Among ten new measures unveiled by the National Immigration Administration on 3 November is a dramatic expansion of ports where Taiwan residents can obtain a single-entry Mainland Travel Permit on arrival. From 20 November, the number of eligible ports will jump from 58 to 100, covering almost every major airport and seaport in the mainland.
The policy means that Taiwan businesspeople, students and visiting relatives no longer need to secure documentation in advance at the Taipei-based Strait Exchange Foundation. Instead, they can apply for the permit on arrival and, once approved, clear immigration within minutes. In parallel, mainland residents can apply for Taiwan family-visit endorsements at any county-level exit-entry bureau, further boosting cross-strait people flow.
![New Immigration Package Eases Mainland Access for Taiwan Residents]()
The NIA also promised greater use of facial-recognition e-gates on Shenzhen and Zhuhai land crossings, shortening queues that swelled to pre-pandemic volumes this year. Analysts say the reforms could increase Taiwan-origin trips to the mainland by as much as 20 percent in 2026, with obvious benefits for factories in Fujian and Guangdong that rely on Taiwan managers and engineers.
Companies employing Taiwan passport holders should brief travellers on the new arrival-permit option and confirm that travel insurance covers same-day issuance scenarios. HR teams must still ensure that work activities lasting beyond the visit-permit validity are supported by proper employment licences.
The policy means that Taiwan businesspeople, students and visiting relatives no longer need to secure documentation in advance at the Taipei-based Strait Exchange Foundation. Instead, they can apply for the permit on arrival and, once approved, clear immigration within minutes. In parallel, mainland residents can apply for Taiwan family-visit endorsements at any county-level exit-entry bureau, further boosting cross-strait people flow.
The NIA also promised greater use of facial-recognition e-gates on Shenzhen and Zhuhai land crossings, shortening queues that swelled to pre-pandemic volumes this year. Analysts say the reforms could increase Taiwan-origin trips to the mainland by as much as 20 percent in 2026, with obvious benefits for factories in Fujian and Guangdong that rely on Taiwan managers and engineers.
Companies employing Taiwan passport holders should brief travellers on the new arrival-permit option and confirm that travel insurance covers same-day issuance scenarios. HR teams must still ensure that work activities lasting beyond the visit-permit validity are supported by proper employment licences.
