The National Immigration Administration has introduced new policies to further facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into China

The National Immigration Administration officially implemented five measures to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into China starting January 11, further addressing bottlenecks in business, study, and tourism for foreigners, and better serving and safeguarding high-level opening-up and promoting high-quality development.

First, the conditions for foreign nationals applying for port visas have been relaxed.Foreign nationals who urgently need to come to China for non-diplomatic or official activities such as commercial cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives, or handling personal affairs, and who have not had time to obtain a visa abroad, may apply for a port visa at port visa authorities with invitation letters and other relevant supporting documents.

Second, foreign nationals are exempt from inspection procedures for 24-hour direct transit at hub airport ports such as Beijing Capital Airport.At nine international airports—Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao’an, Chengdu Tianfu, and Xi’an Xianyang—foreign passengers undergoing 24-hour direct transit are exempt from immigration inspection. Passengers holding international connecting tickets valid for within 24 hours and transiting through any of these airports to a third country or region can proceed directly without visa checks.

Third, foreign nationals in China can apply for visa extensions, replacements, or reissuances at their place of stay.Foreign nationals staying in China temporarily for non-diplomatic or official activities such as commercial cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives, sightseeing, or handling personal affairs, and who have legitimate reasons to continue their stay, may apply for visa extensions, replacements, or reissuances at the local public security organ’s immigration management agency.

Fourth, foreign nationals requiring multiple entries and exits can apply for re-entry visas.Foreign nationals in China who need to enter and exit multiple times for legitimate reasons may apply to the public security organ’s immigration management agency for a multiple-entry visa by submitting invitation letters and other supporting documents.

Fifth, the documentation requirements for visa applications by foreign nationals in China have been simplified.When applying for visas, foreign nationals whose accommodation registration records, business licenses, and other information can be verified through data sharing are exempt from presenting corresponding paper-based proof documents; for short-term family visit visas, a declaration of kinship from the inviter may substitute for formal proof of familial relationship.

According to a responsible official from the National Immigration Administration, as China’s economy continues to recover and improve, and its level of opening-up keeps expanding, Chinese and foreign enterprises and individuals have raised many new demands for enhanced immigration management services. The National Immigration Administration will proactively coordinate with relevant departments, continuously focus on addressing key bottlenecks in foreign business, study, and tourism in China, deepen reforms in immigration management services and innovate policies and systems, accelerate institutional openness, actively participate in creating a world-class business environment, and proactively support the establishment of a new development pattern.