Entry and Exit Document Application Locations for Mainland China Residents to be Expanded and New Online Platform to be Launched April 1

At a Glance

• Starting April 1, 2019, applications for entry and exit documents – including ordinary passports for the People’s Republic of China and travel permits from Mainland China to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan – can be submitted nationwide at any Public Security Bureau in China.
• Currently, exit and entry document applicants must visit the Public Security Bureau associated with their household registration, which may be inconvenient for some applicants.
• Also on April 1, the China National Immigration Administration Government Services Platform will be launched, and will provide 24-hour online immigration application services, including the ability to make Public Security Bureau appointments for entry and exit documents. This should further increase the convenience of applying for entry and exit documents.

The situation

The China National Immigration Administration has announced that starting April 1, applications for entry and exit documents can be submitted at any Public Security Bureau in China. Additionally, the online immigration application platform (called the China National Immigration Administration Government Services Platform) will also launch on April 1, providing 24-hour online immigration application services.

A closer look - new application process

• Expanded application locations. Entry and exit document applicants, including those seeking ordinary passports for the People’s Republic of China and travel permits from Mainland China to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, will be able to apply at any Public Security Bureau in China. The application procedures of their place of household registration will still apply.
• Current system. Currently, applicants must visit the Public Security Bureau associated with their household registration to apply for exit and entry documents.
• Impact. Affected employees will no longer need to return to the Public Security Bureau associated with their household registration to obtain travel document applications when they leave China for business travel. The new policy will save employees and employers time and costs previously associated with obtaining these documents, effectively enhancing the competitiveness of employers and creating a better business environment in China.

A closer look - new online platform

• Details of platform. The China National Immigration Administration Government Services Platform will launch on April 1 and will provide 24-hour online services for appointment reservations; endorsements of applications to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan; travel permits from Mainland China to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; inquiries on application status, application information, exit and entry records; and service guidance through service websites, the National Immigration Administration mobile application and other third-party platforms.
• Current system. Currently, applicants are limited to calling the government hotline or checking the government website for these services.
• Impact. The new online platform should provide a more streamlined and efficient system for immigration applications and inquiries.

Background

It is estimated that more than 21 million people will apply for entry and exit documents at locations other than the places of household registration in China during 2019 and this number is expected to increase each year, creating a need for a more centralized, efficient system.

Looking ahead

China is expected to continue to standardize immigration policies to continue to create a better business environment. Fragomen will report on relevant developments.

 Fragomen in China is Fragomen (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not as a law firm in China. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to CNInitiations@fragomen.com.