Applications by Taiwan residents for travel documents pertaining to trips to the Chinese mainland continued to grow in the first quarter of this year, with applications for mainland travel permits rising 11.8 percent year-on-year and mainland visits increasing 27.6 percent, Lyu Ning, spokeswoman for the National Immigration Administration, said on Friday.

On July 1, 2025, the mainland began waiving document fees for first-time applicants from Taiwan for mainland travel permits. Additionally, since Nov 20, the number of mainland ports authorized to issue one-time travel permits to Taiwan residents has increased from 58 to 100, covering 56 air ports, 27 water ports, and 17 railway and highway ports.

Lyu said the policies have delivered clear results and made it safer and more convenient for Taiwan residents around the world to enter the mainland.

Applications by first-time Taiwan visitors to the mainland rose 4.5 percent from the previous quarter, while the number of Taiwan residents applying at ports for one-time permits increased 24.7 percent quarter-on-quarter.

Another measure introduced in November allows mainland residents applying for family-visit endorsements to Taiwan to do so anywhere on the mainland, making it easier for relatives of Taiwan residents to apply nearby for travel documents and reunite with family, while significantly reducing time and financial costs.

Lyu said travel by mainland residents to Taiwan also rose steadily. In the first quarter, applications by mainland residents for travel endorsements to Taiwan increased 8.2 percent from the previous quarter. Among them, family-visit endorsements accounted for 21.8 percent of the total, up 24.2 percent from the previous quarter. Over the same period, trips by mainland residents to Taiwan rose 10.7 percent quarter-on-quarter.

Since the policies took effect, both permit applications at ports by Taiwan residents and trips by mainland residents to Taiwan for family visits have increased, with the benefits of the measures continuing to emerge, Lyu said.

Lyu added that immigration authorities will roll out more measures to facilitate cross-Strait travel, support integrated development across the Strait, promote exchanges and cooperation, and better serve people on both sides.