The "New Version of the Card-style Taiwan Compatriot Permit 2.0" is set to be launched by the end of the year, featuring an 18-digit ID number to align with mainland China’s unified system.

▲Current version of the card-style Taiwan Compatriot Permit. (Illustration / Photo by reporter Tsai Wen-jun)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The current card-style Taiwan Compatriot Permit was fully implemented in 2015, but to address issues faced by Taiwanese people in mainland China—such as travel and employment—the mainland plans to introduce the "Card-style Taiwan Compatriot Permit 2.0." This new version will change the original 8-digit ID number to an 18-digit one, aligning it with the mainland ID card format, and is expected to be launched by the end of the year.

Although the current card-style Taiwan Compatriot Permit can already be used to purchase and collect tickets automatically at some high-speed rail stations on the mainland, its limited functionality means Taiwanese travelers still cannot swipe their permits to enter stations. In contrast, mainland residents can use their ID cards to directly access stations after purchasing tickets online at certain high-speed rail stations. Additionally, due to the difference in ID number formats, Taiwanese people seeking opportunities on the mainland are unable to upload their resumes on job websites.

To resolve transportation issues for Taiwanese people, the mainland now plans to launch the "Card-style Taiwan Compatriot Permit 2.0" by the end of the year, with functions similar to those of the mainland ID card. Not only will the new permit include an NFC scanning chip, but the original 8-digit ID number will also be changed to an 18-digit format, following the mainland ID card style. This will enable Taiwanese travelers to swipe their permits for high-speed rail access and complete online flight check-ins, among other services.

As for the ID numbering system of the future new card-style Taiwan Compatriot Permit, options under consideration include adding the birth date to the existing permit number along with a pair of two-digit codes, or using the last nine digits of the mainland ID card combined with the Taiwan Compatriot Permit number, prefixed with the number 1 to identify Taiwanese travelers.