Starting Wednesday, foreign residents living in Hong Kong and Macao can apply for multiple-entry visas to the Chinese mainland, with a validity of up to five years, through a simplified process, as announced by the central government.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region revealed that non-Chinese permanent residents and other non-Chinese residents of Hong Kong can apply for visas valid for up to five years. These visas will allow them to stay in mainland China for up to 180 days per visit, for purposes including tourism, business, family visits, or cultural and academic exchanges. Under this updated procedure, applicants no longer need to present proof of round-trip tickets or hotel bookings during the visa application process.
Additionally, those who have previously applied for visas through overseas Chinese visa-issuing authorities and have had their fingerprints collected will not need to undergo fingerprint collection again when applying from Hong Kong. However, the office emphasized that visa validity and the allowed duration of stay will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and applicants may be required to provide additional documents or attend interviews. It is noted that this visa policy does not apply to foreign domestic helpers.
Similarly, on Wednesday, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR announced comparable adjustments for foreign permanent and temporary residents in the city. Individuals applying from Macao for short-term activities such as tourism, trade, and family visits can obtain visas with a validity of up to five years, allowing stays of up to 180 days. Under the new guidelines, proof of outbound travel arrangements and accommodation is no longer required.
Starting from July 10, non-Chinese permanent residents of both Hong Kong and Macao have been able to apply for a new mainland travel permit. This permit allows for multiple entries into mainland China within a five-year validity period, with each stay limited to a maximum of 90 days.
