The photo taken on Sept 15, 2014, shows a paper passport (left) and an electronic pass card (right). [Photo/Asianews Photo]

Kunshan residents are now able to use electronic cards instead of paper permits to pass through customs when traveling to Hong Kong and Macao starting on Sept 15, according to a statement from the Kunshan municipal public security bureau.

With the National Day holiday around the corner, many Kunshan residents prefer to travel around Hong Kong and Macao. The new cards will benefit a large number of residents with high efficiency.

The electronic pass cards look like ID cards and are embedded with integrated circuit chips that store personal data and endorsement information. The endorsements will be printed on the back of the card, which are rewritable. The endorsement information is managed by a computer information system, and cardholders can ask the authorities on the mainland or in Hong Kong and Macao for the remaining passing times.

In addition, the electronic permit has much stronger anti-counterfeiting features compared to paper permits.

For people over 16 who first apply for permits, the police department will register fingerprint information.

The period of validity for an adult permit will be extended to 10 years, while the validity period for juveniles under the age of 16 will remain five years. The paper permits in the validity period will remain usable.