After losing a permit, prioritise safety, accommodation and a lawful return. A temporary document for a mainland train and permission to leave through a border checkpoint are separate processes.
What to have ready
Before you start
NIA's 2025 measure provides a seven-day electronic temporary permit for eligible Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents who lose, damage or forget their document and need domestic air or rail travel. Do not present that domestic purpose as permission to cross back to Hong Kong. A Chinese-national Home Return Permit holder needing departure should consult the competent exit-entry authority about the applicable exit document and replacement. Non-Chinese permanent-resident permits have their own arrangements.
What to do, step by step
- Record the last time and location held, report through official police channels and check the relevant lost-property service. Use a copy for verified identification enquiries without treating it as an original travel document.
- Contact local exit-entry authorities or 12367, state that a Chinese-national permit is lost and explain the need to return to Hong Kong. Confirm the receiving office, documents and handling arrangements for the case.
- If a domestic journey is necessary first, separately check electronic temporary-permit eligibility and carrier acceptance. A successful application for that purpose does not establish mainland departure permission or completion of replacement.
- After obtaining the applicable departure document, check name, validity and permitted use. Confirm Hong Kong admission and carrier requirements and adjust tickets to the verified arrangement instead of arriving at the checkpoint on an assumption.
Costs, timing, and things to check
Hong Kong's 1868 assistance route can help with information, but it does not replace mainland issuance. Do not assume same-day handling; maintain accommodation, medicines and funds while awaiting the actual official outcome.
If the reported document is found, ask whether it remains valid before using it. Do not independently substitute a passport for the permit-based entry and departure arrangement; the authority should confirm the lawful route for your status.
A practical example
A traveller loses a Home Return Permit at a Huizhou hotel and checks the local reporting and exit-entry route. Even if an electronic temporary permit supports a domestic journey to Shenzhen, the traveller separately obtains and verifies the document required to leave for Hong Kong. Tickets are changed only around that confirmed route, avoiding a checkpoint trip based solely on a screenshot of the domestic temporary credential.
Verify domestic temporary and departure documents separately and arrange return around the issued credential.
Official information and enquiries
These are the reference and service entry points for this guide. Check current fees, eligibility, and schedules with the authority. The preparation date is not each source's official update date.