Chinese Travel Document

The People's Republic of China Travel Document (中华人民共和国旅行证) is a type of travel document issued by Chinese embassies, consulates, and other foreign offices to Chinese citizens for their international travel to China and other countries.^[1] The bearer of the Travel Document is legally a Chinese citizen in accordance with the Nationality Law.^[2]

People's Republic of China Travel Document
Chinese Travel Document issued in 2010
Type	Travel Document
Issued by	China
First issued	April 1990
Purpose	Identification
Valid in	International Travel
Eligibility	Chinese citizenship
Expiration	2 years
Cost	USD 18 or the equivalent in local currency

Chinese Travel Document
Simplified Chinese	中华人民共和国旅行证
Traditional Chinese	中華人民共和國旅行證
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Lǚxíng Zhèng

Eligibility

The People's Republic of China Travel Document is issued by the Chinese diplomatic representative offices, consular offices and other foreign offices to the following persons:

• Residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan with Chinese citizenship who do not hold the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents or the Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents and need to return to the Mainland;
• Taiwanese residents, with Chinese citizenship, who cannot apply for foreign visas with Taiwanese travel documents;
• Chinese citizens who are too late to apply for passports due to emergencies.^[1]

Chinese nationals born abroad with a jus soli citizenship may apply for the Travel Documents.^[3][4][5][6] They may instead directly apply for Chinese Passports if their countries of birth do not offer birthright citizenship.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Types

There are two types of Travel Documents, which are respectively valid for single entry for one year and valid for multiple entries for two years. The former type only allows the bearer to enter and exit China once; the latter can travel to and from China multiple times within two years. If the bearer acquires a visa to a third country, they may travel to the third country. If the single-entry Travel Document is marked with "Valid for return to home country only" (Chinese: 仅限回国有效), the Travel Document will be invalid after the bearer returns. Travel Documents may not be extended.^[11]

Application requirements

The applicant shall approach any of the Chinese embassies, consulates, and other foreign offices in person to file the application.^[5] The application fee is lowered to US$18 or the equivalent in local currency starting from July 1, 2019, in accordance to a new fee standard proved by the Ministry of Finance.^[12] Previously, starting on October 8, 2013, the application fee was $35 or the equivalent in local currency.^[13]

Events

After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the Chinese Embassy in Iraq organized an emergency evacuation of mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao personnel stranded in Iraq and Kuwait. The Iraqi government required the Chinese embassy to confirm the identity of these personnel. Because it was impossible for the Chinese embassy to stamp on the passports issued by Taiwan for confirmation, the Chinese embassy issued one-time People's Republic of China Travel Documents to these Taiwan residents and evacuated them to Jordan by land.^[14]

Visa requirements for Chinese Travel Document Holders

Countries and territories	Entry rights	Notes
Afghanistan	Visa required	[15]
Albania	Visa required	[15]
Algeria	Visa required	[15]
Angola	Visa required	[15]
Antigua and Barbuda	Visa not required	30 days[15]
Argentina	Visa required	[15]
Armenia	Visa not required	180 days[15]
Azerbaijan	Visa not required (conditional)	30 days. Group tours with accredited travel agencies in China or Azerbaijan only.[16]
Azerbaijan	Visa required	[15]
Bahamas	Visa not required	3 months.[15]
Bangladesh	Visa on Arrival (Conditional)	30 days with proof of funds, hotel reservation and onward travel[15]
Belarus	Visa not required (conditional)	30 days. Group tours with accredited travel agencies in China or Belarus only.[16]
Benin	Visa required	[15]
Egypt	Visa not required (conditional)	15 days. Only if traveling as tourists and arriving at Sharm El Sheik (SSH), Saint Catherine (SKV) or Taba (TCP) airports and remaining in the Sinai resorts for a maximum stay of 15 days.[15]
Georgia	Visa not required (conditional)	30 days. Group tours with accredited travel agencies in China or Georgia only.[16]
Hong Kong	Entry permit required	Chinese Travel Document Holders must apply for a Hong Kong (SAR China) Entry Permit.[15]
Iran	Visa required	[15]
Kazakhstan	Visa not required	30 days[16]
Macao	Visa not required (conditional)	Maximum stay of 7 days if in transit to/from a third country and with onward tickets and all documents required for next destination.[15]
Maldives	Visa not required	30 days[16]
Myanmar	e-Visa	30 days. Chinese Travel Document holders cannot obtain Visas on arrival.[15]
Russian Federation	Visa not required (conditional)	15 days. Group tours with accredited travel agencies in China or Russia only.[16]
Singapore	Visa required	[15]