Organisers of the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) announced on 28 October that foreign exhibitors and buyers will, for the first time, be eligible for an ‘electronic port visa’ processed entirely online before arrival. Sixteen dedicated immigration lanes at Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao airports will offer on-arrival biometric capture and instant permit issuance, enabling travellers to clear the border in under five minutes.
The e-port visa—valid for a 30-day stay—integrates with China Customs’ single-window system, allowing companies to pre-declare booth materials and temporary imports using the same QR code. This streamlines logistics for multinationals shipping prototypes and demo equipment, reducing hand-carried carnets and the risk of customs delays.
Shanghai authorities said the pilot responds to feedback from previous editions, when visa-processing backlogs deterred small-and-medium suppliers. If successful, the platform will be expanded to other mega-events such as the Canton Fair and the Beijing Auto Show.
Global mobility managers should coordinate with commercial teams to upload staff data early and brief travellers on the need to carry the digital approval code. While the e-port visa is fee-based, costs are lower than standard M-class visas and can be expensed as event fees.
The initiative underscores China’s wider push to digitise entry processes—complementing the nationwide online visa portal rolled out in 25 missions this year—and positions CIIE as a bellwether for post-pandemic business-travel facilitation.
The e-port visa—valid for a 30-day stay—integrates with China Customs’ single-window system, allowing companies to pre-declare booth materials and temporary imports using the same QR code. This streamlines logistics for multinationals shipping prototypes and demo equipment, reducing hand-carried carnets and the risk of customs delays.
Shanghai authorities said the pilot responds to feedback from previous editions, when visa-processing backlogs deterred small-and-medium suppliers. If successful, the platform will be expanded to other mega-events such as the Canton Fair and the Beijing Auto Show.
Global mobility managers should coordinate with commercial teams to upload staff data early and brief travellers on the need to carry the digital approval code. While the e-port visa is fee-based, costs are lower than standard M-class visas and can be expensed as event fees.
The initiative underscores China’s wider push to digitise entry processes—complementing the nationwide online visa portal rolled out in 25 missions this year—and positions CIIE as a bellwether for post-pandemic business-travel facilitation.
