First-time Taiwan applicants for mainland travel permits surge over 57%

The National Immigration Administration announced Wednesday that since the document fee waiver policy for first-time Taiwan residents applying for mainland travel permits took effect on July 1, 2025, the number of such applicants had risen by 57.2 percent year-on-year by the end of last year.

Total applications for the permits from Taiwan residents also saw steady growth over the same period, up 11.9 percent year-on-year, indicating a notable increase in Taiwan residents' willingness in exchanges and interactions with the mainland, the administration noted.

In the second half of 2025, first-time Taiwan residents entering the mainland surged by 40.9 percent year-on-year, while the overall number of Taiwan residents entering the mainland climbed by 24.4 percent year-on-year.

Lyu Ning, the administration's spokesperson, said that alongside the fee waiver for first-time applicants, immigration authorities have further refined relevant systems and policies to ensure equal treatment for Taiwan residents. This includes issuing temporary passes for those who lose or damage their permits and need to travel urgently by air or train, as well as providing verification services linking mainland travel permits with residence permits.

Authorities also maintain free real-time identity verification services to help first-time visitors access transportation, financial, telecommunications, and other services on the mainland with ease.

Lyu added that the administration will explore and roll out more innovative policies to facilitate cross-Strait travel, with a focus on first-time applicants and young people, to create better conditions for cross-Strait exchanges and advance in-depth integrated development across various fields.

In 2025, the administration expanded the number of ports issuing single-entry mainland travel permits by 42, bringing the total to 100. It also launched nationwide processing for mainland residents applying for exit and entry permits to visit relatives in Taiwan.