Starting this Wednesday, foreign nationals residing in Hong Kong who hold a Mainland Travel Permit will have access to expedited immigration clearance via facial recognition fast lanesat an expanded list of mainland Chinese ports.
Industry experts suggest that the introduction of facial recognition technology is expected to ease congestionduring peak travel periods and streamline the border-crossing experiencefor travelers.
“Border checkpoints often get very crowded, especially during holidays. This new measure will help reduce waiting timesand make immigration clearance faster,” an industry player commented.
According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA), eligible individuals—including foreign nationals based in Hong Kong with a valid Mainland Travel Permit—can now use “intelligent” fast lanesat designated ports on the Chinese mainland. These include:
Shanghai
- Hongqiao International Airport
Shenzhen
- Shenzhen Bay Port
- Huanggang Port
- Luohu Port
- Liantang Port
- Futian Port
- Wenjindu Port
Guangzhou
- Pazhou Ferry Terminal Port
- Nansha Passenger Port
Xiamen
- Gaoqi International Airport
- Wutong Port
Zhuahi
- Gongbei Port
- Hengqin Port
- Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port
To use these fast lanes, travelers must be aged 14 or aboveand consent to the collection and verification of their facial and fingerprint data. Those who meet the criteria can opt for facial recognition-based immigration clearanceat the specified ports.
In addition to expanding facial recognition fast lanes, the NIA also announced that, as of Wednesday, Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Stationhas been added to the list of ports under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy. This brings the total number of eligible ports for this policy to 65.
