Starting from Wednesday, Hong Kong permanent residents who hold their countries passports will be able to apply for a new five-year multiple entry travel permit to cross to mainland China.
The newly introduced permit would allow holders to stay on the mainland for up to 90 days per visit for short-term purposes, such as tourism, business, seminars, investment, visiting relatives, and exchange, according to the National Immigration Administration’s announcement on July 1. Currently, most non-Chinese nationals with permanent residency need to apply for separate visas to visit the mainland.
The details on what you need to know about the new permit application procedures as they were being stated via SCMP news platforms are below.
1. What you should know before applying
Applicants should obtain a “Notice of Application for Access to Information” from the government website before filling in an online application and making an appointment through the processing authority China Travel Service (CTS) Hong Kong.
The document proves applicants’ Hong Kong permanent residency status and nationality information and is valid for six months before the application.
Non-Chinese nationals under the age of 11 who have not applied for a permanent identity card are required to obtain the notice, which will be made available within 10 working days upon receipt of a request, according to the city’s Code on Access to Information.
A source familiar with the matter has said applicants need to present the document issued by the Immigration Department when they process their application in person at CTS service centres.
2. Which CTS centres will process applications?
Applicants may submit in-person applications at the service centres in Central, Kowloon Bay, Kwai Chung, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Mong Kok. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday.
Applicants must book an appointment in advance on CTS website and submit their personal information online.
These online bookings have been available since the Hong Kong government announced the new visa on July 1.
The source said applicants could fill in the application form and make an appointment through the CTS website while waiting for their Notice of Application for Access to Information.
However, if they do not receive the notice by their appointment date, they will need to reschedule their booking, the source said.
3. What are the other required documents?
Eligible residents need to fill in an application form with a recent photo within six months via the CTS website.
They are also required to have a Hong Kong permanent identity card, a passport valid for at least six months, as well as nationality certificates.
Applicants under 18 must be accompanied by their legal guardian with identity documents and papers that prove their relationship.
They will receive an email notification upon the preliminary verification of the submitted data and then be asked to select a specific CTS service centre and appointment time.
The information provided by the applicant online will be printed and verified during on-site processing, and the signed confirmation will serve as the official application form.
4. Required information
Applicants will need to submit their full name, date and place of birth, nationality, occupation, Hong Kong or Macau telephone number and relevant residential documents issued by authorities.
They will also need to provide details about their passports and any visas issued by mainland authorities.
The application form on the CTS website will also ask for emergency contacts from Hong Kong, Macau or the mainland.
5. How long will it take for permits to be approved?
CTS Hong Kong chairman Perry Yiu Pak-leung said the permit would be issued within 20 working days after the application was accepted.
He added the entire application procedures were similar to the current process of applying for a return-home permit online, but without a “fast pass” arrangement.
The first application will cost HK$260 (US$33), with renewals or replacements on the mainland costing 230 yuan (US$32).
6. What are the photo requirements?
Applicants must provide a photo that is a full-face coloured picture with white background, without a hat or glasses. The photo must be taken over the past six months.
Applicants may use the instant photo service provided in the lobbies of the CTS service centres. The photo will be immediately transmitted to an inspection system for approval.
Digital photos that pass the requirement will be directly uploaded to the processing unit and printed as physical copies. Applicants can then proceed with the application process by presenting the qualified bar code from the printed photo.
Photos taken elsewhere will need to passed by the inspection system before the application may proceed.
Sample photo of Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens). Photo: Exit and Entry Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
有關如何申請新的香港永久性居民多次入境許可證的詳情
從週三開始，仍持有本國護照的香港永久性居民將能夠申請新的五年多次入境旅行許可證，以前往中國大陸。
根據國家移民管理局7月的公告，新推出的許可證允許持有人以旅遊、商務、研討會、投資、探親和交流等短期目的在內地停留最多90天1. 目前，大多數擁有永久居留權的非中國籍公民需要單獨申請簽證才能前往內地。
以下是南華早報新聞平台所公佈的有關新許可證申請程序的詳細資訊。
1. 申請前您應該了解什麼
申請人應先從政府網站取得“查閱資料申請通知書”，然後再填寫線上申請並透過處理機構香港中國旅行社（CTS）進行預約。
該文件證明申請人的香港永久居留身份及國籍資料，有效期為申請前六個月。
根據該市的資訊公開守則，未申請永久居民身分證的未滿 11 歲的非中國籍公民必須取得通知，該通知將在收到請求後 10 個工作天內發出。
知情人士表示，申請人親自到港中旅服務中心辦理申請時，需出示入境事務處發出的文件。
2. 哪些CTS中心會處理申請？
申請人可親臨中環、九龍灣、葵湧、沙田、屯門及旺角的服務中心遞交申請。 開放時間為週一至週六上午 9 點至下午 5 點。
申請人須提前在CTS網站預約並在線提交個人資訊。
自香港政府於 7 月 1 日宣布新簽證以來，這些線上預訂已開始提供。
消息人士稱，申請人在等待《資訊公開申請通知》期間，可以透過CTS網站填寫申請表並進行預約。
然而，消息人士稱，如果他們在預約日期之前沒有收到通知，他們將需要重新安排預訂。
3. 還需要哪些文件？
符合資格的居民需要透過 CTS 網站填寫申請表並附上六個月內的近期照片。
他們還必須持有香港永久性居民身分證、有效期至少六個月的護照以及國籍證書。
18歲以下的申請人必須由法定監護人陪同，並攜帶身分證明文件和證明其關係的文件。
提交的數據初步核實後，他們將收到電子郵件通知，然後被要求選擇特定的CTS服務中心和預約時間。
申請人在線上提供的資訊將在現場處理時列印並驗證，簽名確認書將作為正式申請表。
4. 所需資料
申請人需提交全名、出生日期和地點、國籍、職業、香港或澳門電話號碼以及當局簽發的相關居住文件。
他們還需要提供有關護照和大陸當局簽發的任何簽證的詳細資訊。
CTS網站上的申請表還將要求提供來自香港、澳門或內地的緊急聯絡人。
5. 許可證需要多長時間才能獲得批准？
香港中旅主席姚伯良表示，許可證將在接受申請後20個工作天內發出。
他補充說，整個申請程序與目前線上申請回國證的流程類似，但沒有「快速通行證」安排。
首次申請費用為 260 港元（33 美元），在大陸續簽或更換費用為 230 元人民幣（32 美元）。
6. 照片有什麼要求？
申請人必須提供一張白底全臉彩色照片，不戴帽子或眼鏡。 照片必須是在過去六個月內拍攝的。
申請人可使用CTS服務中心大廳提供的即時拍照服務。 照片將立即傳輸到檢查系統進行批准。
透過要求的數位照片將直接上傳到處理單元並列印為實體副本。 然後，申請人可以出示列印照片中合格的條碼來繼續申請流程。
在其他地方拍攝的照片需要通過檢查系統才能繼續申請。
Comments