Mainland Bank Acct or Drivers License Using China Travel Permit

[fanzy]

More HRP vs MTP issues ... the Hxxxxxxx vs HAxxxxxxx format of HRP and MTP keeps stalling things.

When I am trying to log in here ... https://gcbs.singlewindow.gd.cn/ ... I scan with WeChat, going to a log in page. Even when I choose "Hong Kong person" in the list, it rejects the HAxxxxxxx number. If I remove the A, so it is like a HRP rather than MTP number, then I can get to the next page. But then on the next page, after I get the confirmation SMS, then in turn it says the format is wrong!

And now I cannot change it, of course. If I go back, and change it to HAxxxxxxx then it says that again, the format is wrong.

It is really an uphill battle here. I hope it will be smoother later on for those who pursue the HZMB permit.

There are 5 options to log in. It translates to

- Resident identification card
- Ordinary passport
- Mainland pass for Hong Kong and Macau residents
- Residence permit for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan residents
- Permanent residence ID card for foreigners

I tried option 3, that is the one I mentioned above. Then I tried option 4 which is about a residence permit, rather than HK ID or MTP.

I will try option 1 and 2, just to make sure ... EDIT: Option 1 doesn't work either (as expected), option 2 is for Chinese passports (once I fill the number it says enter the correct Chinese passport number)

like i mentioned you need a person with a HRP to register for that page, you can’t use your non chinese MTP.

[johnnygba]

So we are eligible for it but can't register on their site? I think we need to send an email to alert them.

[poiasd]

Hey guys. I've recently got my non-chinese MTP.

I have a HK license, which I converted exam-free in 2023 from my Indian one. Been reading through the thread, looks like I may be able to get a Chinese license as well without the exam now!

Very pleasant update as I went back to The traffic police depot in Nanshan to continue the driving licence application. I was gonna provide a Shenzhen hotel stay proof but as soon as I presented my MTP, HKID and HK driving licence they said I can apply via the exam-free route.

That's awesome, do you need to make an appointment / booking even if you're doing the exam-free route?

Also very important, just before the issue of my license, I was asked where I took the drivers license test. I took a test in HK, but only for private car. I have other ratings from overseas testing, which is also on my HK license. I was surprised I got all of them on the China drivers license. I said I am happy to only get the C1, = private car, but I I got the others also. If you got your HK drivers license validated in HK from an overseas license, without doing a driving test in HK, you might NOT be able to follow this path! The conversion, without a test, is made for HK people with HK drivers license, and I believe it is understood that means you took the actual driving test in HK. So be very careful what you answer here or you might be kicked back to start.

Hmm, did the guy just ask you verbally or was it an explicit field in the form? I wonder how they can validate it, since it doesn't seem like the HK license states whether it was converted or obtained via test. Asking since I got mine via conversion...

Thank you, managed to do it in Shenzhen Bao self service centre.

No queue up there and was really quick. Only thing was for Chinese name on the MTP which I didn’t have but my previous provisional license had a Chinese name and they used the same one.

Hey @viruss, I tried searching a bit but not sure what's the "Shenzhen Bao self service centre". Could you share an address or similar? Am I correct to assume self-service means it is some automated kiosk to handle the whole license conversion? I don't have a Chinese Name though (either MTP or HKID), so might need to make one up it sounds like.

[LGB]

...
Hmm, did the guy just ask you verbally or was it an explicit field in the form? I wonder how they can validate it, since it doesn't seem like the HK license states whether it was converted or obtained via test. Asking since I got mine via conversion...

There is no field in a form. He just asked when I sat there. There is nothing on the license to indicate how you got it.

You can use your non-HK license but then I believe you need to do the written test.

[viruss]

Hey guys. I've recently got my non-chinese MTP.

I have a HK license, which I converted exam-free in 2023 from my Indian one. Been reading through the thread, looks like I may be able to get a Chinese license as well without the exam now!



That's awesome, do you need to make an appointment / booking even if you're doing the exam-free route?



Hmm, did the guy just ask you verbally or was it an explicit field in the form? I wonder how they can validate it, since it doesn't seem like the HK license states whether it was converted or obtained via test. Asking since I got mine via conversion...



Hey @viruss, I tried searching a bit but not sure what's the "Shenzhen Bao self service centre". Could you share an address or similar? Am I correct to assume self-service means it is some automated kiosk to handle the whole license conversion? I don't have a Chinese Name though (either MTP or HKID), so might need to make one up it sounds like.

Hi , the self service kiosks do have staff to assist you and apply. Chinese name would be needed for the license. Also remember the medical test and photo can be done on the kiosk it’s all in mandarin if you speak and hear well and if not you can do it in any hospital nearby before visiting this centre.


Address below
深圳市宝安区松岗东方一路45号

[poiasd]

Chinese name would be needed for the license.

Do you happen to know if it needs to be a legal Chinese name? If so I guess I'm SOL. Or can I "choose" one for myself?

[viruss]

Do you happen to know if it needs to be a legal Chinese name? If so I guess I'm SOL. Or can I "choose" one for myself?

My previous provisional licence had it so the same was added to this new licence.

You can give it a try

[LGB]

Do you happen to know if it needs to be a legal Chinese name? If so I guess I'm SOL. Or can I "choose" one for myself?

I did a license conversion elsewhere in China, almost 20 years ago. Back then, I had to do the written test, and even back then, it was a computer test, 90% pass mark with three-choice multiple choice. Very silly questions, many are so easy it is almost dumb, but then some questions are impossible to know the correct answer unless you have practiced them. Well, you just need 90% and I passed in the first go. I have done a prep recently, which now turned out I did not need it anyway. But the test prep I did was exactly like I remembered it was back then.

I was lucky to have our office girl with me, to assist (translate and sort things out!). I don't even know if I had an appointment, or just showed up, but I remember one of the first things was 'What is your name?' and ... they would not accept my passport, Romanised name. The office girl just made one up on the spot, based on the sound of my real name. This has been my Chinese name ever since, also in Hong Kong. It is even on my HK ID, and my kids Chinese passport (wife is from HK) is with MY Chinese name, not hers. All from a name that was improvised on the spot, on a random day in China long time ago. So much for being a 'legal' name, there was never any ceremony or paperwork about it. Two of the three characters are different in simplified and traditional Chinese, though. That is why I suggest that anyone non-Chinese doing this, find a two-character name, with fewer strokes, and where the simplified and traditional are the same.

I have used the simplified version of my name during all these recent procedures with MTP, mainland drivers license and now the HZMB 'driving North' exercise. I wonder if it would have worked if I had typed in the traditional Chinese version of my name. One of the characters in my name has something like 17 strokes in traditional Chinese!

So, choose wisely. And have someone native Chinese help you check the name you picked sounds like a name, can be understood easily, and doesn't mean something embarrassing.

[OrganicDancer]

You need to realize that the HZMB application is not intended for holiday, but it’s for people who have family in China who need a convenient way to travel back to their hometown. I manage to get it but will need someone to have a Chinese MTP to apply for 粤省事 application to upload your documents. The step by step process is also very clear in chinese.

1. ballot
2. submit document on 粤省事
3. wait for processing, after complete they will ask u to do inspection of car (done by CTS, same company as your MTP)
4. you need to buy insurance too before as you need to upload to the application
5. police checks, immigration checks, then communicate to HK TD to issue the CRP.

Timeframe for all HZMB is around (1 month), going to be longer because of CNY.

Curious as to why mentioned 'not a holiday'? The website says sight seeing as a reason.

The Scheme would facilitate Hong Kong residents to drive to Guangdong for business, visiting families or sight-seeing on a short-term basis which could make good use of the HZMB and promoting development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

[LGB]

You need to realize that the HZMB application is not intended for holiday, but it’s for people who have family in China who need a convenient way to travel back to their hometown. I manage to get it but will need someone to have a Chinese MTP to apply for 粤省事 application to upload your documents. The step by step process is also very clear in chinese.

1. ballot
2. submit document on 粤省事
3. wait for processing, after complete they will ask u to do inspection of car (done by CTS, same company as your MTP)
4. you need to buy insurance too before as you need to upload to the application
5. police checks, immigration checks, then communicate to HK TD to issue the CRP.

Timeframe for all HZMB is around (1 month), going to be longer because of CNY.

My wife is HK Chinese, and my father in law lives in China. But I am not a Chinese citizen.

Where did you get the "not intended for holiday" from, any source you can point to that mentions that?

I do have a MTP, both HK and CN drivers license, but my MTP is HAxxxxxxx while my wifes is Hxxxxxxx. They are both Mainland Travel Permits, except mine has added non-Chinese in the title, mine is valid 5 years and my wifes is valid 10 years. Maybe because hers is a reissue, while mine is new.

Step by step process might be clear, as you write, but there are many more details to it which is not mentioned. I have come far in this process now, MTP, CN drivers license, CN phone number in a separate phone, CN bank account, WeChat, WeChat pay and so on. All I need now is to finish the process of the HZMB.

And I cannot check the status. I should be able to.

And if it were true, what you wrote, that it is "not intended for holiday, but it’s for people who have family in China who need a convenient way to travel back to their hometown", then would visiting my wife's father in Mainland apply as a legitimate reason? That still doesn't make me a Chinese citizen. Not all couples are of same race and nationality. It is legal to marry someone from a different country.

But the system is so rigid to deal with, when any change are made (non-Chinese can acquire MTP, but they decide to change the format of the ID number of the new MTP version), then the fancy computer system needs to update its strict checking of things like the format. Hopefully they will realise this mistake, and change the program soon.

The timeframe for HZMB of one month is useful to know, though. I did not see that anywhere yet, until you mentioned it. Can you point to where it can be found, please, as I would like to read more about it?