US citizen/HK resident travel documents need to go to mainland China

US citizen/HK resident travel documents need to go to mainland China - Narrow paved street with outdoor cafe and classic styled buildings decorated with various countries flags and banners in sunlight

I'm a US citizen and a HK permanent resident. What travel documents would I need to fly to Mainland, China from US besides my Return Home card? Of course, I'll have my US passport for reentering the US.



Best Answer

According to Timatic, the database which airlines use to verify passenger travel documents, you can travel to China exclusively with your Return Home Permit; you do not need any passport or visa.

The relevant bits:

  • Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid on arrival.

Passport Exemptions:

  • Passengers with a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Hui Xiang Zheng, credit-card format).

Visa required, except for Passengers with a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Hui Xiang Zheng, credit-card format) .

When boarding your flight to China, you should declare your nationality to the airline as China (not US) so that they will be able to look up the correct rules in Timatic. If you embark from a US airport, you may need to tell the check-in agent that your card is a "Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents" as they might not be familiar with this document, and it contains very little English text.




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Can US residents travel to China?

Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes. China currently allows foreign nationals with valid residence permits and visas to enter the country under certain very limited conditions. The U.S. Embassy has no say in these policies, and these are subject to change at any time.

What do U.S. citizens need to travel to China?

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements
  • Obtain a visa prior to arrival and have a passport with at least six months' validity remaining. ...
  • Apply for a ten-year multiple entry visa, useful for repeated travel, or trips to Hong Kong or Macau with returns to China.
  • If you plan to work in China, be sure to obtain the correct visa.


Do US residents need a visa to go to China?

Tourism in China requires a visa and is typically a single entry visa with a stay duration of 30 days. US citizens may be eligible for a 10-year multiple entry visa. The tourism visa requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months and it must have at least two blank pages.

Can I travel from Hong Kong to China without a visa?

Visitors of other nationalities, as well as residents of Hong Kong and Macau, are required to obtain either a visa or a permit prior to arrival, depending on their nationality.



HK residents create human formation to mark occasion in Victoria Park




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Images: Ryutaro Tsukata, Ethan Wilkinson, JackerKun, Roberto Nickson