Policy Information

On January 11, the National Immigration Administration held a press conference to introduce five measures to facilitate foreigners' visits to China. The following five measures will be implemented from January 11.

1. Relaxed Visa-Upon-Arrival Requirements

Relax the requirements for foreigners coming to China to apply for visas at ports of entry.

For foreign personnel who urgently need to come to China for non-diplomatic or official activities such as business cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives, and handling personal affairs, if they cannot complete their visas overseas in time, they can apply for a port visa from the port visa authority with relevant proof materials such as invitation letters before entering China.

2. Foreigners Now Exempt From Customs Inspection

Foreigners are exempt from inspection procedures when directly crossing the border at hub airports such as Beijing Capital Airport for 24 hours.

At Beijing Capital Airport, Beijing Daxing Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an Airport, Chengdu Tianfu Airport, Xi'an Xianyang Airport, the above nine international airports, 24-hour direct transit passengers are exempt from border inspection procedures. For inbound and outbound passengers who hold international connecting tickets within 24 hours and transit through any of the above-mentioned airports to a third country or region, they are exempt from border inspection procedures and can directly pass through without a visa.

3. Foreigners Can Apply for Visa Extension IN-COUNTRY!

Foreigners in China can apply for visa extension, replacement, and reissuance nearby.

Foreigners who come to China for short-term non-diplomatic or official activities such as business cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives, sightseeing and tourism, and handling personal affairs, and have legitimate and reasonable reasons to continue staying in China, may apply for visa extension, replacement, and reissuance from the nearest public security exit and entry management agency in the place of stay.

4. Easier Multiple Entry Visas!

Foreigners in China need to enter and exit multiple times to apply for re-entry visas.

Foreign nationals in China who need to enter and exit the country multiple times due to legitimate and reasonable reasons may apply to the public security exit and entry management agency for a valid multiple entry visa with relevant proof materials such as invitation letters.

5. Simplified Visa Procedures!

Simplify the application materials for visas and documents for foreigners in China.

When applying for visa documents, foreigners who can query their accommodation registration records, business licenses and other information through information sharing can be exempted from inspection of relevant paper certification materials; Foreigners in China who apply for short-term family visit and reunion visas may invite a declaration of family relationship instead of a proof of family relationship.

More Info

According to the official, as China's economy continues to recover and improve, and its level of opening-up to the outside world expands, there has been a surge in demand for enhanced immigration management services from both domestic and foreign enterprises and individuals.

In response, the National Immigration Administration is proactively collaborating with relevant authorities to address key challenges and obstacles pertaining to the entry of foreigners for business, study, and tourism in China.

Border inspection authorities across China checked a total of 210 million visitors entering the country in 2023, recovering to 62.9 percent of the levels seen in 2019. The number of visitors entering the country will continue to rise in 2024 thanks to resumption of international flights and cross-border personnel exchanges, said official from the National Immigration Administration.

Last month, China rolled out a one-year visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from six countries - France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia - starting from December 1, 2023. The move also aims to further facilitate cross-border people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, and serve the country's high-quality development and opening-up.