Home Return Permit - Expedited Timing

[christmascarol]

I am currently planning my travel back to Hong Kong and China and need to renew my Home Return Permit. I understand that online the guidance is that you will receive the Permit after 5 business days if paying for expedited service.

For those who have done it, did this actually take 5 business days? And in counting 5 days, does the 5 days start the day after submission or the day of submission?

My appointment is on 10/10, and I'd like to travel to China on 10/15 or 10/16, so I'm considering whether I should get a visa instead to avoid the risk of not getting my Home Return Permit in time. Thanks!

[kma88]

Do you have HKSAR passport? You can apply for a "China Travel Permit" (旅行证) at your overseas residence's nearest Chinese embassy / consulate. It takes 4 business days and costs around US$30 and is valid for two years allowing multiple entries & exits from mainland China.

[PLamHK]

As I understand it, HRPs are only only for people resident in HK. For other overseas HK-Chinese the China Travel Permit as mentioned above is the way to go.

[Morrison]

Yeah, if OP doesn’t reside in China , including HK, Macao, Taiwan then a document called

” Travel Document" (旅行证) is all he can apply for in the country that he resides in.
@kma88 it’s not called ”China Travel Permit“ , perhaps colloquially .

It’s good for mainland China AND travel to other countries,although probably not too many as it’s not biometric and doesn’t contain a chip

[christmascarol]

Thanks for the info. Yes, I have a HKSAR passport. I would prefer to go the HRP route given that it lasts 5-years and I have already had a HRP in the past that expired. Have you had experience with the expedited process for it?

[Acho0087]

Yes it took 5 business days ie applied on Thursday last week, collected it Thursday this week. Anyone can collect it on your behalf from the automatic machine on the date and time stamped on the confirmation bar code on the slip of paper. You just need to bring along the expired HRP too. Quite straightforward after you have submitted all the docs.

You do need to take separate HRP photographs with a special “bar code” that takes 15 mins to do. Be clear to the photo studio you’re doing it for the HRP and they will know. There are 2 downstairs at the Sheung Wan building.

you also need to make an online appointment - no walk ins permitted. I saw some people get rejected at the queue.