China’s Ministry of Commerce reported on 26 January that the number of foreigners entering the country without a visa rose “close to 30 percent” in 2025, one year after Beijing expanded its 30-day unilateral visa-waiver scheme and lengthened transit-visa exemptions to 240 hours. The data, unveiled at a State Council press conference reviewing last year’s economic performance, show that inbound retail spending and tax-refund sales almost doubled, fuelling what officials call a boom in “China tourism” and “China shopping.”
The National Immigration Administration says 55 countries are now eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit through 65 designated ports, while ordinary passport holders from 45 mainly European, Asia-Pacific and Latin-American states can enter for business or leisure stays of up to 30 days. Altogether, 4,060 million foreign entries were recorded at Chinese ports in 2025, a 27.2 percent year-on-year increase, with transit-visa users up more than 60 percent.
Whether your passport qualifies for the new waiver or you still need a traditional entry document, VisaHQ’s China specialists can guide you through the latest requirements, file applications online and track approvals in real time. Their step-by-step service, available at https://www.visahq.com/china/ is particularly handy for executives assembling multi-city itineraries on tight schedules.
![Visa-free arrivals to China jump nearly 30 % as 240-hour transit policy gains traction]()
For multinational companies, the rebound simplifies short-term market visits, project kick-offs and supplier audits. Travel-managers report that the abolition of the cumbersome invitation-letter requirement and the ability to move between multiple Chinese cities during a 10-day transit stay have shaved days off typical trip-planning cycles. The wider port coverage now includes second-tier hubs such as Lanzhou, Dunhuang and Kashgar, opening fresh options for Belt-and-Road-linked field work.
The Commerce Ministry credits the visa reforms, coupled with duty-free shopping incentives and a strong yuan, for pushing China’s inbound-tourism spend to its highest level since 2019. Officials pledged further optimisation in 2026, including wider acceptance of international credit cards and an expanded digital-arrival-card pilot—measures welcomed by foreign chambers of commerce.
Mobility teams should note, however, that travellers who wish to stay beyond 30 days or change purpose (for example, from meetings to employment) must still obtain the appropriate residence or work permit from local public-security bureaus, and that overstays incur steep fines.
The National Immigration Administration says 55 countries are now eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit through 65 designated ports, while ordinary passport holders from 45 mainly European, Asia-Pacific and Latin-American states can enter for business or leisure stays of up to 30 days. Altogether, 4,060 million foreign entries were recorded at Chinese ports in 2025, a 27.2 percent year-on-year increase, with transit-visa users up more than 60 percent.
Whether your passport qualifies for the new waiver or you still need a traditional entry document, VisaHQ’s China specialists can guide you through the latest requirements, file applications online and track approvals in real time. Their step-by-step service, available at https://www.visahq.com/china/ is particularly handy for executives assembling multi-city itineraries on tight schedules.
For multinational companies, the rebound simplifies short-term market visits, project kick-offs and supplier audits. Travel-managers report that the abolition of the cumbersome invitation-letter requirement and the ability to move between multiple Chinese cities during a 10-day transit stay have shaved days off typical trip-planning cycles. The wider port coverage now includes second-tier hubs such as Lanzhou, Dunhuang and Kashgar, opening fresh options for Belt-and-Road-linked field work.
The Commerce Ministry credits the visa reforms, coupled with duty-free shopping incentives and a strong yuan, for pushing China’s inbound-tourism spend to its highest level since 2019. Officials pledged further optimisation in 2026, including wider acceptance of international credit cards and an expanded digital-arrival-card pilot—measures welcomed by foreign chambers of commerce.
Mobility teams should note, however, that travellers who wish to stay beyond 30 days or change purpose (for example, from meetings to employment) must still obtain the appropriate residence or work permit from local public-security bureaus, and that overstays incur steep fines.
