A 5-year travel visa to mainland China is available to non-Chinese residents of Hong Kong

Non-Chinese residents of Hong Kong and Macau will be able to travel to China more easily as Beijing has relaxed visa rules to further integrate the two special administrative regions with the mainland. Starting July 10, long-term residents of Hong Kong who are not Chinese nationals will be able to apply for a five-year travel permit.

Currently, Hong Kong residents who are Chinese can pass through immigration checks in mainland China through faster channels with what is colloquially known as a “return permit” card. Soon, non-Chinese Hong Kong residents will also be able to use self-service immigration gates with the new mainland travel permit card.

Mainland China is already testing visa-free entry for travelers from France, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Malaysia. These travelers are allowed to stay in China for 15 days. However, this new card for foreign residents of Hong Kong and Macau will not be limited to any nationality or industry, and interested individuals can apply for it via the China Travel ServiceSuccessful applicants can travel between Hong Kong and mainland China without the need for another visa, and for a maximum of 90 days at a time, with a validity period of five years.

Under the new permit, Hong Kong travellers will still not be allowed to work, study or engage in controlled activities such as information gathering while in mainland China. These will require applying for other relevant visas and permits.

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