The Hong Kong government announced yesterday (23rd) that it will relax the arrangement of entry measures. From next Monday (26th), the "0+3" quarantine policy for entry will be implemented. Citizens do not need to be quarantined in quarantine hotels after returning to Hong Kong.
As soon as the news of the relaxation of entry quarantine arrangements came out, in addition to the congestion on the airline booking website, even the government website for booking a SAR passport was also crowded. As of noon today (24th), the situation continued.
At the Wanchai Immigration Office this morning, many citizens were present in person and waiting to go through the procedures for renewing their SAR passports. Some citizens admitted that they were excited to travel in preparation for short-term domestic and overseas travel.
Some members of the public pointed out that it is faster to apply for a visa in person at the immigration department than to make an appointment online.
The new crown epidemic has been raging for three years, and it is difficult for Hong Kong people to travel abroad. Many people have not renewed their SAR passports even though they have expired.
According to information from the Immigration Department, there are currently more than 5.2 million valid SAR passports in circulation, and more than 900,000 have expired since 2020.
The relaxation of entry quarantine measures was finally announced. Yesterday, the website of the GovHK website for booking application for travel documents also appeared in an online "big traffic jam".
As of 12 noon today, the "traffic jam" situation continued.
(Website screenshot)
At present, the Immigration Headquarters in Wanchai and seven branch offices have set up "Document Application Service Stations", where citizens can submit applications for SAR passports in a self-service manner (click to check the addresses of the eight offices).
If citizens use the "Document Application Service Station", there is no need to make an appointment and there is no quota.
Citizens can submit applications in a self-service "one-stop" form, including inputting application information, free on-site photo shooting, and payment.
Payment methods include EPS, Octopus, and FPS.
This morning at the Immigration Headquarters in Wanchai, citizens have chosen to show up in person to renew their SAR passports. Among them, there have been a long line of about 10 people at the document application service station. It can be done in front of the screen of the service station.
As for the counters in the office, there are not too many people.
▼On September 23, the government announced the "0+3" four new anti-epidemic measures "0+3"▼
Citizen Mr. Zhang: The online reservation system is congested and the in-person visa application is faster
Citizen Mr. Zhang and his partner went to the Wanchai Immigration Department today to apply for a passport through a self-service machine.
Zhang believes that the online reservation system has been congested since tonight, "there are no people who want to make an appointment", he thinks that it will be faster to make an appointment in person than online, and there is a "certificate application service station" self-service machine, passport renewal more smoothly.
Another citizen, Mr. Zhang, also stated that "because he wanted to travel" but his passport had expired, he made a special trip to the scene to change his passport.
He said that he was very excited to be able to leave Hong Kong for overseas travel after the relaxation of entry quarantine. The places he most wanted to visit included South Korea and Thailand. As for Japan, he was hesitant because air tickets were too expensive.
He believes that this morning, the procedures for handling the SAR passport counters at the Immigration Department went smoothly, and there is almost no need to wait for "9 seconds and 9 to be done".
Another citizen, Miss Zhang, who came to apply for a SAR passport, also believes that the change of quarantine measures to "0+3" is very happy news for Hong Kong people.
She believes that everyone has been staying in Hong Kong for a long time during the epidemic and can finally travel abroad.
She also pointed out that today many people go to the Immigration Department to apply for passports in person, which proves that everyone wants to travel, and the counters at the Immigration Department are very smooth.
Five ways to apply for a passport
According to the information of the Immigration Department, at present, if you want to apply for a passport, you can choose to submit it in person, by post, by delivery, using the "Document Application Service Station", or applying on the Internet or the Immigration Department's mobile application.
1.
Submit in person:
In individual cases, the applicant must submit the application in person, including the original SAR passport is damaged; the passport is lost or cannot be provided; the personal data on the passport needs to be changed.
For those who have not made an appointment, the staff will provide services according to the on-site quota system, on a first-come, first-served basis until full.
2.
To apply online or through the app:
If the application is made on the Internet or the Immigration Department's mobile application, the applicant must be able to collect the passport in person at the designated Immigration Office, Chinese embassies and consulates abroad or offices in the Mainland.
3.
Use the application document service station:
If citizens use the "Document Application Service Station", there is no need to make an appointment and there is no quota.
The "Document Application Service Stations" are located at the Immigration Headquarters and seven branch offices in Wan Chai, where applications for SAR passports can be submitted in a self-service manner.
(click to check eight addresses)
Through the "Document Application Service Station", citizens can submit applications in a self-service "one-stop" form, including inputting application information, free on-site photo shooting, and payment.
Payment methods include EPS, Octopus, and FPS.
+1
4.
post:
Applicants may mail their applications to: Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section, Immigration Department, 4/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
5.
Delivery:
Except for applications for passport replacement due to loss, damage, breakage, inability to use the old passport or change of personal data on the passport, applicants can go to any immigration office that handles travel document applications during office hours, Put the application in the drop box.
0+3｜The website for SAR passport appointment and application is crowded, and two major methods and fees are recommended without appointment There is no rebound in the case. It is expected that it can be changed to 0+0 for entry in a few weeks. Osaka is only the third most wanted area by Hong Kong people
