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Chinese Passports Revamped
Chinese citizens will no longer need to provide an overseas invitation and permission from overseas relatives or friends when applying for passports.
An official with the Exit and Entry Administration under the Ministry of Public Security said China will use new private passports starting from June 1, and the passport application procedure will be simplified.
The new passport will be used first in Shanghai and its neighboring Jiangsu Province. Other areas will adopt the new passport later this year.
The official said that the old passports will remain valid until they expire, but the expiration date will not be extended.
The administration promised that the waiting period for receiving approved passports will be reduced to no more than 15 days, and even five days in cases of emergency. The passports may be delivered by EMS on the request of applicants.
People planning to travel overseas with a tourism agency, need to submit only the receipt of traveling expenses; formerly, a governmental verification was necessary.
The new passport will be valid for five years and may be used repeatedly. The old passports had a one-year validity and could be used just one time.
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