Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport
- Also see People's Republic of China passport.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region People's Republic of China Passport (traditional Chinese: 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區護照), or more simply known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport (traditional Chinese: 香港特別行政區護照), Hong Kong SAR passport, or HKSAR passport, is a type of passport of the People's Republic of China for PRC citizens who have the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and hold Hong Kong permanent identity cards.
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The issuing of Hong Kong SAR passports began on 1 July 1997, following the transfer of the territory from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. (For more information, see Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong).
PRC citizens who have right of abode (ROA) in the HKSAR and who hold Hong Kong permanent resident identity cards, whether or not they are holders of the British National (Overseas) or Hong Kong Hong Kong Certificate of Identity or other travel documents, are eligible to apply for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport. Note that acquisition of British citizenship in the British Nationality Selection Scheme does not affect the eligibility for a HKSAR passport. Nor does the holding of any foreign passport itself affect the eligibility for a HKSAR passport, provided that one remains a PRC citizen.
Under the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the Government of the Hong Kong SAR is responsible for immigration control in the region. The Hong Kong SAR passport is issued by the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the authorisation of the Central People's Government (or the State Council). It is distinct from other types of People's Republic of China passports issued to citizens of the PRC who are not permanent residents of Hong Kong- it has a distinct design and features. Furthermore, this passport allows visa-free entry to numerous countries.
Hong Kong official travel documents prior to 1997 included the Hong Kong Certificate of Identity, British Dependent Territories citizens Passport, British National (Overseas) and British citizen passports. After 1997, BN(O) and BC passports are still valid but CIs and BDTCs are no longer in use.
The eligibility criteria for application for a HKSAR passport include:
- Chinese citizenship
- Permanent residency in the Hong Kong SAR
- A valid Hong Kong permanent identity card.[1]
Application can be made in person or by post to the immigration department in Hong Kong. Overseas applications are also possible through a PRC embassy or consulate-general. Documents to be enclosed are:
- The application form (ID843), duly completed and signed
- Photo copy of Hong Kong permanent identity card (only the side with the holder's personal particulars and photograph);
- One recent colour photograph (please see photograph requirements);
- A completed mailing label (ID839).
Fees as of 19 June 2006:
- For persons 16 years of age or over (Validity of passport is 10 years) - 32 pages — HK$ 370
- For persons under 16 years of age (Validity of passport is 5 years) - 32 pages — HK$ 185
Visas are not required for Hong Kong SAR passport holders visiting countries such as the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Union, Japan and Canada.[2] Official figure of the Hong Kong Immigration Department states that Hong Kong SAR passport holders are able to visit 136 countries & territories either visa-free or visa-on-arrival.[3]
Hong Kong SAR passport holders are also able to enjoy travel convenience under some bilateral agreements concluded between the PRC and other countries (on PRC passports in general). For example, Nepalese tourist visas are free for both ordinary PRC passport holders and Hong Kong SAR passport holders. Also, as announced in the 2008-2009 Policy Address of the Chief Executive of HKSAR, it is expected that a visa-free access agreement would soon be concluded with Russia.[4]
As Hong Kong allows visa-free entry for travellers from many countries, countries like Jordan, Egypt and Turkey reciprocally waive the fee for entry stamps, ranging from US$10 to 30, for those who enter on an HKSAR passport.
On the other hand, in addition to the HKSAR passport, Hong Kong permanent residents visiting Taiwan require landing permits that can be applied beforehand or may be obtained on arrival, while holders of most western passports can enter Taiwan visa-free. See Entry Permit of HK and Macau Residents to the Taiwan Area.
The Hong Kong SAR passport is ineligible for the Visa Waiver Program of the United States at present.[5] In fiscal year 2008, the adjusted visa refusal rate for US B-visas for HKSAR passports was 4.4%[6], which is higher than the 3% requirement for the VWP. It is worth noting that the refusal rate for the British National (Overseas) passports is 3.3% in the same year. HKSAR passports have the nationality code HNK on US visas, while that for BN(O) passports is HOKO.
As for the United Kingdom, student and work permit visas are free of charge for BN(O) passport holders but an application fee is charged for HKSAR passport holders.[7] The UK requires all PRC nationals residing in the UK for more than 6 months to register with the police. As HKSAR passports holders are de facto PRC nationals, an additional police registration fee of £34 is payable. In this sense HKSAR passports are treated in the same way as ordinary PRC passports. This registration is not required for BN(O) passport holders and many other nationals.[8][9]
As travelling to the mainland or Macau is considered an internal travel, HKSAR passports are not used for that purpose. For such trips to the mainland, a Home Return Permit would be used. A permanent resident of Hong Kong (regardless of nationality) who enters Macau on a Hong Kong permanent resident identity card alone is generally allowed to stay up to one year. Virtually all such permanent residents enter Macau this way except those who also hold a permanent resident ID of Macau.
Illegal transfer of HKSAR passport(s) is a criminal offence in Hong Kong. Any person who is guilty of the offence shall be liable to imprisonment for 14 years and to a fine of HK$150,000 (for details see section 42 of the Immigration Ordinance, Cap. 115 of the Laws of Hong Kong).[10]
The electronic HKSAR Passport was introduced in February 2007.
Data included in the contactless chip of the passport[11]:
- Name in Chinese and English
- Nationality (i.e. Chinese)
- Sex
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Permanent identity card number
- Facial image
- Passport number
- Date of issue
- Date of expiry
- Issuing authority (i.e. Immigration Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)
Fingerprints and iris scans are not included.
The explanation from back cover for the chip is as follows:
本護照含敏感的電子部件，為保持護照的最佳效能，請勿彎曲護照或在本頁打孔；切勿讓本護照接觸高低溫或受潮。
This passport contains sensitive electronics. For the best performance please do not bend, perforate this page or expose this passport to extreme temperatures or excess moisture.
請勿在此蓋印
Do not stamp here
First Version (1997-2002)
The first version of the HKSAR Passport was issued from 1 July 1997 until 31 Dec 2002. It was then replaced by the second version passport.
Second Version (2003-2007)
Starting from 1 Jan 2003, the second version of the passport was introduced with enhanced security features. Optically variable ink was used to print the words "HKSAR" along the periphery of the photo and "IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION" of the "Issuing authority" column on the personal data page.
[edit] Cover
The cover of the HKSAR passport is dark blue in colour with writings and the national emblem of the People's Republic of China in gold. The word Passport in Traditional Chinese and English are found below the crest. Above are the words Hong Kong Special Administrative Region People's Republic of China, also in Traditional Chinese and English.
It is worth noting that the Chinese characters 中華人民共和國 (People's Republic of China) are bigger than the characters 香港特別行政區 (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) on the passport cover. In English, however, "HONG KONG" is bigger than the phrase "SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" for easy distinction by foreign immigration officials between HKSAR passports which are issued to Chinese citizens with the right of abode in the Hong Kong SAR, and other types of PRC passports that are issued to other PRC citizens.
[edit] Size
The passport size is 125 mm × 88 mm. The 2 types of passports are: a 32-page ordinary-size passport, and a 48-page passport.
[edit] Identification Page
The passport is machine readable, designed for immigration control points equipped with passport scanner.
Personal data is recorded on the last page of the passport, which is covered with a security laminate. Details include:
- Surname and Given Names: in Traditional Chinese and English
- Nationality: "CHINESE" (The nationality code is CHN as shown in the machine readable zone)
- Code of Issuing State: CHN (People's Republic of China)
- Sex: denoted as "M" (male) or "F" (female)
- Place of birth: if born in China, name of province/autonomous region/municipality/SAR; if born outside China, name of country/region
- Dates of birth, issuance and expiry: displayed in the format DD-MMM-YY
- Authority (of issue): "IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION" (in Traditional Chinese and English)
The logo of the HKSAR is printed in optically variable ink and is placed to the right of the photograph. A larger bauhinia also appears to the left of the photograph.
The colour of the logos will change when viewed at an angle. A fluorescent bauhinia appears on the personal data page when viewed under ultra-violet light.
It should be understood that the Hong Kong SAR passport is a type of PRC passport; the code "CHN" (People's Republic of China) is used for both issuing state and nationality. This is the same as all other types of PRC passport, including the Macau SAR passport. (It is worth noting that during the British colonial era, a Hong Kong British Dependent Territories Citizen passport uses "HKG" as the code of the issuing state and "GBD" as the nationality code).
[edit] Languages
The data page as well as the note requesting entry are printed in Chinese using Traditional Chinese characters and English.
[edit] Passport Note
The passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. Same as other PRC passports, in HKSAR passports, the passport note is contained right behind the front cover, which states in Chinese (Traditional characters) and English:
中華人民共和國外交部請各國軍政機關對持照人予以通行的便利和必要的協助
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China requests all civil and military authorities of foreign countries to allow the bearer of this passport to pass freely and afford assistance in case of need.
[edit] Observations and Notes
Observations:
- contain holder's Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card number, and Chinese Commercial Code of holder's Chinese name
- if passport is issued through a Chinese embassy/consulate overseas, the embassy/consulate would also make an endorsement in the observations stating so.
[edit] Notes:
These are explanatory notes on the passport. They are as follows-
- The issuance, replacement, reissuance and endorsement of this passport shall be effected by the Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, diplomatic and consular missions of the People's Republic of China in foreign countries, or other Chinese authorities in foreign countries under the entrustment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
- The bearer of this passport is a Chinese citizen who holds a Hong Kong permanent identity card and has the right of abode in and the right to return to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
- This passport is valid for ten years, unless otherwise stated. This passport is normally valid for five years if issued to a child under sixteen years of age. This passport shall be replaced by a new one when its validity period has expired or it has no further space for visas.
- This passport is an important document of identity which shall be kept carefully and used properly. It shall not multilated, tampered with, or transferred to another person for unlawful use. Any case of loss or destruction should be immediately reported to the nearest issuing authority and the local police or public security authorities.
[edit] Cover
The cover of the electronic passport remains essentially the same as that of previous versions, with the addition of the "electronic passport" logo on the bottom.
[edit] Identification Page
As opposed to the previous versions which placed the personal data page at the inside back cover, the data page on the electronic passport is inserted as the first page of the passport after the inside front cover. The data page is made of polycarbonate, and on application of the laser engraving technology, the holder’s photograph is in black and white. The passport is also machine readable, designed for immigration control points equipped with passport scanner. Personal data details include:
- Surname and Given Names: in Traditional Chinese and English
- Nationality: "CHINESE" (The nationality code is CHN as shown in the machine readable zone)
- Code of Issuing State: CHN (People's Republic of China)
- Sex: denoted as "M" (male) or "F" (female)
- Place of birth: if born in China, name of province/autonomous region/municipality/SAR; if born outside China, name of country/region
- Dates of birth, issuance and expiry: displayed in the format DD-MMM-YY
- Authority (of issue): "IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION" (in Traditional Chinese and English)
The holder's Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card Number is printed on the right-hand side of the photograph of the holder.
[edit] Observations and Notes
The observations pages no longer contain the holder's Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card number, and Chinese Commercial Code of holder's Chinese name, but contain a photograph of the holder.
However, if the passport is issued through a Chinese embassy/consulate overseas, the embassy/consulate should still make an endorsement in the observations stating so.
[edit] Notes:
The explanatory notes on the passport are now placed on the second last page of the passport, and read as follows-
- The issuance, replacement, reissuance and endorsement of this passport shall be effected by the Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, diplomatic and consular missions of the People's Republic of China in foreign countries, or other Chinese authorities in foreign countries under the entrustment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
- The bearer of this passport is a Chinese citizen who holds a Hong Kong permanent identity card (HKPIC) and has the right of abode in and the right to return to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
- This passport is valid for ten years, unless otherwise stated. This passport is normally valid for five years if issued to a child under sixteen years of age. This passport shall be replaced by a new one when its validity period has expired or it has no further space for visas.
- This passport is an important document of identity which shall be kept carefully and used properly. It shall not multilated, tampered with, or transferred to another person for unlawful use. Any case of loss or destruction should be immediately reported to the nearest issuing authority and the local police or public security authorities.
As PRC citizens, those travelling on HKSAR passports are entitled to the consular protection offered by the PRC government while overseas. However, it is not uncommon for PRC authorities overseas to offer consular assistance to PRC citizens of Hong Kong origin traveling on their British National (Overseas) passports. See also British consular protection enjoyed by BN(O) passport holders outside the PRC and the UK.
Many foreigners call HKSAR passports "Hong Kong passports"/"香港護照". However, local Hong Kong people seldom do that. They often call this passport "HKSAR passports", "SAR passports" or "特區護照". The authorities of the Republic of China (commonly known as "Taiwan") refer to this passport as "Hong Kong passport" because the ROC government tries to avoid references to the political status of Hong Kong as an SAR of the PRC.
The Hong Kong SAR does not issue passports in its own right. It does so by virtue of the authorisation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. The features above (cover, request page, issuing state code & nationality codes CHN etc.) show that the HKSAR passport is issued by the HKSAR as an authority of the People's Republic of China.
Moreover, the United Kingdom also issues British National (Overseas) passport for British Dependent Territories citizens connected to Hong Kong registered prior to 1997. The HKID number of the holder is stated in the BN(O) passport. Using the term "Hong Kong passport" without stating the issuing state may cause confusion. Some people use terms like "China Hong Kong passport" or "British Hong Kong passport" to avoid confusion.[12]
Some authorities, such as the Brazilian and New Zealand Consulates in Hong Kong, use the term "Hong Kong passport" to refer to both HKSAR and BN(O) passports.[13][14]
| Countries and Territories | Conditions of access |
|---|---|
 Benin |
90 days per year [1][2] |
 Botswana |
90 days per year [3][4] |
 Burkina Faso |
14 days [5][6] |
 Burundi |
visa issued upon arrival for US$40 [7][8] |
 Cape Verde |
90 days [9][10] |
 Central African Republic |
15 days [11][12] |
 Comoros |
visa issued upon arrival [13] |
 Djibouti |
visa issued upon arrival for DJF3,000 (10 days), DJF5,000 (1 month) [14][15] |
 Egypt |
30 days [16][17] |
 Ethiopia |
3-month visa issued upon arrival for US$40 [18] |
 Kenya |
3-month visa issued upon arrival for US$50 [19][20] |
 Lesotho |
14 days [21][22] |
 Madagascar |
90-day visa issued upon arrival for MGA28,000 [23] |
 Malawi |
visa can be issued on arrival [24] |
 Mauritius |
6 months (tourist), 90 days (business) in a year [25][26][27] |
 Mayotte |
90 days [28] |
 Morocco |
30 days [29][30][31] |
 Mozambique |
30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$25 [32][33] |
 Namibia |
3 months [34][35] |
| Réunion |
90 days [36][37] |
 Rwanda |
90 days [38][39][40] |
 Saint Helena |
3 months [41] |
 Seychelles |
1 month [42][43] |
 South Africa |
30 days [44][45][46] |
 Tanzania |
3 months [47][48][49] |
 Togo |
7-day visa issued upon arrival [50] |
 Tunisia |
3 months [51][52][53] |
 Uganda |
6 months [54][55] |
 Zimbabwe |
6 months [56][57] |
| Countries and Territories | Conditions of access |
|---|---|
 Armenia |
21-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30 (available at Zvartnots Airport) |
 Bahrain |
14-day visa issued upon arrival for BHD5 [135][136] |
 Cambodia |
30-visa issued upon arrival for US$20 (tourist), US$25 (business) [137][138] |
 Mainland China |
Hong Kong SAR passport holders cannot enter People's Republic of China using HKSAR passport. Home Return Permit issued to Hong Kong residents with Chinese citizenship to enter the Mainland China : may stay until the expiry of the Permit. Note: The issuance of Home Return Permit is not guaranteed for all HKSAR passport holders; it's at the discretion of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, PRC. |
 Republic of China (Taiwan Area) |
14-days (See Entry Permit of HK and Macau Residents to the Taiwan Area[139] for further information) |
