What can I use my HKID for?

[GreatDanes]

Hi,

I just went to Immigration Tower today in order to apply for a HKID card - and succeeded.

My guestion is this: What is it good for? I was told the following:

1) It makes it easier to get to Macau and Mainland China - what does 'easier' mean?

2) I can travel to Vietnam and other Asian countries without showing my passport. True?

3) It will be easier for me to get HKSAR visas in the future when holding a HKID. True?

If the above is not true, does it have any other benefits?

[Mat]

1) It makes it easier to get to Macau and Mainland China - what does 'easier' mean?

2) I can travel to Vietnam and other Asian countries without showing my passport. True?

3) It will be easier for me to get HKSAR visas in the future when holding a HKID. True?

1. kind of, without being great it allows you to queue a bit less

2. nope, I might be wrong but having a temp HK ID does not allow you to travel in other Asian countries. Your passport does.

3. what is really the point. If you are european stick to your european passport, no need the hassle to get a HKSAR one

[GreatDanes]

1. kind of, without being great it allows you to queue a bit less

2. nope, I might be wrong but having a temp HK ID does not allow you to travel in other Asian countries. Your passport does.

3. what is really the point. If you are european stick to your european passport, no need the hassle to get a HKSAR one

RE: 3. I meant like a permanent permission to stay in the country. Don't want to get a HKSAR passport.

So in other words, I cant really use the HKID to much besides going to the resident queue? It's not getting easier for me to get Mainland visa or anything?

[PDLM]

Not as a temporary resident, no.

But if you hold a temporary ID for 7 years (and satisfy some other conditions) then you can turn it into a Permanent Resident HKID, and that does have some benefits with mainland visas, and an even faster queue at border points in HK. And no need to have an Employment Visa.

[thetokyoproject]

Not as a temporary resident, no.

But if you hold a temporary ID for 7 years (and satisfy some other conditions) then you can turn it into a Permanent Resident HKID, and that does have some benefits with mainland visas, and an even faster queue at border points in HK. And no need to have an Employment Visa.

no benefits for mainland visa. i still pay the full rip off charge on the brit passport. afaik, i can;t get in cheaper using the hkid...unless i've been kept in the dark.

i think i can apply for a 'wui heung jing' which allows free unlimited entry to china but i need my folks' docs to do that....bit of a hassle...

[thetokyoproject]

1) you can scrape your car windscreen when it gets frosty in the winter.

2) you can partake in break in and entering by using it as a lock busting tool.

3) you can cut sponge cake into nice slices too.

[PDLM]

no benefits for mainland visa. i still pay the full rip off charge on the brit passport. afaik, i can;t get in cheaper using the hkid...unless i've been kept in the dark.

My understanding is that all HK PRs can get 3 year mainland visas (the most you can easily get as a non-PR seems to be 6 months). But I'll know more certainly in a few months when I have my PR...

[thetokyoproject]

My understanding is that all HK PRs can get 3 year mainland visas (the most you can easily get as a non-PR seems to be 6 months). But I'll know more certainly in a few months when I have my PR...

i'm a permanent resident but don't have hk sar passport...just a british one...

i believe that any visa i apply for to china needs to be entered via the pasport...hence my expensive visa in the uk passport. unless they can associate a visa with a hkid card, i can;t see how i can get a discount...

unless you are talking about the 'wui heung jing' i mentioned earlier, but i need my folks' documents for that and that's a pain in the ass to get.

[PDLM]

Why do you keep going on about discounts? I haven't mentioned money anywhere. What I said was that as a PR I believe it is possible to get a China Visa (yes, in your British passport) that is valid for 3 years which means that you don't have to go through the hassle of applying for one every six months, which is the maximum duration I have ever been able to get as a non-PR. Obviously this is only a benefit if you travel regularly to China.

[Mat]

Why do you keep going on about discounts? I haven't mentioned money anywhere. What I said was that as a PR I believe it is possible to get a China Visa (yes, in your British passport) that is valid for 3 years which means that you don't have to go through the hassle of applying for one every six months, which is the maximum duration I have ever been able to get as a non-PR. Obviously this is only a benefit if you travel regularly to China.

correct. it will allow u to apply for a 3 years visa.