BEIJING – Foreigners who are permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau can now apply for multiple-entry travel visas to visit mainland China, valid for five years, according to an announcement by China’s National Immigration Administration on Monday.
Starting July 10, these foreign permanent residents from the two Chinese-ruled cities will be eligible for such visas, which allow each stay to last up to 90 days.
However, those intending to work, study, or engage in news reporting on the mainland must apply for other specific visas or residence permits, the administration clarified.
This move, revealed on the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese rule, is part of China’s broader efforts to attract foreign tourists and business travelers following the reopening of its borders post-COVID.
The special travel permit serves as a reward for foreign permanent residents in Macau and particularly in Hong Kong, where international appeal has declined due to criticism of the city’s pandemic response and Beijing’s crackdown on street protests in 2019-2020.