Pledge to cut border clearances to 30 minutes or less

Chinese passport holders will get entry, exit and customs clearances within 30 minutes from June 18, the State Immigration Administration said on Thursday.

The administration said it was mandating the service target to make travel more convenient and entry and exit services more efficient.

Bigger ports for those traveling by land, sea and air, which might find it more difficult to meet the target, should open special channels for Chinese passport holders to speed up entry and exit procedures, the administration said. 

The administration said it will further promote electronic entry and exit certificates as well as accelerate construction of self-service channels for Chinese citizens. 

China has 305 land, sea and air ports, and 302 border inspection stations. Thirty-five of the ports average more than 5,000 passengers a day, 19 average over 10,000, and seven handle more than 50,000.

The administration said the system would be flexible, with rational and scientific methods used to make entry, exit and customs clearances more efficient for foreigners too.