In April, Hong Kong announced that it would relax entry rules for non-Hong Kong residents starting May 1. At the time, we believed mainland Chinese passport holders would not be able to enter Hong Kong, because they can normally stay visa-free in Hong Kong for only 7 days, which did not seem to satisfy the requirement that Hong Kong quarantine must be shorter than the period they are allowed to remain in Hong Kong. However, after May 1, many people tried entering Hong Kong anyway, and quite a few successfully made it back to mainland China. With direct return options from overseas to mainland China becoming more restricted, and flights to Hong Kong often very cheap—sometimes just a few hundred dollars—this route has become much more attractive. In this article, we’ll go over the key things to know about this option.
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Eligibility
The best part is that returning to mainland China via Hong Kong does not require any special eligibility. You only need a valid Chinese passport, or another valid travel document such as a Chinese Travel Document. After entering Hong Kong, you must complete 7 days of quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel. After that, you are free to move around. Of course, since your initial permitted stay is limited to 7 days, you will need to apply for an extension of stay while you are in quarantine.
Main challenges
If you hold a foreign passport that allows visa-free entry to Hong Kong, such as a U.S. or Canadian passport, and you also have a valid Chinese visa or residence permit, then under the rules you can enter Hong Kong directly and stay for 1 to 6 months, so there is no policy obstacle.
Airline staff may deny boarding
The main difficulty with this process is that if you are traveling on a Chinese passport, the airline may refuse to let you board. If an airline transports a passenger who is not eligible to enter Hong Kong, it could face penalties from the Hong Kong SAR government, and in more serious cases the flight could be suspended, which would be a major loss for the airline.
Based on current reports, the airlines seen as more lenient and therefore easier to board are:
- Cathay Pacific
- Turkish Airlines
People have also succeeded on other airlines, but the outcome appears less predictable.
Booking a quarantine hotel
Unlike traveling to mainland China, the hardest part of going to Hong Kong is not buying the flight ticket, but booking a designated quarantine hotel. My suggestion is to secure the quarantine hotel first, and only then worry about the flight.
The Hong Kong government also created this webpage showing booking availability for designated hotels, so you can see which dates still have rooms. However, the information may not always be fully up to date, so it is still a good idea to keep checking the list of designated quarantine hotels.
Designated quarantine hotel bookings are generally nonrefundable, though date changes may be allowed. If needed, you can contact the hotel front desk. If you cannot board your flight or test positive, hotels will often allow one date change.
Other entry requirements
You can click here to review the Hong Kong government’s entry requirements. Travelers arriving from overseas must:
- be fully vaccinated;
- have a PCR test report taken within 48 hours before the departure of the flight to Hong Kong, along with the testing institution’s ISO 15189 certificate or a certificate recognized by the local government (starting June 1, the certificate is no longer required);
- have a confirmation letter for a designated quarantine hotel booking.
After arriving in Hong Kong, you will undergo testing and wait at Hong Kong International Airport, after which the Department of Health will issue a quarantine order. In addition to staying inside the hotel for 7 days, if you are still in Hong Kong afterward, you must take a PCR test on day 12 and a rapid antigen test on day 14. Both are free.
Because Chinese passport holders entering Hong Kong visa-free can stay only 7 days, you need to apply online for an extension of stay after checking into the quarantine hotel. Since processing takes time, you must apply at least 3 days in advance. Based on current experience, Immigration approves these applications, and once approved you can stay an additional 30 days. So if you want to take the opportunity to do some sightseeing, that is also possible.
Risks
The biggest risk with this route is that the airline may refuse to let you board. Because that often comes down to the judgment of individual ground staff, it is hard to control. If possible, I recommend choosing Cathay Pacific or Turkish Airlines.
This route may not remain available for long. Mainland authorities may not yet realize that many people have already been able to use Hong Kong to get around restrictions on returning from overseas. Once they do, they may follow Macau’s example and stop allowing travelers who entered Hong Kong as visitors to continue into the mainland. If you need to return soon, I think you should consider using the Hong Kong route as early as possible. This loophole will likely be closed sooner or later.