Getting caught with an expiring passport used to mean at least one trip to the exit-entry counter in Nanning. Not anymore. From 26 November, residents of the Guangxi capital can renew or replace ordinary passports, Hong Kong–Macau permits and Taiwan permits entirely online, joining 49 other pilot cities in China’s fast-growing “full-process e-government” programme. The service covers passports with less than six months’ validity, damaged or lost documents, and passports that have run out of visa pages.
Applicants log into the NIA 12367 mini-programme or the agency’s web portal, complete face-recognition authentication, upload a recent photo and digital signature, and pay the statutory fee. Approved documents are produced within three working days and can be mailed to the applicant’s home. Physical visits are required only for first-time applicants or those whose biometrics are not on file. The city’s Public Security Bureau says the shift from “at least one visit” to “zero visits” will save residents an estimated 60,000 person-hours a year.
![Nanning Rolls Out End-to-End Online Passport & Permit Renewals]()
The initiative stems from the ten-point mobility facilitation package unveiled by the National Immigration Administration on 3 November, which also broadened talent visas for Hong Kong and Macau and expanded 24-hour direct-transit exemptions to ten more airports. While the national guideline set 20 November as the go-live date, local authorities had to upgrade back-end systems and train staff before flipping the switch. Nanning is among the first of the 30 newly added cities to complete that process.
For multinationals with operations in Guangxi—particularly those in the ASEAN-facing manufacturing parks around Nanning—simpler document renewal reduces downtime for cross-border staff rotations. Local travel agencies also expect smoother peak-season processing as residents head overseas for winter holidays. The city plans to integrate real-time status updates with Alipay and WeChat, allowing users to track progress alongside courier delivery information.
Immigration lawyers caution that the e-channel is currently limited to Chinese nationals. Foreign residents still need to appear in person for most services, although the NIA has hinted that digital renewal of residence permits is “under study” for 2026.
Applicants log into the NIA 12367 mini-programme or the agency’s web portal, complete face-recognition authentication, upload a recent photo and digital signature, and pay the statutory fee. Approved documents are produced within three working days and can be mailed to the applicant’s home. Physical visits are required only for first-time applicants or those whose biometrics are not on file. The city’s Public Security Bureau says the shift from “at least one visit” to “zero visits” will save residents an estimated 60,000 person-hours a year.
The initiative stems from the ten-point mobility facilitation package unveiled by the National Immigration Administration on 3 November, which also broadened talent visas for Hong Kong and Macau and expanded 24-hour direct-transit exemptions to ten more airports. While the national guideline set 20 November as the go-live date, local authorities had to upgrade back-end systems and train staff before flipping the switch. Nanning is among the first of the 30 newly added cities to complete that process.
For multinationals with operations in Guangxi—particularly those in the ASEAN-facing manufacturing parks around Nanning—simpler document renewal reduces downtime for cross-border staff rotations. Local travel agencies also expect smoother peak-season processing as residents head overseas for winter holidays. The city plans to integrate real-time status updates with Alipay and WeChat, allowing users to track progress alongside courier delivery information.
Immigration lawyers caution that the e-channel is currently limited to Chinese nationals. Foreign residents still need to appear in person for most services, although the NIA has hinted that digital renewal of residence permits is “under study” for 2026.
