Mainland optimizes exit-entry services for Taiwan compatriots

The Chinese mainland has optimized exit-entry services for Taiwan compatriots by releasing 10 measures on Monday in a bid to add convenience for Taiwan residents living in East China’s Fujian Province, and deepen the integrated development across the Taiwan Straits.

Prior to the release of the 10 measures, the State Council released a new document in September which outlines supporting measures to develop Fujian into the first home for Taiwan compatriots and enterprises on the Chinese mainland.

The country’s exit and entry administration said it will make the application for the Mainland Travel Permit of Taiwan Residents much easier and convenient by allowing the application to be completed online, through ports and through centralized method, allowing Taiwan compatriots to come to Fujian whenever they want.

Efforts will be made to establish an entry and exit document processing center in Xiamen, and meanwhile, the processing duration for entry and exit documents for residents living in the cross-Straits city cluster – Xiamen-Kinmen and Fuzhou-Matsu – will be reduced from seven working days to five working days, according to the newly-released measures by the administration.

In addition, the fast clearance channel will also be opened at passenger ports to Taiwan passengers who voluntarily report their information and once it has been registered, they are able to pass through fast clearance channels nationwide.

Online reporting and pre-inspection of immigration procedures for ships traveling between Fujian and Taiwan, including fishing vessels and small trade merchant ships from the island will be introduced, providing a 24-hour immigration clearance guarantee, the measures said.

For those seeking to settle in Fujian, the settlement application process will be shortened from 20 working days to 10 working days. Once approved, they can proceed to apply for household registration in their intended place of settlement.

The scope of online verification services for travel cards will be expanded, meaning Taiwan residents who visit Fujian for short-term tourism, visiting relatives, or business purposes can also enjoy convenient public services such as transportation and electronic payment with their compatriot cards.

The 10 measures will be implemented from January 1, 2024, to further promote the exchange of personnel between Fujian and Taiwan, adding convenience of Taiwanese compatriots in Fujian, and deepen integrated development in various fields across the Taiwan Straits, the administration said.

An official from the administration said the 10 measures will play a positive role in promoting exchanges and interactions between people from Fujian and Taiwan, and supporting the construction of a demonstration zone for integrated development across the Taiwan Straits in Fujian.

Citing improved convenience and increasing opportunities, residents on the island of Taiwan reacted positively toward making Fujian a demonstration zone for the integrated development across the Taiwan Straits which was firstly released by the State Council in September.

Policies and systems will be optimized to promote the well-being of Taiwan compatriots and ensure they enjoy equal treatment with their mainland counterparts, according to the Xinhua News Agency.