An elderly woman applies for a passport, helped by a staff member at the Exit and Entry Administration Department of the Xiangfang Public Security Bureau, on March 11. [Photo/MY399.COM]

Harbin’s first passport service counter serving the elderly recently opened its doors at the Exit and Entry Administration Department of the Xiangfang Public Security Bureau.

Citizens over 60 who apply for a passport at the department no longer have to fill in application forms, unlike other applicants. Staff at the service counter enter all the necessary information into the computer about elderly applicants, who now need only provide their signature.

As part of the new service, staff also help the elderly take passport photos.

Officials said it takes less than three minutes for an applicant to complete the entire procedure.

The special service was launched to help applicants who don’t know how to use a computer or who have poor eyesight. Officials said it also helps improve the general work efficiency of service counters.

Since the service was launched on March 1, the Xiangfang department has handled around 400 elderly people’s passport applications, assisting as many as 50 elderly applicants per day.