The National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China announced 10 measures aimed at streamlining travel across the Greater Bay Area and beyond, relaxing border rules for mainland professionals and incoming travelers.
Effective on Wednesday (Nov 5), the talent endorsement policy will be extended from its current pilot zones -- Beijing, Shanghai, and the Greater Bay Area -- to cover the entire Yangtze River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions as well as all pilot free trade zones.
The expansion will provide mainland talents, including scientific research professionals, cultural and educational talents, healthcare and medical outstanding individuals and legal talents with multiple-exit-entry talent endorsements to and from Hong Kong and Macau.
The endorsements will be valid for one to five years, allowing stays of up to 30 days per trip.
Meanwhile, mainland residents may apply for family visit permits to Taiwan at any public security immigration office nationwide starting on Wednesday.
To facilitate border movement, mainland professionals working in the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone will be eligible to apply for three-year, multiple-entry permits to Hong Kong and Macau without needing separate talent verification.
Additionally, the 24-hour visa-free direct transit will be expanded to include 10 international airports from Wednesday.
The newly included airports are Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Haikou Meilan International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and Kunming Changshui International Airport.
Moreover, five entry ports–including Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Hengqin Port, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port, Zhongshan Port (Passenger) and West Kowloon Station Port of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link–will be added to the list of ports eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, raising the total from 60 to 65.
Starting November 20, the pilot cities for “fully online-processing” of the renewal and reissuance of exit-entry documents for mainland residents will expand from 20 to 50, including cities like Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, and Nanjing.
To further assist mainland residents, visitors holding family visit permits for Hong Kong or Macau can renew the same type of permit through China Travel Service (Hong Kong) or China Travel Service (Macau) at least seven days before their authorized stay expires.
From that date, the number of ports for issuing single-entry Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan residents will increase from 58 to 100.
Notably, foreigners traveling to China will also benefit from the implementation of online filing of Arrival Cards through the NIA’s official website, Government Service Platform, and WeChat (Alipay) mini-programs, or by scanning a QR code with their mobile phones.
Those unable to use online services may fill out paper forms or complete the process with their smart devices upon arrival.
