The Ministry of Public Security held a press conference on January 22 to announce the centralized launch of eight entry and exit facilitation measures.
These eight measures cover various aspects, including local application processing, self-service processing, free photography, visa processing for foreign nationals of Chinese origin, and self-service border inspection clearance. They will take effect on February 1, further releasing the dividends of public security entry and exit reforms and enhancing the sense of gain for the public.
A detailed interpretation of the eight measures is as follows:
I. Provincial residents may apply for entry and exit documents anywhere within their province
Applicants (excluding registered state personnel and active-duty military personnel) may apply for ordinary passports, permits and endorsements for travel to and from Hong Kong and Macao, and permits and endorsements for travel to and from Taiwan (applications for individual travel, settlement, or business activities in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan shall be handled according to specific regulations) at any county-level or higher public security entry and exit management agency within the province (autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government) where their household registration is located.
Measure Interpretation: Since January 1, 2012, the Ministry of Public Security has implemented measures in some qualified provinces allowing provincial residents to apply for private entry and exit documents locally within the province (applicants were required to have resided in the application area for more than one year), which facilitated the processing of entry and exit documents for the floating population within the province.
After the implementation of the new measures, applicants in various regions may apply for certain private entry and exit documents at any county-level or higher public security entry and exit management agency within their province of household registration, without the need to provide proof of residence.
In addition, considering that there are specific regulations for the application and processing of certain entry and exit documents related to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan—such as the requirement to apply for settlement in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan at the place of household registration; the fact that individual travel endorsements for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are issued to residents with household registration in open cities and holders of residence permits; and the requirement to apply for business activities in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan at the place of enterprise registration—applicants should distinguish between situations or consult with public security entry and exit management agencies in advance to submit applications at the prescribed locations and in accordance with relevant conditions.
II. Provincial residents may use self-service kiosks to apply for travel endorsements to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan anywhere within the province
Applicants (excluding registered state personnel and active-duty military personnel) holding electronic permits for travel to and from Hong Kong and Macao or electronic permits for travel to and from Taiwan issued by public security entry and exit management agencies in their province (autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government) may use any self-service kiosk for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan travel endorsements within the province (autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government) to process their travel endorsements (non-local residents in cities where individual travel is permitted must hold a residence permit to apply for individual travel endorsements).
Measure Interpretation: Currently, most self-service equipment can only provide services to residents with local household registration, which cannot fully meet the needs of the floating population within the province for local self-service document processing.
In response to this situation, public security agencies have strengthened information sharing, increased investment in equipment, expanded the beneficiary population, and promoted the realization of self-service processing for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan travel endorsements for provincial residents anywhere within the province, further facilitating self-service document processing for the floating population within the province.
In addition, considering that individual travel endorsements for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are only available in certain cities, it is specifically stipulated that non-local residents in cities where individual travel is permitted must obtain a residence permit before they can use self-service kiosks to process individual travel endorsements.
III. Eligible non-local residents may apply for entry and exit documents locally
Spouses, children, and parents (excluding registered state personnel and active-duty military personnel) of local residents who hold household registration in other provinces (autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government) may apply for ordinary passports, permits and endorsements for travel to and from Hong Kong and Macao, and permits and endorsements for travel to and from Taiwan in the city where the local resident resides (applications for individual travel, settlement, or business activities in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan shall be handled according to specific regulations).
When the above-mentioned applicants apply for documents locally, in addition to submitting standard application materials, they must also present the original ID card of their immediate family member with local household registration and relevant proof of kinship. Specifically, for spousal relationships, present a marriage certificate; for parent-child relationships, present a birth certificate; for parental relationships, submit a written statement issued by their child with local household registration. There is no need to provide proof of residence.
Given that applications for individual travel, settlement, or business activities in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan must be handled according to specific regulations, please refer to the interpretation of the first facilitation measure for specific circumstances.
Measure Interpretation: Since July 1, 2013, the Ministry of Public Security has implemented a facilitation measure in some cities allowing non-local spouses and children under 16 years of age of local residents to apply for certain private entry and exit documents locally.
However, with economic and social development and significant improvements in transportation, accommodation, and other conditions, it has become common for immediate family members of local residents—especially parents and adult children—who hold household registration in other provinces to live or frequently travel in the city, making the demand for cross-provincial local document processing increasingly prominent.
To further facilitate the local processing of entry and exit documents for the floating population, the Ministry of Public Security has decided to optimize and promote the above measures. First, the age limit for children of local residents with household registration in other provinces is removed; second, parents of local residents with household registration in other provinces are included in the beneficiary group; third, the measure is promoted nationwide.
IV. Self-service inquiry of remaining validity for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan travel endorsements
Applicants holding electronic permits for travel to and from Hong Kong and Macao or electronic permits for travel to and from Taiwan issued by public security entry and exit management agencies in their province (autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government) may use any self-service kiosk for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan travel endorsements within the province (autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government) to inquire about the remaining validity of their travel endorsements.
Measure Interpretation: Currently, the national holding of card-style electronic permits for travel to and from Hong Kong and Macao and electronic permits for travel to and from Taiwan has reached 78.67 million. Because card-style documents cannot directly display information such as endorsement usage status or remaining validity, holders must go to public security entry and exit service windows to inquire about the remaining validity of their endorsements. Sometimes, this leads to travel being blocked due to forgetting the remaining validity of the endorsement.
To solve the above problems, the Ministry of Public Security has deployed an upgrade to the self-service kiosk system for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan travel endorsements, adding an endorsement inquiry function.
V. Free photography service for entry and exit documents
Public security entry and exit service windows provide free photography services for entry and exit documents (excluding the printing of physical photos). For windows that do not yet have the conditions, they shall provide free photography services (excluding the printing of physical photos) for applicants who have not brought entry and exit document photos or whose photos do not meet the standards of the "Guidelines for Entry and Exit Document Photography."
Measure Interpretation: To further improve the level of public security entry and exit management services and save costs for applicants, the Ministry of Public Security requires all public security entry and exit service windows nationwide to provide free photography services for entry and exit documents (excluding the printing of physical photos).
After the implementation of this measure, the public can choose between free photography services at public security entry and exit service windows or socialized photography services according to their own needs. Considering that places that do not yet have the conditions need to further strengthen police force and equipment configuration, as well as reception venue planning, before providing full free photography services, they must provide free photography services (excluding the printing of physical photos) for applicants who have not brought photos or whose photos do not meet the standards of the "Guidelines for Entry and Exit Document Photography," so that the public can "make fewer trips."
VI. Provide visa and residence facilitation for foreign nationals of Chinese origin
For foreign nationals of Chinese origin who come to China to visit relatives, conduct business, engage in scientific, educational, cultural, or health exchange activities, or handle private affairs, public security entry and exit management agencies may issue multiple-entry visas valid for up to 5 years in accordance with regulations; for those who need to reside in China for a long time for work, study, family visits, or private affairs, residence permits valid for up to 5 years may be issued in accordance with regulations.
Measure Interpretation: In recent years, the Ministry of Public Security, together with relevant departments, has launched a series of policy measures to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals of Chinese origin into China, encouraging and attracting more foreign nationals of Chinese origin to participate in China's economic and social construction, which has played a positive role in serving economic and social development and gathering innovation and entrepreneurship talent.
To provide a more convenient and pragmatic entry and exit environment for foreign nationals of Chinese origin working, studying, and living in China, the Ministry of Public Security has decided to further optimize entry, exit, and stay measures for foreign nationals of Chinese origin, relaxing the visa validity from the previous maximum of 1 year for multiple entries to 5 years for multiple entries, and increasing the residence permit duration from the previous maximum of 3 years to 5 years.
VII. Vigorously promote self-service clearance services
Public security border inspection agencies will strengthen the construction of self-service border inspection channels. In 2018, the number of ports with self-service border inspection channels should reach 50% of the total number of passenger inspection ports in the country, and the number of people using self-service border clearance should reach 50% of the total number of entry and exit personnel.
Measure Interpretation: In recent years, the Ministry of Public Security has continuously expanded the scope of personnel eligible for self-service border clearance and expanded and upgraded self-service inspection channels. In 2017, the number of entry and exit personnel using self-service border inspection channels reached 258 million, accounting for 42.8% of the total number of entry and exit personnel.
To better leverage the role of self-service inspection channels and facilitate the clearance of entry and exit personnel, public security agencies will further vigorously promote self-service exit clearance at airport ports, aiming to increase the proportion of passenger inspection ports with self-service clearance from the current 35.8% to 50% in 2018, and ensure that the number of people using self-service clearance reaches 50% of the total number of entry and exit personnel.
VIII. Provide self-service printing services for entry and exit records for travelers using self-service clearance
Chinese and foreign travelers who use self-service border inspection channels for entry and exit may print their most recent entry or exit record from that port for free at the self-service printer located behind the self-service inspection channel. This entry and exit record certificate has the same legal effect as the Chinese border inspection stamp affixed by border inspection agencies on entry and exit documents.
Measure Interpretation: Currently, when travelers use self-service inspection channels for entry and exit, their entry and exit documents are no longer stamped with the Chinese border inspection stamp, and entry and exit records are not displayed.
Travelers using self-service clearance who have needs such as tax refunds, reimbursement, or visa verification with embassies and consulates need to apply to border inspection agencies for a supplementary stamp or go to public security entry and exit management agencies or border inspection agencies to inquire and print their own entry and exit records as proof.
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