Canadians travelling to China

[overseastar]

Hi! I'm planning to visit China for 3 weeks in May and am not sure about whether I need a travel visa or a home return permit. I was born in HK and have a 3-star HKID card (smartcard?), but now hold a Canadian passport. As far as I remember, I did at one point in my life held a home return permit as well. Should I be applying for a home return permit when I visit China, or a travel visa?

I plan to fly from Canada > Hong Kong > China > Hong Kong > Canada.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Elfin safety]

If you are of Chinese race born in Hong Kong, then technically the PRC regards you as solely a Chinese citizen; as such you should be using a HRP.

Unless you declare a change of nationality [to Canadian], your Canadian citizenship will not be recognised and your Canadian passport will be regarded as purely a travel document facility.

Of course you can use a Canadian passport with China visa, but this could create future confusion or even problems as to your status. I would advise using a HRP. You'll need to apply at CTS in Hong Kong

[Hairball]

If they give you the visa, you can still use it, my parents have done so in the past before they got an updated home return permit.

But as Elfin safety said, China does not recognize dual citizenship. So there may be a slight risk by doing so.

[overseastar]

Thank you for the quick replies.

But as Elfin safety said, China does not recognize dual citizenship. So there may be a slight risk by doing so.

So does that mean I'll be better off using a HRP? And is it possible to apply for a HRP while in Canada?

[Hairball]

Thank you for the quick replies.



So does that mean I'll be better off using a HRP? And is it possible to apply for a HRP while in Canada?

To be honest, whether it is better or not I have no idea.

And no you can't apply for it in Canada, you have to do it in Hong Kong at the CTS travel agency.

[overseastar]

To be honest, whether it is better or not I have no idea.

And no you can't apply for it in Canada, you have to do it in Hong Kong at the CTS travel agency.

Yikes~ This is going to be a problem because I was only planning to spend 2 days in HK and I won't be able to get a HRP in time.... Looks like I might have to go with the visa route. Will drop by the Chinese Embassy in the next few days to check.

I just looked into the process of applying for a HRP, if I'm renewing/replacing an old one, I'll need to get the headshot photo at the CTS locations as of June 1 2009. If I'm applying for the first time, I'll need to show my HKID & HK passport/other form of ID showing chinese citizenship.

[Renotommy]

Will I be protected by the US consulate if I enter China with a US passport and a China multiple-entry visa? The point is, I was born in HK and the last HKID card I had was a "child ID" issued in 1968. I have never had an adult HKID card but still have my HK birth certificate which I'll bring along with me; will the Chinese authorities consider me as being a Chinese citizen and beyond reach of the US consulate(s)?

My second question is: I consider retiring to HK, will I have any difficulties in applying for a HK permanent resident ID? In the event that I must travel between the USA and HK for personal/business reasons, my understand is that if I come back to HK at least once every 36 months, I can retain my HKID without any fear of losing it; am I correct?

Thanks in advance for your info.

[IceEagle]

From my reading of http://web.archive.org/web/200806222...n_china-en.asp (Article 12 Paragraph 3 specifically) it seems if you enter China on a CDN passport + china visa, you'll be treated as a Canadian and granted access to consular officials. (Whether or not the consulate will issue you a visa in the first place if they know you are a Chinese citizen is a different matter, of course.)

There's suppose to be an American-China treaty which grants Americans the same right but I have not been able to find it.

Edit: Ok, found it. http://untreaty.un.org/unts/60001_12...1/00041015.pdf Paragraph 3 of Exchange of Notes (on Page 18). Americans who enter on an American passport + china visa keeps access to American consular officials. (Well, in theory, anyways.)