The new Huanggang Port officially opened on 12 October 2026 at 6:30 am. It is the first land port between Hong Kong and Shenzhen to adopt the "co-location clearance, single release" model, operating 24 hours a day. But note: to use the new "co-location clearance" self-service lanes, you must register in advance — you cannot simply walk up and cross. This article explains the registration eligibility, the 4 registration methods, how to enable "face-recognition clearance", and the connecting transport for three ports.
1. First, what exactly opened on 12 October
The Security Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Port Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government issued a joint announcement on 9 October 2026. Huanggang Port was set to officially open and operate on 12 October at 6:30 am, providing 24-hour clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles, while suspending passenger clearance services between the temporary passenger clearance building at Shenzhen Huanggang Port and the Hong Kong Lok Ma Chau Control Point. The port's Hong Kong-side port area had already been commissioned on 31 July 2026.
The rebuilt new port has 134 "co-location clearance" self-service lanes and 68 traditional manual counters. The official line is that overall clearance time will be greatly reduced from about 30 minutes at the old Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port to about 5 minutes. The port is designed for a daily clearance flow of 200,000 passenger trips, with a peak-day capacity of 300,000 passenger trips.
2. What does "co-location clearance, single release" mean?
The old model was "queue twice, clear twice": first Hong Kong exit, then Mainland entry, with a stretch of walking in between. The new model places the two sides' clearance facilities side by side on either side of the port boundary line. When using the self-service lanes, travellers only need to queue once, present their document once, and verify their identity once, then they can walk straight through both sides' immigration areas. Simply put: one gate handles the procedures of both sides.
3. Who can use it? (From age 7)
Hong Kong residents aged 7 or above who meet any one of the following can register:
- Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card + Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Home Return Permit), and already registered for the Mainland e-Channel;
- Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card + Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens), and already registered for the Mainland e-Channel;
- Hong Kong Identity Card + Home Return Permit, and already registered for the Mainland e-Channel; or
- Hong Kong Identity Card + Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao with a valid endorsement for Hong Kong.
⚠️ The easiest thing to get caught out by: you must first complete registration for the "Mainland e-Channel", otherwise you cannot register for "co-location clearance". The Mainland e-Channel must be processed at Mainland immigration inspection; it cannot be done on the Hong Kong side.
4. Four registration methods
1. "Hong Kong e-Channel" mobile app (most convenient)
Eligible Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above whose phones support biometric authentication can download the Immigration Department's "Hong Kong e-Channel" mobile app (formerly "Contactless e-Channel"), select "co-location clearance", verify their identity with "iAM Smart", and follow the instructions to complete registration.
For ages 7 to 17, a parent or legal guardian must handle it on their behalf using their own app, and must bring the child's Hong Kong Identity Card.
2. Huanggang Port e-Channel registration office
Handled on the spot; available to both Hong Kong residents and Mainland visitors.
3. Huanggang Port self-service kiosk
On-the-spot self-service registration; for ages 7 to 17, a parent/guardian must accompany them and bring the child's Hong Kong Identity Card.
4. On-the-spot registration at the "co-location clearance" self-service lane (age 18 or above)
Eligible Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above can register and complete both sides' immigration procedures at the same time directly at the "co-location clearance" self-service lane, with no need to do it in advance.
5. Want "face-recognition clearance"? You can register from age 14
Eligible persons aged 14 or above can register for "face-recognition clearance" at the same time as registering for the "co-location clearance" self-service lane. After that, when crossing, you do not need to take out your document — just look at the camera. But remember: even with face recognition, you must still carry a valid travel document that meets the requirements of both sides.
| Mode | First gate | Second/third gate | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document-read clearance | Place document on the reader | Look at camera + press fingerprint | From age 7 |
| Face-recognition clearance | Look at camera (no document required) | Look at camera + press fingerprint | From age 14 |
6. Port transport: how readers from different ports get there
The Mainland side of the new Huanggang Port has direct metro access: Shenzhen Metro Line 7 "Huanggang Port Station" is right next to the port. From Exit F, walk about 3 minutes through the cross-border footbridge linkway to reach the checkpoint; station service hours are about 05:56–00:03, and after the last train you will need to call a car.
- Luohu Port: Board at Luohu Station, take Line 1 and transfer to Line 7 to Huanggang Port Station; if you do not want to transfer, you can call a car, with a journey time of about 15–20 minutes.
- Futian Checkpoint: From Futian Checkpoint Station (Line 4), ride a few stops to Fumin Station, then transfer to Line 7 to Huanggang Port Station, about 20 minutes in total; calling a car directly takes about 10 minutes.
- Shenzhen Bay Port: Board at Shenzhen Bay Port Station, take Line 13 and transfer to Line 7, or call a car via Shennan Boulevard/Binhe Boulevard directly, with a journey time of about 30–40 minutes.
Hong Kong-side connections: from the opening day there are 5 cross-border bus routes (B10, B11, B12, B13, B14) and 3 dedicated minibus routes (44B, 44B1, 78); Citybus B15 operates only on weekends and public holidays. The old Huanggang Port temporary passenger clearance building and the Hong Kong Lok Ma Chau Control Point have ceased passenger clearance services from 12 October at 6:30 am.
Note: On one side of Exits C/D of Huanggang Port Station are the Shenzhen Port Command Centre Building and Huanggang Customs; after getting off, just follow the signs.
FAQ
Can I use Huanggang Port without registering?
Yes. Travellers who have not registered can still cross via the 68 traditional manual counters; the only difference is speed.
Is there a fee to register?
Registration for the Immigration Department's "co-location clearance" self-service lanes is free; neither app registration nor on-the-spot registration at the port incurs a fee.
How do children register?
For ages 7 to 17, a parent or legal guardian handles it on their behalf using their "Hong Kong e-Channel" app; going to the port's e-Channel registration office/self-service kiosk requires the guardian to accompany them and bring the child's Hong Kong Identity Card.
After face-recognition clearance, do I still need to bring my Home Return Permit?
Yes. The Immigration Department clearly reminds that when using the co-location clearance self-service lanes (including face-recognition clearance) to travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, you must still carry a valid travel document that meets the immigration requirements of both sides.
Practical tips
- In the early period after opening, passenger flow will be heavy. The Immigration Department estimates at least 100,000 passenger trips in and out per day. To be quick, it is best to avoid 7 to 9 am and 6 to 8 pm.
- The order matters: first sort out the "Mainland e-Channel", then register for "co-location clearance" all at once; doing it the other way round is a wasted trip.
- App registration requires "iAM Smart"; if you have not set it up, do it a few minutes in advance.
- For drivers: within the new port area there is no private car park and no ride-hailing pick-up/drop-off area.
The above information is subject to the latest announcements on the Immigration Department's dedicated page and the Security Bureau's "co-location clearance, single release" page; for enquiries, call the Immigration Department hotline 2824 6111. Even without registering, you can still use the manual counters.
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