China will introduce online “e-Arrival Cards” for foreign passengers from 20 November 2025 and expand the 240-hour visa-free transit programme to 65 ports nationwide, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA). The reforms were summarised in a policy briefing picked up by travel trade media on 14 November.
Under the new system, travellers can pre-submit biographical and itinerary data via the NIA 12367 app, a WeChat or Alipay mini-program, or a dedicated web portal. On arrival, they simply scan a QR code at e-gates—eliminating the paper form that often caused queues at gateway airports such as Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou Baiyun. Seven categories of travellers, including permanent-resident card holders and same-ship cruise passengers, will be exempted from the requirement altogether.
![Electronic arrival cards and wider 240-hour visa-free transit set to streamline entry into mainland China]()
At the same time, the 240-hour (10-day) transit-without-visa (TWOV) scheme—already credited with a 52 % jump in foreign arrivals at Shanghai—will add five additional entry points, including Guangzhou Airport, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge and West Kowloon High-Speed-Rail station. Eligible nationals (currently 55 countries) may move freely within designated regions covering 24 provinces during the transit window.
For corporates, the digital card cuts arrival processing by an estimated 5-10 minutes per passenger and reduces the risk of manual-data errors that can trigger secondary inspections. Travel managers should update pre-trip briefs and ensure assignees download the NIA app before departure; some older Android devices may require side-loading due to regional app-store restrictions.
The measures complement China’s unilateral visa-free extension for 45 countries (announced earlier this month) and its new K-visa for young STEM talent, signalling a broader push to rebuild international connectivity ahead of Beijing’s 2026 Winter Universiade. Destination-service providers expect a measurable uptick in short-term business visits, particularly from Europe, Australia and South America.
Under the new system, travellers can pre-submit biographical and itinerary data via the NIA 12367 app, a WeChat or Alipay mini-program, or a dedicated web portal. On arrival, they simply scan a QR code at e-gates—eliminating the paper form that often caused queues at gateway airports such as Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou Baiyun. Seven categories of travellers, including permanent-resident card holders and same-ship cruise passengers, will be exempted from the requirement altogether.
At the same time, the 240-hour (10-day) transit-without-visa (TWOV) scheme—already credited with a 52 % jump in foreign arrivals at Shanghai—will add five additional entry points, including Guangzhou Airport, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge and West Kowloon High-Speed-Rail station. Eligible nationals (currently 55 countries) may move freely within designated regions covering 24 provinces during the transit window.
For corporates, the digital card cuts arrival processing by an estimated 5-10 minutes per passenger and reduces the risk of manual-data errors that can trigger secondary inspections. Travel managers should update pre-trip briefs and ensure assignees download the NIA app before departure; some older Android devices may require side-loading due to regional app-store restrictions.
The measures complement China’s unilateral visa-free extension for 45 countries (announced earlier this month) and its new K-visa for young STEM talent, signalling a broader push to rebuild international connectivity ahead of Beijing’s 2026 Winter Universiade. Destination-service providers expect a measurable uptick in short-term business visits, particularly from Europe, Australia and South America.
