The extension to the travel permit, commonly known as the home return permit, will allow Hongkongers to travel to the mainland using an expired permit without waiting for months for their turn to apply for a new one at China Travel Services.

The administration said some Hong Kong and Macao residents couldn’t renew their home return permits in time during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the border between Hong Kong and the mainland is now fully reopened, the demand for residents of the two SARs traveling to and from the mainland surges, and the waiting time for authorities and recognized bodies to issue the permit has increased.

After entering the mainland, residents can also head to the nearest county-level or above security authority to renew their home return permit.