This card-size biometric document is issued to Chinese citizens with permanent residency in Hong Kong and Macau for traveling to mainland China.

These gates scan the permits with an optical reader and use the software to verify one's biometric information, such as thumb prints and facial recognition, with the database.

The Home Return Permit, under the guideline of the China Travel Service which serves as the authorized agent as the receiver of application in Hong Kong and Macau, is issued to:[10][11] The permit is only issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security, and all applications must be made in either Hong Kong, Macau or mainland China.

Hong Kong and Macau permanent residents can be issued Chinese Travel Documents when abroad, albeit with a shorter validity period.

As of 1 July 2024, a similar permit was made available to non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau allowing the holder to enter the Mainland for a period of up to 90 days for the purpose of business or tourism.

They are partially labeled in both simplified Chinese and English, and includes a note that indicates the maximum duration of stay (90 days) allowed for foreign nationals on the reverse.

There have been instances of limited single and double entry home visit permits issued due to political reasons.

Frequent border crossing residents, such as lorry drivers, were required to replace the booklet every few months due to the lack of pages for entry and exit stamps.

Holders who have lost their Home Return Permit in Mainland can apply for a temporary replacement at the CTS branch in Huanggang.

As Vice-president of the Court of Appeal Wally Yeung wrote:[2] Furthermore, not all Chinese nationals in Hong Kong or Macau have a Home Return Permit.

As of 2025, permanent residents of Hong Kong who do not have Chinese citizenship are allowed to apply for a permit to visit the mainland for up to 90 days, for everything other than to work, study or claim benefits.[spelling?]

The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom stated that "Mr Ching is a British National (Overseas) passport holder and we have pressed the central authorities for information on the circumstances of his arrest and will continue to seek consular access as a matter of urgency, which so far has been denied."

[26] During the election campaign, Henry Tang pledged that if he became the next Chief Executive, he would talk to Beijing to secure a new permit for Ho.

[27] Leung Chun-ying gave a more generic response that did not answer to Ho specifically, and said if he became the next Chief Executive, he welcomes anyone to seek his help.

[27] Three members of the Hong Kong Federation of Students led by Alex Chow, who had booked air tickets to Beijing to put their case in front of the national leadership during the 2014 Hong Kong protests, found out through airline agents that Chinese authorities had revoked their Home Return Permit, effectively banning them from traveling to Mainland.

Hammond demanded the Chinese government to launch a thorough investigation regarding the breach of independent jurisdiction rights enjoyed by Hong Kong.