Fresh data released on 2 February show China’s immigration authorities processed 697 million inbound and outbound crossings in 2025, a 14.2 percent jump on 2024 and an all-time high. More than 82 million of those crossings were made by foreign nationals, up 26 percent year-on-year.
Visa-free entry was the star performer: over 30 million foreigners entered China without a visa, almost 50 percent more than in 2024 and representing 73 percent of all foreign arrivals. Officials attributed the surge to December’s extension of 30-day visa-free entry for 45 countries and the expansion of the 240-hour transit-visa waiver to 65 ports.
![China records 697 million border crossings in 2025 as visa-free schemes expand]()
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) is accelerating digitalisation to handle growth. Fifty cities now allow mainland residents to apply for travel documents entirely online, and the foreign-arrival e-card system—free of charge—has been upgraded after reports of fraudulent third-party websites.
For multinational employers the numbers confirm a decisive rebound in executive mobility. HR teams, however, caution that visa-free entry does not replace the need for work or residence permits. Companies are therefore updating compliance checklists and re-training travel coordinators to distinguish between short-term business visits and activities that still require Z- or R-class visas.
Visa-free entry was the star performer: over 30 million foreigners entered China without a visa, almost 50 percent more than in 2024 and representing 73 percent of all foreign arrivals. Officials attributed the surge to December’s extension of 30-day visa-free entry for 45 countries and the expansion of the 240-hour transit-visa waiver to 65 ports.
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) is accelerating digitalisation to handle growth. Fifty cities now allow mainland residents to apply for travel documents entirely online, and the foreign-arrival e-card system—free of charge—has been upgraded after reports of fraudulent third-party websites.
For multinational employers the numbers confirm a decisive rebound in executive mobility. HR teams, however, caution that visa-free entry does not replace the need for work or residence permits. Companies are therefore updating compliance checklists and re-training travel coordinators to distinguish between short-term business visits and activities that still require Z- or R-class visas.
Source: China Daily
