China introduces 5-year travel permit for non-Chinese residents of Hong Kong and Macau

China has introduced a five-year travel permit for permanent, non-Chinese residents of the semi-autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Macau. From Wednesday, July 10, foreign citizens will be able to enter China for stays of up to 90 days per visit.

The rationale behind the new permit is to promote integration and create closer ties in trade, investment and cultural exchange between China and the Greater Bay Area. It also marks a significant development for non-Chinese permanent citizens, who can travel more easily. The decision is also a boost to attract more international talent to the southern side of China and restore Hong Kong’s global appeal after the 2019 street protests and its criticized handling of the Covid pandemic.

“Many non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong have deep roots in Hong Kong. They have worked hard and made significant contributions to the development of Hong Kong… We firmly believe that international talent from Hong Kong companies can enjoy the long-awaited ease of customs clearance for travel to the North with this card,” the region’s Chief Executive John Lee said on Monday, July 1, 27^e commemoration of the official handover of the state from the United Kingdom to China, known as the Establishment Day of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macao will be eligible for a Mainland Travel Permit from July 10, according to an announcement by the Exit and Entry Administration of China. The document allows visa-free travel to mainland China. photo.twitter.com/NcPin5s4Ez

— Discover GuangZhou (@Discover_GZ) July 1, 2024

The new permits can be obtained through the China Travel Service, which will process applications through the China Exit and Entry Administration. Applicants must have lived in Hong Kong or Macau for at least seven years. The visa is for travel purposes only and therefore does not grant entry to people who wish to enter China to study, work or report on news. Separate permits must be applied for for these purposes.

China recently signed a similar agreement with Australia and New Zealand for a five-year travel permit with multiple-entry visas for tourism and business. This is part of a broader strategy to improve the country’s international accessibility. Over the past year, 15-day visa-free travel agreements have been trialed with 12 other countries and extended until the end of 2025.