Useful Guide of Passport - Application, Renewal and for China Travel Tips

Passport is a kind of document certifying identity and nationality for the international travel. Usually issued by a country's government, it contains the data & photo page with holder's name, place and date of birth, photograph, signature, and other identifying information, and many blank visa pages.

There are different kinds of passports attesting to status in different colored cover, such as Diplomatic Passport, Official (Service)Passport, Ordinary Passport. For most common tourists, an Ordinary Passport (also called Regular Passport) is needed for individuals to travel abroad, like to China. The validity is mostly between 5 to 10 years. In a very few countries, you may apply for a Family Passport if you travel with your family in most times. Recent years, lots of countries start to issue Biometric Passport to their citizens.

In most countries, applying a passport is quite simple. Read the official instruction carefully is the NO.1 rule. You only need to complete an application form (online or offline paper form), prepare supporting documents, photo, pay relevant fees. Submit in person to the office and wait for a certain period of time to get your issued passport.

◆ Where to Get A Passport: in your home country or from the overseas nearest embassy or consulate missions of your country.

◆ How to Apply for A Passport: fill out the application form → prepare all required personal documents → find an acceptance site on local government website → make an online passport appointment if needed → arrive and submit all original & copies → pay passport application fees → pick up your passport

Tips: 1.) Some countries may request interview.
2.) Walking-in Service is not accepted in US, you must make appointment and visit the office earlier than the reserved time. Also, certain applicants can apply US Passport by post.

US Passport Application Online

American Passport

You may fill out online application form on official website, or print the form (PDF), or get a paper form from government office to write by hand. Your private information like the full name, gender, date of birth, etc., must be given accurately and truthfully.

2. Original Proof of Citizenship, Government-Issued Photo ID Document, Other Required Items and Their Front & Back Copies

3. Color Passport Photo

The photo policy is also different in every country , and infants may get exceptions. Normally, whether a digital or printed paper one, the photo should be clean and color, taken in last 6 months against a white or plain background, no glasses, hat, any objects, no “red eyes”.

Your application may be denied or delayed if the passport is not qualified. Therefore, check detailed size, quality requirements of digital & printed photo on official website before taking the photo.

4. Passport Fee Payment

US Passport Application Form

Where to Renew Passport: passport unity of government in your home country or overseas embassy or consulate.

How to Renew Passport: finish the renew application form (online form or printed form) → prepare passport photo or take a photo on site → get ready your most recent passport if requires → prepare other related documents, like name change certification, etc → find the nearest acceptance facility or regional agency → make an online appointment → visit the office, submit all required materials in person → pay passport renewal fee → wait and collect your new passport.

When passport holders apply for the passport renewal, the old passport is required to surrender for invalidation. While in some circumstances, the expired passport is not required to be surrendered or invalidated, if it contains an unexpired visa, for instance.

The passport renewal in some countries has some specific rules of age and length of expired date, like America. The U.S. citizens with the age of 16+, have a valid passport in their possession, can enjoy the right to renew their passport. However, if your passport has expired more than 15 years ago, damaged, lost or stolen, issued in previous name, you need to apply a New Passport Application in person.

Warm Tips: Renew your passport several months before the it expires. Check the expiration date because some countries requires certain remaining validity, like at least 6 months is needed for applying a China Visa.

Old Expired Passport Can't Be Used for International Travel

Infant Passport Inside

● Situation 1 - For Citizens of Singapore, Japan and Brunei

Ordinary passport holders of Singapore, Japan and Brunei enjoy special privilege of visa exemption in all China ports, as long as he/she visit mainland China for tourism, business-related activities or visiting family, relatives or friends for no more than 15 days.

Ralated Reading: China Visa Free Policy

● Situation 2 - For Visit to Hong Kong or Macau

Under the one country, two systems policy, Hong Kong and Macau, as the two special zones of China, have the visa-free policy for citizens of lots of foreign countries, including America, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, India, and most European countries. It means the eligible visitors are allowed to enter HK, Macau, just taking a valid original passport, and stay visa free for a period range from 7 to 180 days. However, the entry purpose is only valid for tourism or business-related activities.

Note: Stay for other purposes or beyond the permitted duration, you must apply for a Visa for Hong Kong, or Macau. For further travel to mainland China, a China Visa is needed.

Useful Links: Hong Kong SAR Visa | Macau SAR Visa

Recommended Tours:

- 1 Day Hong Kong Culture Tour with A Savory of Victoria Harbor

- 2 Days Hong Kong & Macau Highlights Tour

- 3 Days Hong Kong In-depth Tour with Escorted Walking Experience

- 3 Days Hong Kong In-depth Tour with Escorted Walking Experience

● Situation 3 - For International Transit Passengers

If you come form appointed 53 countries, will travel to a third country (region) and make a short stop in certain cities in China, there are 72-Hour and 144-Hour Visa-free Transit Policy you can take advantage of. Once approved by border immigration, you may enjoy a transit visa exemption when having layover in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, etc.

Useful Links: 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit | 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit

144-Hour Visa-Free Countries List | China Visa-Free Layover Tours

Singapore, Brunei and Japanese Passports

Uk Passport Holders can Visit Hong Kong and Macau Without Visa

Stunning Panoramic View of Hong Kong from the Peak

Hong Kong and Macau, as the above mentioned, still keep their own immigration control systems in China, so traveling to mainland China from Hong Kong or Macau is technically not international. Naturally, passport is not used to travel between Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, instead using other document, namely, the Mainland Travel Permit (some calls Home Return Permit or Home Visit Permit).

If you are the permanent residents of the two special regions, please make online application, get the Home Return Permit to visit mainland Chinese cities freely.

Mainland Travel Permit