Hong Kong motorists looking to drive across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) into Guangdong under the “Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles” (NBTHKV) quota scheme have a fresh opportunity: the Transport Department began accepting registrations for the latest computer ballot at 10:00 a.m. on 26 January. Successful applicants will be able to submit formal permit requests between 2 and 14 February, securing travel slots that cover the busy Lunar New Year return period.
Introduced in July 2025, the NBTHKV scheme allows eligible Hong Kong private cars to make multiple self-drive trips into Guangdong for up to 30 days each, without the previous requirement for dual Mainland licence plates. Demand has routinely outstripped the 2,000 monthly quotas; industry observers note acceptance ratios as low as 25 per cent for popular holiday windows.
For executives stationed in the Greater Bay Area, the programme is a game-changer—turning what was once a complex web of permits into a single e-application completed entirely online. The authorities recently extended Closed Road Permit validity from 12 to 60 months and digitised insurance submission, further reducing administrative friction.
![Northbound private-car scheme opens new January 26 ballot window for February travel]()
If you’re navigating cross-border paperwork for the first time, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong office can streamline the process: its specialists help motorists confirm insurance compliance, prepare digital supporting documents and track application milestones. Explore their concierge assistance and fast-track filing services at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Companies with fleet vehicles should diarise the scheme’s rolling ballot timetable (the next window opens 12 February) and remind assignees that vehicles must carry cross-border insurance recognised by the China Compulsory Traffic Accident Liability framework. Traffic consultants advise budget holders to factor in tolls—approximately RMB 150 per single HZMB crossing—and potential Lunar New Year congestion at Zhuhai’s Gongbei checkpoint.
The Transport Department encourages applicants to use the dedicated NBTHKV portal rather than agents, emphasising that the online system provides real-time status tracking and reduces processing time to as little as five working days after documentation upload.
Introduced in July 2025, the NBTHKV scheme allows eligible Hong Kong private cars to make multiple self-drive trips into Guangdong for up to 30 days each, without the previous requirement for dual Mainland licence plates. Demand has routinely outstripped the 2,000 monthly quotas; industry observers note acceptance ratios as low as 25 per cent for popular holiday windows.
For executives stationed in the Greater Bay Area, the programme is a game-changer—turning what was once a complex web of permits into a single e-application completed entirely online. The authorities recently extended Closed Road Permit validity from 12 to 60 months and digitised insurance submission, further reducing administrative friction.
If you’re navigating cross-border paperwork for the first time, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong office can streamline the process: its specialists help motorists confirm insurance compliance, prepare digital supporting documents and track application milestones. Explore their concierge assistance and fast-track filing services at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Companies with fleet vehicles should diarise the scheme’s rolling ballot timetable (the next window opens 12 February) and remind assignees that vehicles must carry cross-border insurance recognised by the China Compulsory Traffic Accident Liability framework. Traffic consultants advise budget holders to factor in tolls—approximately RMB 150 per single HZMB crossing—and potential Lunar New Year congestion at Zhuhai’s Gongbei checkpoint.
The Transport Department encourages applicants to use the dedicated NBTHKV portal rather than agents, emphasising that the online system provides real-time status tracking and reduces processing time to as little as five working days after documentation upload.
