Harbin Exit－Entry Administration Bureau in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province recently launched a simplified passport application policy, which will enable passengers to apply for passports, and travel passes to Hong Kong and Taiwan within a few days.

In addition, an official online micro-blog was opened to provide real-time replies to travelers’ questions.

Passport application is shortened to seven working days

Applications for passports as well as travel passes to Hong Kong and Macao are now to be handled in seven working days, while passes to Taiwan in five working days, less than the previous time limit of 10 days.

Harbin Public Security Bureau is taking more effort in recording, approval, checking up and uploading information, which has reduced the five-working-day information uploading to three working days and will save a lot of people’s time.

Hong Kong and Macao Pass endorsement needs just three working days

Hong Kong and Macao Pass endorsement has been shortened to three working days, which is four days faster than the previous seven days.

Meanwhile, there are five assigned service centers — Harbin Public Security exit-entry Administration Bureau, Daoli district, Daowai district, Nangang district and Xiangfang district.

Before the new policy’s implementation, children who were under the age of 16 needed five working days to apply for an endorsement, two days longer than adults. Now it takes the same time for children and adults, which is more convenient for families traveling together.

Furthermore, the registration for business trips to Hong Kong and Macao has also been cut from seven working days to only five.
　　

Three situations are available to “green channels”

1. State-approved travel agencies that have qualifications to travel with groups to Taiwan.

2. Travel agencies who get approval and support from provincial or municipal governments and have signed charter flight contracts with airlines.

3. Other situations include: returning home for a relative's death, visiting seriously ill patients, illness emergency treatment and other cases approved by the authority. With adequate supporting documents, the application can be uploaded to a higher authority within two working days.

At the same time, the local Public Security Bureau also opened “Harbin Exit and Entry Online” on its Sina Weibo platform. Specially-assigned persons will answer questions about policies and provide help for users.