Renew first, travel later
If your Home Return Permit is close to expiring, the safest course is to renew it before the trip rather than hope it will see you through. The permit does two jobs at once: it gets you across the border, and it is the identity document hotels inspect when you check in. Front desks look at the original and at the expiry date.
When very little time remains on the document, both border checks and hotel registration can become awkward, and the difficulty can follow you onto internal flights or high-speed trains, where the permit is again the document that identifies you.
Allow enough time
Renewal is not a same-day matter. It generally takes several working days, and applications take longer in peak season. As a rule, it is worth allowing one to two months if you can, so that the new permit is in hand well before departure.
- Check the expiry date as soon as you start planning.
- Have the original with you at all times during the trip.
- Make sure the name spelling and the photo are clear.
- Tell us if the permit is due for renewal, so we can plan around it.
Tibet and Xinjiang
Two parts of the country have extra requirements. Entering Tibet on a Home Return Permit does not require a Tibet permit, but registration is still needed. Some border districts in Xinjiang may require a frontier pass, which we arrange as part of the itinerary where it applies.
Before you go
We will remind you to check the expiry date, the name spelling and the photo before departure. Rules are set by the authorities and can change, so check the latest official notice before you travel, and ask your consultant if anything is unclear.