Travel between China and Taiwan becomes more convenient   Targeted issuance of card-type Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan Residents starts on July 6

Reported by Tourism Center / Taipei

The Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents no longer requires visa endorsements for round-trip travel to mainland China, and the new policy officially takes effect today (1st)! After the implementation of this new measure, it is equivalent to a visa-free system for Taiwanese people. Starting from July 6, applications for electronic Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan Residents will be accepted, while applications for the current booklet-type permits will be discontinued.


▲ Card-type Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents. (Photo / Taken from the official website of the Ministry of Public Security of mainland China)

The Ministry of Public Security of the Chinese government stated that the electronic Mainland Travel Permit cancels the visa endorsement section and contains an embedded secure smart chip, which allows automatic inspection and matching through the entry-exit management information system. It also employs various measures such as digital security anti-counterfeiting technology. In addition, the numbering system for the electronic permit will continue to follow the “one person, one number, lifelong unchanged” rule, using an 8-digit personal lifetime number. Taiwanese residents who have previously applied for a 5-year valid permit will retain the same permit number when they exchange it for the electronic version.

The visa exemption for the Mainland Travel Permit is a significant benefit for Taiwanese travelers, not only saving the cost of visa endorsements but also avoiding the complicated document application process through travel agencies. The future issuance of card-type permits is equivalent to entry without stamps—travelers can simply swipe their cards to enter directly. Shi Yi, the mainland convener of the Travel Quality Assurance Association, mentioned that although relevant supporting measures have not yet been officially communicated, the existing permits held by travelers can still be used. They can wait until the stamps are fully used up before switching to the card-type permit, making travel to and from mainland China even more convenient.