The special administrative regions (SAR) of the People's Republic of China are one of four types of province-level divisions of the People's Republic of China directly under the control of its Central People's Government,being integral areas of the country. As a region,they possess the highest degree of autonomy from China's central government. However,despite the relative autonomy that the Central People's Government offers the special administrative regions,the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee remains capable of enforcing laws for the special administrative regions.
The Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents,also colloquially referred to as a Home Return Permit or Home Visit Permit,is issued to Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of or settled in Hong Kong and Macau as the travel document to Mainland China. The permit is issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China through China Travel Service sub-branches in Hong Kong and Macau and allows holders to travel freely to mainland China.
The Hong Kong Certificate of Identity (CI) was a formal travel document and passport,issued by the Hong Kong Government's Immigration Department until 30 June 1997. It is no longer possible to possess a valid CI as a travel document,as all CIs have expired by 30 June 2007,though most CI holders should be eligible to hold the HKSAR Passport.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,since the transfer of sovereignty on 1 July 1997,the passport has been issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong under the authorisation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. As the official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English,the passport is printed bilingually in both Chinese and English. In addition,unlike Chinese passport which can be issued by Chinese consulates abroad,the Immigration Department is the only issuing authority for HKSAR passports.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) passport is the passport issued to nationals of the Republic of China. The ROC passport is also generally referred to as a Taiwanese passport. In September 2020,approximately 60.87 percent of Taiwanese citizens possessed a valid passport.
The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of Chinapassport is a passport issued to Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau.
A travel document is an identity document issued by a government or international entity pursuant to international agreements to enable individuals to clear border control measures. Travel documents usually assure other governments that the bearer may return to the issuing country,and are often issued in booklet form to allow other governments to place visas as well as entry and exit stamps into them.
The Exit &Entry Permit for Taiwan,Republic of China is the document for the bearer to enter into and/or depart from the Taiwan Area,namely Taiwan,Penghu,Kinmen and Matsu. Currently,there are several types of Exit &Entry Permit that reflect the bearer's residency status. The permit is issued by the National Immigration Agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan). For different purposes,the permit is also known as:
The People's Republic of China Passport,commonly referred to as the Chinese passport,is a passport issued to citizens of the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the purpose of international travel,and entitles its bearer to the protection of China's consular officials overseas.
Taiwanese nationality law details the conditions in which a person is a national of the Republic of China,commonly known as Taiwan. The Nationality Act is based on the principle of jus sanguinis,children born to at least one Taiwanese parent are automatically nationals at birth. Foreign nationals with permanent residency in Taiwan may naturalize after continuously living in the country for at least five (5) years. Certain foreign immediate family members of Taiwanese nationals may naturalize after continuously living in the country for at least three (3) years.
Visitors to the Republic of China (Taiwan) must obtain a visa or authorization in advance,unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose nationals are eligible for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region allows citizens of specific countries/territories to travel to Macau for tourism or business purposes for periods ranging from 14 to 180 days without having to obtain a visa. For other entry purposes,such as establishing residence on a long-term basis,a different policy applies.
Visitors to the mainland of the People's Republic of China must obtain a visa from one of the Chinese diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries. The residents of Hong Kong,Macao,and Taiwan with Chinese nationality may stay in Mainland indefinitely as long as their travel documents are valid.
The visa policy of Hong Kong deals with the requirements in which a foreign national wishing to enter Hong Kong through one of the 15 immigration control points must meet to obtain an entry permit or Visa,which depending on the traveller's nationality,may be required to travel to,enter,and remain in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Visitors from over 145 countries are permitted without Visa entry for periods ranging from 7 to 180 days,to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for tourism or certain business-related activities. All visitors must hold a passport valid for more than 1 month.
The Macao Special Administrative Region Travel Permit is a biometric international travel document issued to non-permanent residents of Macao SAR holding Chinese nationality,who also possess a Macao SAR Non-Permanent Resident Identity Card,and are not eligible for any other type of travel document. Permanent residents of Macao of non-Chinese nationality are also eligible.
The Macau Resident Identity Card or BIR is an official identity card issued by the Identification Services Bureau of Macau. There are two types of Resident Identity Cards:one for permanent residents and one for non-permanent residents.
The Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau,colloquially known as a Two-way Permit or EEP is issued to Chinese nationals with residency in Mainland China as a travel document for the sole purpose to travel the Chinese Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security is responsible for the issuing of Two-way Permits and exit endorsements.
A national without household registration (NWOHR) is a person with Republic of China nationality who does not have household registration in Taiwan. Nationals with this status may be subject to immigration controls when entering the Taiwan Area,do not have automatic residence rights there,cannot vote in Taiwanese elections,and are exempt from conscription. Most individuals with this status are children born overseas to Taiwanese citizens. About 60,000 NWOHRs currently hold Taiwanese passports with this status.
The gallery of passport stamps by country or territory contains an accurate alphabetical list of sovereign states and dependent territories with images of their passport stamps including visas. All Schengen countries,Bulgaria,Cyprus and Romania use the same format for their stamps,and stamps are not issued often while traveling from one Schengen country to another.
The Residence Permit for Hong Kong,Macao,and Taiwan Residents is an identity document in the People's Republic of China. It is issued to de jure Chinese nationals who do not have household registration in mainland China and are permanent residents of Hong Kong,Macau,or Taiwanese nationals,have lived in mainland China for over half a year,and either have a stable job,a stable domicile or attend school continuously in mainland China. Applications for this card first opened on 1 September 2018.
People's Republic of China 
