Starting from February 1st, the eight facilitation measures of exit-entry visa application launched by the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China come into effect, namely certificate handling in the principle of proximity for both local residents and residents from other provinces, self-service certificate handling for local residents, self-service enquiry, free photograph-taking, certificate handling for expatriates, self-service clearance and printing of exit-entry records. Yichang Municipal Public Security Bureau explains the five exit-entry facilitation measures related to Yichang citizens in detail.

　　Hubei residents can handle Exit-Entry certificates in the whole province.

　　According to the new measures, all applicants (state functionaries registered and recorded and active duty soldiers excluded) can apply for ordinary passport, Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and endorsement and Mainland Residents Traveling to Taiwan Permit and endorsement at any exit-entry service windows of the public security bureau above county level in the whole province of their registered permanent residence(application for personal travel, settlement and business to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan excluded).

　　In other words, Yichang residents can use their ID card to apply for passports at any exit-entry service window of the public security bureau above county level in Hubei province.

　　The travel endorsement for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan can be handled by self-service in the whole province.

　　According to the new measures, all applicants (state functionaries registered and put on record and active duty soldiers excluded) can handle the travel endorsement for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan at any self-service endorsement terminal in the whole province with the Electronic Hong Kong and Macao Pass and The Electronic Two-way Travel Pass to Taiwan issued by provincial exit-entry administrative bodies(residents with household registration in other cities should have residence permits if they are to apply for travel endorsement).

　　In the past, due to poor information communication, small equipment capacity and other reasons, self-service endorsement terminals for travelling to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan can only serve local people. After the implementation of the new measures, users of these terminals expanded to cover all residents in the whole province.

　　Eligible residents from other provinces can handle their exit-entry certificates at the nearest window

　　The new measures stipulate local residents’ spouses, children and parents who have household registration in other provinces(state functionaries registered and recorded and active duty soldiers excluded) can apply for ordinary passport, Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and endorsement and Mainland Residents Traveling to Taiwan Permit and endorsement in the residents’ city.

　　It is important to note that the above-mentioned residents who apply for personal tourism, settlement, business and other activities in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan still need to go through formalities in accordance with special regulations. In addition, the applicant does not need provide residential proof materials such as Yichang Residence Permit when applying for documents nearby.

　　People can view the remaining number of times of endorsement for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan by self-service machine

　　The new measures also specify the applicant can check the remaining numbers of endorsement for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan at any self-service endorsement terminal in the whole province the Electronic Hong Kong and Macao Pass and The Electronic Two-way Travel Pass to Taiwan issued by the exit-entry administrative bodies in the whole province.

　　Citizens in Yichang can check the remaining endorsement numbers of the Electronic Hong Kong and Macao Pass and The Electronic Two-way Travel Pass to Taiwan at any card self-service terminal in exit-entry administrative service center and convenient outlets.

　　Free photo-taking service of exit-entry certificates is provided.

　　Based on the new measures, exit-entry service windows will provide applicants with free photo-taking service(photo printing excluded). Windows without photo-taking devices should provide free photo-taking service (photo printing excluded) for applicants that do not carry photos or whose pictures do not conform to the standard of Exit-Entry Photo Guidelines.

　　Yichang implemented the policy of free photo-taking of exit-entry certificates in the whole city on June 12, 2017.