Collecting Fingerprints

Foreign nationals’ fingerprints will be collected by China’s border authorities when entering China, according to a statement on the website of China’s Ministry of Public Security. The country’s border authority will gather the fingerprints of incoming foreigners aged 14 to 70. Foreign nationals holding diplomatic passports or enjoying mutual exemption of this kind will be exempted, according to the statement. The regulation began trials in Shenzhen airport on February 10 and will be expanded to other airports and ports this year. The ministry said the practice, which is commonplace in many other countries, is to enhance exit/entry administration, and border authorities will take measures to make customs clearance more efficient.