China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) reported that it processed 697 million inbound and outbound crossings in 2025, a 14.2 percent jump on 2024 and the highest figure ever recorded. More than 82 million of those movements were made by foreign visitors—up 26.4 percent year-on-year—with nearly three-quarters (73 percent) arriving under one of China’s growing visa-waiver or visa-free-transit programmes. The agency highlighted the rapid uptake of the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free-transit scheme, now available at 65 ports nationwide, and the unilateral visa-free entry granted to nationals of 76 countries. (malaysiasun.com)
For international businesses the headline is not just about tourist arrivals: easier entry rules have begun to translate into fuller trade-show halls, busier corporate training centres and more face-to-face deal-making after years of pandemic disruption. Beijing in 2025 also digitised arrival cards and expanded online renewal of residence permits, shaving hours off airport processing and taking pressure off HR teams managing large expatriate populations.
Whether you’re a multinational scheduling a product-launch tour or an individual traveler squeezing in a 72-hour layover, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The company’s China hub (https://www.visahq.com/china/) collates the latest rules on visa waivers, transit exemptions and work-permit requirements, and its digital tools let users confirm eligibility, complete forms and arrange courier pickup without the usual back-and-forth with consulates.
![Record 697 Million Cross-Border Trips in 2025 Show China’s Visa-Free Strategy Is Working]()
The latest NIA data confirm that reciprocal deals are gaining traction too. Thirty-five countries now offer Chinese citizens visa-free entry, fuelling outbound corporate travel and boosting sales missions by mainland firms targeting Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America. Analysts at the China Tourism Academy predict inbound business-traveller numbers will rise a further 20 percent in 2026 if the current policy mix holds.
Corporations are advised to update global-mobility policies quickly. Employees transiting through China can often avoid a visa altogether, provided flights are booked to a third country; meanwhile, visitors from the 76 visa-free nations can now stay up to 30 days for meetings, trade shows or family visits. Immigration advisers stress, however, that the visa-free privilege does not cover remunerated work, so assignments still require the Z-visa and work permit process.
From a macro perspective, the stronger visitor flows underpin Beijing’s wider “opening-up” narrative. With consumption slowing at home, officials are betting that making China an easier place to visit—and spend—will attract foreign investors, revive stalled conference business and support airlines’ international expansions ahead of the 2028 Olympics cycle.
For international businesses the headline is not just about tourist arrivals: easier entry rules have begun to translate into fuller trade-show halls, busier corporate training centres and more face-to-face deal-making after years of pandemic disruption. Beijing in 2025 also digitised arrival cards and expanded online renewal of residence permits, shaving hours off airport processing and taking pressure off HR teams managing large expatriate populations.
Whether you’re a multinational scheduling a product-launch tour or an individual traveler squeezing in a 72-hour layover, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The company’s China hub (https://www.visahq.com/china/) collates the latest rules on visa waivers, transit exemptions and work-permit requirements, and its digital tools let users confirm eligibility, complete forms and arrange courier pickup without the usual back-and-forth with consulates.
The latest NIA data confirm that reciprocal deals are gaining traction too. Thirty-five countries now offer Chinese citizens visa-free entry, fuelling outbound corporate travel and boosting sales missions by mainland firms targeting Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America. Analysts at the China Tourism Academy predict inbound business-traveller numbers will rise a further 20 percent in 2026 if the current policy mix holds.
Corporations are advised to update global-mobility policies quickly. Employees transiting through China can often avoid a visa altogether, provided flights are booked to a third country; meanwhile, visitors from the 76 visa-free nations can now stay up to 30 days for meetings, trade shows or family visits. Immigration advisers stress, however, that the visa-free privilege does not cover remunerated work, so assignments still require the Z-visa and work permit process.
From a macro perspective, the stronger visitor flows underpin Beijing’s wider “opening-up” narrative. With consumption slowing at home, officials are betting that making China an easier place to visit—and spend—will attract foreign investors, revive stalled conference business and support airlines’ international expansions ahead of the 2028 Olympics cycle.
