Before Applying
Place of Application: In Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Re-entry Permits are issued to Hong Kong residents for travel to the Mainland and Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR). If the applicant is a Hong Kong permanent resident or has been granted unconditional stay in Hong Kong, he/she may be eligible for the HKSAR Re-entry Permit.
There are two types of HKSAR Re-entry Permits:
(a) Single HKSAR Re-entry Permit, which is good for a single journey and valid for 6 months; and
(b) Multiple HKSAR Re-entry Permit, which is good for multiple journeys and valid for 5 years.
- Chinese citizens who have either acquired the right of abode or been granted unconditional stay in Hong Kong; or
- persons not of Chinese nationality who have been granted unconditional stay in Hong Kong but cannot obtain national passports or travel documents of any other countries or regions.
People Who Do Not Need an HKSAR Re-entry Permit
Under the Easy Travel Scheme, holders of Hong Kong identity cards bearing "***", "*" or "R" symbol or locally issued Hong Kong permanent identity cards, who are aged 11 or above, can travel from Hong Kong to the Mainland and Macao SAR and vice versa without producing a HKSAR Re-entry Permit or other travel documents at any Hong Kong immigration control point. They are also not required to fill in any arrival card or departure card.
Travel to/from the Mainland or the Macao SAR
When passing through Hong Kong immigration control points to or from the Mainland or the Macao SAR, Hong Kong residents do not need a HKSAR Re-entry Permit if they can produce the following documents:
- For Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above:
a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card issued locally, or a Hong Kong Identity Card bearing ‘*’, ‘***’ or ‘R’ symbol; or - For minors aged below 11:
a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card issued locally and a valid Hong Kong SAR passport.
Important Notes:
- For entering or departing the Mainland, travellers should observe the documentation requirements of the Mainland authorities (e.g. Home Visit Permit);
- For entering or departing the Macao SAR, Hong Kong permanent residents aged below 11 who do not hold any valid HKSAR Re-entry Permit should produce their Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card and valid HKSAR passport for identification purpose.
If all supporting documents required are provided upon submission of application, in-person applications for HKSAR Re-entry Permit can normally be processed and issued to the applicant on the same day. For applications submitted by post or drop-in, an extra two to three working days may be required (working days denote Monday to Friday excluding General Holidays). The time for mailing the application to the Immigration Department is excluded from the processing time listed above. In general, applicants can collect the new HKSAR Re-entry Permit on the next working day after the completion of the processing by the Immigration Department. If the applicant’s previous HKSAR Re-entry Permit is lost, damaged, defaced or is not available, he/she has to complete Form ID 645. The processing time may be longer.
Applying
Place of Application: In Hong Kong
In person
Applications can be made in person at one of the Immigration Branch Offices (except the Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section). If an applicant is under 16 years of age, he/she must be accompanied by his/her parent or legal guardian.
List of Immigration Branch Offices for travel document applications
To shorten the queuing time, an appointment booking through the Internet (www.gov.hk/tdbooking), Immigration Department Mobile Application or by phone (2598 0888) should be made to submit the application. Applicants who have not made an appointment booking will be served in accordance with the walk-in quota system on a first-come-first-served basis until the quota is full.
Online booking for travel document applications
By post
Applicants can send their applications by post to:
Documents Management Section
Immigration Department
2/F, Tuen Mun Siu Lun Government Complex
19 Siu Lun Street, Tuen Mun
Hong Kong
Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the Immigration Department. For proper delivery of your mail items, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with return address before posting. (Details)
Drop-in
During office hours, applicants can also put their applications in the drop-in boxes located at any one of the Immigration Offices that handle travel document applications.
There are two types of application forms. Applicants can download the forms through the following links.
One recent photograph of the applicant conforming to the following requirements is required:
- taken full face, without a hat;
- the background should be plain and of a light colour; and
- the size must not be larger than 55 x 45 mm or smaller than 50 x 40 mm.
The photograph will not be stuck onto the HKSAR Re-entry Permit, but will be turned into a digitised image. The quality of the image appearing on the permit will depend on the quality of the original photograph. Self-service photographic kiosks are provided in all Immigration Branch Offices.
| Form(s) Required /Application Type | Normal Replacement | Replacement of a HKSAR Re-entry Permit which has been lost/damaged/defaced/is not available |
|---|---|---|
| ID73/ID73A | ✔ | ✔ |
| ID645 | ✕ | ✔ |
| Undertaking of Application for HKSAR Re-entry Permit Submitted by Post or Drop-in (For children under 16 years of age) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Undertaking of Application for HKSAR Re-entry Permit Submitted by Post or Drop-in (For persons 16 years of age or above) | ✔ | ✔ |
Applicants should complete the application forms which should be submitted together with the supporting documents.
Applicants should bring along the original supporting documents upon submission of the application. An application with insufficient supporting documents will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant. Additional documents or information may be required if necessary. Providing the correct supporting documents will facilitate the processing of the application.
Application for Persons Aged 16 or Above
Applicants should provide the following documents together with the application:
(a) Hong Kong identity card; and
(b) documentary evidence of their legal residence in the HKSAR (for new arrivals only).
Additional Requirements for Applicants Aged 16 or 17
(c) Section 4 of the application form (Form ID 73) completed and signed by the consenting parent or legal guardian to confirm his/her consent to the application;
(d) the Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document(s) of the consenting parent or legal guardian;
(e) birth certificate (not required if it is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department) to prove the applicant's relationship with the consenting parent, or a court order (if appropriate) to prove that the consenting legal guardian has custodial rights in respect of him/her; and
(f) if the applicant is married, only his/her marriage certificate (not required if it is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department) is required. Items (c) to (e) are not required.
Application for Children Aged under 16
The consenting parent or legal guardian should provide the following documents together with the child's application:
(a) the child's Hong Kong identity card (if appropriate);
(b) documentary evidence of the child's permanent residence in Hong Kong;
(c) the child’s birth certificate (not required if it is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department) to prove the relationship between the child and the consenting parent; or a court order (if appropriate) to prove that the consenting legal guardian has custodial rights in respect of the child; and
(d) the Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document(s) of the consenting parent or legal guardian who makes the application on the child’s behalf.
Additional Requirements for Children Aged under 11
(e) the latest school document bearing the child's photograph authenticated by the school (e.g. student handbook or school record card bearing the child's name, date of birth and photograph) or other proofs of identity are required. If such school document and proof of identity is not available, a completed Form for Countersignature (Form ID 641) together with a photocopy of the Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document(s) bearing the countersignatory’s signature will be required.
Form for Countersignature (Form ID 641)
Points to Note
(a) Depending on the circumstances of individual applications, applicants may be required to produce photocopies of the documents.
(b) If the applicant is requesting a replacement HKSAR Re-entry Permit, the previous permit should be produced for cancellation upon application.
(c) If the previous HKSAR Re-entry Permit is lost, damaged or not available, the applicant should specify the circumstances of loss / damage or reason(s) for its unavailability in Form ID 645. A new HKSAR Re-entry Permit will be issued only after extensive enquiries.
The application fee will be collected at the time of application. Payment can be made by EPS, Octopus, FPS, cash or crossed cheque payable to 'The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region'. Post-dated cheques will not be accepted.
After Applying
Place of Application: In Hong Kong
For children aged below 16
Upon receiving a HKSAR Re-entry Permit application from a child aged below 16, the Immigration Department will mail the consenting parent or legal guardian (i.e. the one who has signed on the application form) a Collection Notice indicating the date and office for collection of the child's HKSAR Re-entry Permit. The consenting parent or legal guardian should accompany the child to pay the application fee and collect the HKSAR Re-entry Permit in person at the selected Immigration Branch Office by producing the original supporting documents for verification. The consenting parent or legal guardian may authorise a person who is over 18 years of age as the representative to accompany the child to pay the application fee and collect the HKSAR Re-entry Permit. Authorisation must be provided in writing on the authorisation form (ID678), clearly stating the representative’s full name and identity document number. The signature on the authorisation form must be the same as that signed on the application form. The representative must produce his/her identity document, the original valid identity document (e.g. Hong Kong identity card, passport or HKSAR Re-entry Permit, etc.) of the consenting parent or legal guardian, and the original supporting documents for verification. Should the Immigration Department consider it necessary, the consenting parent or legal guardian may still be required to attend in person for collection of the HKSAR Re-entry Permit.
Authorisation form for the collection of travel document (ID 678)
For replacement application, the consenting parent or legal guardian or the authorised representative should produce the child’s previous HKSAR Re-entry Permit for cancellation upon collection of the HKSAR new Re-entry Permit.
Upon collection, the consenting parent or legal guardian of the child or the authorised representative should present the Collection Notice at the Reception Counter for arrangement.
For persons aged 16 or above
Upon receiving a HKSAR Re-entry Permit application, the Immigration Department will mail the applicant a Collection Notice indicating the date and office for collection of the HKSAR Re-entry Permit. The applicant must collect the HKSAR Re-entry Permit in person at the selected Immigration Branch Office by producing the original supporting documents for verification.
For replacement application, the previous HKSAR Re-entry Permit should be produced for cancellation upon collection of the new one.
Upon collection, the applicant should present the Collection Notice at the Reception Counter for arrangement.
If all supporting documents required are provided upon submission of application, the HKSAR Re-entry Permit can normally be issued to the applicant on the same day.
