any change in passport number, contact information, emergency contact person, or other information, the applicant shall report such change to China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited or China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. authorized by the Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China, or the exit-entry administration of the public security department at or above the municipal level in the mainland of China within 30 days.

Q10: What should one do to learn more about the specific policies for the application and use of the Permit?

A: For more information about the Permit, please call 12367 (official service platform of the Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China); or consult China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited (website: www.ctshk.com/mep/zh, Tel: (+852) 34603297, (+852) 34603176, (+852) 34603267) in Hong Kong and China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. in Macao (website: www.cts.com.mo, Tel: (+853) 28700888).

Source: National Immigration Administration