Easier access to begin next month for travel permits

Chinese citizens residing on the mainland will be able to apply for passports and travel permits at every exit and entry management department across the country as of Monday, the National Immigration Administration said on Tuesday.

The travel permits refer to travel authorization to and from Hong Kong and Macao, as well as permits to visit Taiwan for individuals and tour groups, it said.

The administration said that exit and entry management departments nationwide issued 97.21 million passports and travel permits for individuals and tour groups last year, an increase of 12.6 percent compared with 2017.