Mainland expands list of ports allowed to issue travel permits to Taiwan residents

Ports authorized to issue single-entry travel permits for Taiwan residents traveling to the mainland will increase from the current 58 to 100, and the policy will be effective on Nov 20, the National Immigration Administration announced on Monday.

The newly added 42 ports include land, airport, and seaport entry points spread across various provincial-level regions including Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Guangdong, Yunnan, Gansu, and Xinjiang.

Taiwan residents arriving at these ports without valid travel documents for entry to the mainland can apply for a single-entry permit from the immigration authorities at the port. Upon approval, they will receive the permit and be allowed entry, the NIA said.

Starting on Wednesday, the "facial recognition" smart clearance system, already in place at Shenzhen Bay Port and Gongbei Port in Zhuhai, will be expanded to additional ports, including Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi Airport, Wutong Ferry Terminal in Fujian province, and several ports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai in Guangdong province.

Taiwan residents over the age of 14 holding a five-year travel permit to the mainland, who consent to facial and fingerprint data collection for border checks, may use these smart lanes for expedited entry and exit. Those with limited or no legal capacity must be accompanied by a legal guardian when using the smart lanes.

From the same date, mainland residents wishing to visit relatives in Taiwan can submit their application for a family visit endorsement at any county-level or higher immigration authorities.

Last month, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, previewed the expansion of ports where Taiwan residents can apply for entry permits upon arrival in the mainland.

Chen stated that the implementation of these policies aims to create more open, convenient, and secure conditions for Taiwan residents traveling to the mainland. The goal is to further facilitate cross-strait exchanges and cooperation and support the peaceful and integrated development of cross-strait relations.