On July 16, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China disclosed key immigration data for the first half of 2025 during a press briefing. Nationwide, immigration checkpoints recorded 333 million border crossings, reflecting a 15.8% year-on-year rise. Notably, foreign nationals contributed 38.053 million entries and exits, a 30.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The NIA also issued 887,000 visas and related documents to foreigners during this period.
To further streamline international travel, China expanded its visa-free policies in H1 2025. A visa-free entry initiative for ASEAN tour groups was launched for Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, while Indonesia was added to the 144-hour visa-free transit program. Collaborating with other government agencies, the NIA also enhanced support for foreign nationals in China by improving payment systems, accommodation, and transportation access—measures that significantly bolstered cross-border interactions and trade.
A striking 71.2% of all foreign entries (13.64 million) were made under visa-free schemes, marking a 53.9% year-on-year surge. The NIA’s digital platforms also saw high engagement, with 89.87 million users (including Chinese and foreigners) accessing services like travel record checks. Additionally, 30.59 million individuals—including residents of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and foreigners—benefited from free identity verification services. The NIA’s 12367 hotline fielded 3.519 million inquiries from users across 100+ countries and regions.
