China Reports 1364M Visa Free Foreign Entries in Early 2025

In a significant boost for the tourism sector, China welcomed 13.64 million visa-free foreign visitors in the first half of 2025. This figure marks a remarkable 53.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year, underscoring the country's progressive recovery from the pandemic and the effectiveness of its immigration policies.

The National Immigration Administration disclosed this information during a press conference on July 16, highlighting the overall growth in travel with a total of 333 million inbound and outbound trips processed nationwide. This reflects a 15.8 percent rise year-on-year, demonstrating a strong resurgence in both domestic and international travel.

The numbers reveal that 159 million trips were made by mainland residents, an increase of 15.9 percent. Additionally, travelers from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions as well as Taiwan accounted for 136 million of those trips, rising by 12.2 percent. Foreign visitors numbered 38.05 million, a notable 30.2 percent jump from the previous year.

In terms of travel documentation, immigration authorities issued a total of 10.65 million ordinary passports and 47.46 million travel endorsements for residents traveling to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Furthermore, 1.16 million travel permits were issued to residents from these regions entering the mainland, alongside 887,000 visas and related documents for foreign nationals.

The immigration management agencies have worked diligently to implement a series of reforms aimed at streamlining immigration procedures. The introduction of a visa-free policy specifically for ASEAN tourist groups visiting Xishuangbanna in Yunnan and the addition of Indonesia to China's 240-hour transit visa-free policy are notable steps in this direction.

The authorities have also strengthened supportive services for foreign visitors, ensuring cooperation with related departments to facilitate ease of payment, accommodation, and transportation. Such initiatives have promoted cultural exchange and enhanced economic cooperation between China and other countries.

During this period, the visa-free entries accounted for a significant 71.2 percent of the total entries, emphasizing the appeal of China's relaxed immigration policies. This surge is anticipated to enhance tourism-related economic activities across various sectors.

Moreover, the government implemented targeted travel policies, such as facilitating Zhuhai residents' travel to Macao with a 'one trip a week' strategy and enabling 'multiple trips with one visa' for those living in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone. Temporary permits have also been introduced for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents in need.

Additional measures include 'dual-document association' verification services that improve access for travelers. Notably, travel permit application fees were waived for first-time visitors from Taiwan to the mainland, promoting stronger ties between Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and mainland China.

Throughout the first half of the year, the national immigration management agencies maintained a strong focus on national security, handling 6,914 cases related to national and border territory management. They successfully apprehended over 18,000 criminal suspects and dismantled 223 criminal gangs, ensuring a secure environment for both domestic and international travelers.

(Cover via VCG)