TAIPEI: Beijing has introduced new electronic travel passes for mainland visitors to Taiwan, replacing the paper versions.
The ID card-sized travel pass is valid for five years for people aged under 16 years, and 10 years for those older than 16.
Applicants in Beijing are required to have their fingerprints scanned when applying for the e-pass, which is expected to increase the efficiency of customs checks.
It takes 10 working days to apply for the new travel pass and the fee is 100 yuan ($14). Beijing travelers can continue to use paper travel passes until their expiration dates, or apply for new electronic passes if they want, authorities said.
