Key Updates on China 2025 Immigration Reforms: What You Need to Know

China is pushing through a major immigration reform package that has been in the making for years. The 2025 NIA changes are part of the broader strategy encompassed by the China 2025 immigration reforms, aimed at simplifying travel and attracting global talent.

These reforms apply to short-term visitors, transit and frequent cross-border travellers, and long-term visa and permit holders.

This post is about all the current changes, discusses the recent patterns in immigration and travel to China, predicts the countries that most of the travellers and migrants will come from, and looks at the official and legal routes for the fast and easy visa or travel endorsement through the government's own sources.

The 10 New Measures from the 2025 NIA (National Immigration Association) Reform Package

<img src="https://globemigrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-10-New-Measures-from-the-2025-NIA-National-Immigration-Association-Reform-Package-Key-Updates-on-China-2025-Immigration-Reforms_-What-You-Need-to-Know-1024x576.jpg" alt="The 10 New Measures from the 2025 NIA (National Immigration Association) Reform Package - Key Updates on China 2025 Immigration Reforms_ What You Need to Know" class="wp-image-23952" style="width:800px"/> Image showing the Night view of a public space in China

1. Expansion of the talent-endorsement pilot for travel between mainland China and Hong Kong/Macao

Starting from November 5, 2025, the talent endorsement policy that allows designated individuals to make numerous trips between mainland China and Hong Kong or Macao will be widened to cover more areas than before.

Now, it has the whole Yangtze River Delta, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, and all the national pilot free-trade zones under its belt. Those eligible for the program are researchers, medical professionals, legal experts, cultural and educational workers, and others in highly skilled areas recognized by the program.

The endorsements granted to successful applicants could be multi-exit and multi-entry, valid for one to five years, with the condition that each visit to Hong Kong or Macao would be limited to 30 days per entry.

2. A Simplified Application Process for Family-Visit Endorsements for Mainland Residents Traveling to or from the Taiwan Region

Starting November 5, 2025, mainland residents will be able to submit family-visit endorsement applications for travel to or from the Taiwan region at any county-level or higher exit-entry administration office. This change does away with the previous practice of requiring applications to be filed based on the applicant’s household registration location.

The endorsements will still adhere to household-registration regulations regarding validity and distribution, but the application process is now flexible, regardless of where the applicant lives.

3. Intelligent Exit-Entry Services to be Implemented at Selected Ports

From November 5, 2025, 12 ports will use the intelligent exit-entry systems linking mainland China with Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The list of these ports includes large international airports such as Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport.

Those travellers who are willing to have their biometrics collected, which consists of facial and fingerprint recognition, will be given the chance to use the automated inspection lanes. The group eligible for this includes residents of the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao, specific residents of Taiwan, and foreigners who have undergone biometric data registration.

4. Special Cross-Boundary Measures for the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone

With this policy, there is a specific exit and entry facilitation system for institutions and enterprises situated in the Shenzhen park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.

Mainland staff working in the organization in the approved zone can apply for a 3-year talent visa with multiple entries and can travel to Hong Kong or Macao without submitting standard talent-qualification documents.

Businesses in high-tech and advanced manufacturing sectors can make their first-year business-trip filings for movement between the mainland and the two SARS-exempt areas without the usual tax-payment requirements that come with these filings.

Besides, customs services for important personnel and "green-channels" for vehicles carrying research materials or equipment are being set up at ports such as Huanggang and Futian.

5. The 24-hour Visa-Free Direct Transit Program has Been Expanded to More International Airports

One key element of the China 2025 immigration reforms is the expansion of the 240-hour visa-free transit program to 65 ports across China.

This arrangement allows qualified international passengers with confirmed onward tickets to a third country to pass through these airports within 24 hours without being subjected to full immigration control, as long as they remain within the airport's international-transit area.

The higher number of airports where short-duration international transits can be done without additional entry procedures is the result of the expansion.

6. Expansion of Visa-Free Transit Entry Ports for 240 Hours With Five New Ports in Guangdong Province

The 240-hour visa-free transit program has been expanded to include five additional ports in Guangdong Province. The new ports include ferry terminals, railway-linked crossings, and bridge-related entry points connecting Guangdong to Hong Kong and Macao.

With this adjustment, the total number of ports in China that support the 240-hour visa-free transit policy rises from 60 to 65. Eligible travelers entering through these specific ports and holding onward tickets may remain within the approved administrative regions for 240 hours before flying to a third destination.

7. Expansion of Fully Online Processing for the Renewal and Reissuance of Exit-Entry Documents for Mainland Residents

Digital procedures for entry, such as online arrival cards, are among the innovations introduced under the China 2025 immigration reforms. Starting November 20, 2025, the pilot project enabling residents to renew or reissue exit-entry permits online will be extended to an additional 30 cities. As a result, the total number of participating cities will be increased to 50.

Residents in these cities can upload their identities, photographs, and other required documents through official online portals, allowing them to complete renewals or reissuances remotely rather than visiting exit-entry administration offices.

8. Simplified Renewal of Family-Visit Endorsements for Mainland Residents Staying in Hong Kong or Macao

The China 2025 immigration reforms include multi-entry talent endorsements to facilitate frequent travel between mainland China and the SARs. Travelers holding family-visit endorsements who are already in Hong Kong or Macao can now renew their endorsements through government-approved travel service providers. The application must be submitted at least seven working days before the current endorsement expires.

Under this arrangement, qualified residents are allowed to extend their stay without the need to return to the mainland to complete renewal formalities.

9. Authorization of the Issue of Single-Entry Mainland Travel Permits for the Taiwan Residents at an Additional 42 Ports

The number of ports authorized to grant single-entry Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan residents on arrival has been increased by 42, bringing the total to 100.

The residents of Taiwan can obtain permits directly at the designated immigration counters upon entering the country, after submitting the required identity documents.

The permits issued this way are for one-time entry into mainland China and are handled at the immigration facilities at the arriving port.

10. The Arrival Cards for Foreign Travelers Entering China will be Available Via the Internet

International tourists arriving in China will now be able to complete their arrival card online via the National Immigration Administration’s official website, governmental service portals, the NIA 12367 mobile app, or mini-programs on apps like WeChat and Alipay that support this.

Additionally, they can scan the QR codes at entry points, use the smart equipment made available by immigration authorities, or use a traditional paper arrival card if that is their choice.

These electronic channels enable several methods for submitting the mandatory entry data, either before or at the time of the traveler’s arrival.

Historical Context: How China Immigration Policy Has Evolved

Image showing a signage of the Great wall of China

These China 2025 Immigration Reforms become much easier to understand when viewed from a historical perspective. Over the last ten years, China's immigration and border management infrastructure has undergone a complete overhaul.

The National Immigration Administration was established by China in 2018, thereby giving the country a single national authority to oversee all exit and entry procedures. This move facilitated the establishment of a common national standard that could apply to the previously scattered regional policies.

China, like several other nations, made the decision during the global COVID-19 pandemic, which lasted from 2020 to 2022, to dramatically reduce travel, stop visa issuance entirely, and impose strict limitations on cross-border movements.

The drastic measures taken during the pandemic led to a rapid, massive drop in the number of tourists, business travelers, and foreign residents entering the country.

Around the end of 2022, China started its reopening, which continued through 2023-2024. The policies were very progressive in that they began to restore the majority of visa channels, reactivate the entry for transit and tourists, and conduct trials for the wider application of the visa-free and simplified transit schemes.

The 2025 package points to a decisive moment: a distinct transition from random, temporary measures to stable, formal, universal regulations that would nurture global mobility, support business and tourism, and attract foreign talent.

Are Numbers Rising Again? What Data Suggests About Travel and Immigration Trends

The reopening data suggest a very strong recovery (particularly short-term travel and transit) with medium- to long-term stays increasing more slowly. The main points:

Inbound travel and transit arrivals to China increased significantly after the reforms. In particular, after the 240-hour transit policy was implemented, several airports reported that foreign arrivals increased significantly .

It has been reported that visa-free and transit entries have skyrocketed. Reports from officials indicated a remarkable increase in the number of foreign entries without visas from year to year after 2024.

At the same time, demand for medium-term visas (for work, residency, or study) is rising slowly. The increase in talent endorsements and work permits is confined to certain professional categories, and the overall number of foreign residents is still very low compared to China’s population.

How to Apply for Chinese Visas, Travel Endorsements, or Transit Entry

Image showing a public space in China

1. Check if you need a visa

1. Check your nationality and the purpose of travel (tourism, business, transit, work, study, or residence) on the NIA website to find out whether you qualify for visa-free entry or a 240-hour visa-free transit.

2. Get a visa (if necessary)

Complete the official online application form using COVA. Provide your passport information, travel plan, and other supporting documents.

3. Set up and visit a consular appointment (if required)

Certain visas necessitate a face-to-face meeting at a Chinese embassy or consulate. Book it through the MFA consular portal , take all supporting documents, and undergo any biometric process if required.

4. Get your visa and check particulars

Make sure to review your visa for its type (tourist, business, work, etc.), validity period, number of entries, and stay duration per entry.

5. Transit tourists (240-hour visa-free entry)

In case you meet the criteria, then be careful and get ready with:

A passport that is valid and has a minimum of six months left before expiration

Confirmed onward tickets from China to a third country, if applicable

Entry through a designated port (there are 65 ports in total)

Online arrival card filled in before landing

During your stay, you can move around in the specified areas , but you are not allowed to work, study, or perform any other activities that require a visa.

6. Stays of over a year (work, study, residence)

If you arrive on a long-term visa, you need to convert it into a residence permit at the local exit-entry administration office, which varies by city or province. Eligible professionals who are seeking talent endorsements must provide proof to the local talent authorities as per NIA guidance .

7. Frequent travellers or multi-entry needs

Those eligible for talent endorsements or other multi-entry programs must first apply to local immigration authorities in accordance with the official NIA guidelines.

Which Nationalities Make up the Foreign Population in the Country for Travel and Immigration Purposes?

The categories of foreign entrants and migrants are largely determined by the type of visa and the purpose.

Travellers for short-term stay and for transit

Visa-free and 240-hour transit policies are especially appealing to tourists travelling from Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Besides, many foreign countries whose citizens are entitled to visa-free access are located in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia, and they are mainly developing countries whose citizens travel for business or tourism.

The opened-up access is making China a good choice for multi-leg travel, layovers, or business-tourism mixes.

The neighbouring countries in the region (Southeast Asian nations) and East Asia (Japan, South Korea) are very likely to account for a large share of visitors due to their proximity and existing trade or business ties.

Long-term residents, workers, and talent immigrants

The foreign workers, expatriates, and permanent residents in China are generally from a variety of countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the global north. There have been a few countries, like South Korea, Japan, and others in Asia, along with Western economies, that have been notable parts of the foreign nationals’ presence historically.

China, with its talent endorsement and work visa channels, aims to attract high-skilled professionals from around the world; however, the total foreign resident population remains very small relative to the country's size.

It is challenging to provide a complete, official breakdown because the data on nationality are fragmented and often city- or province-specific. However, the overall trend indicates diversification: more Southeast Asian labor, more international professionals, and more incoming nationalities being recognized.

Final Thoughts

China 2025 Immigration Reforms are not merely incremental changes but rather the opening of China to the world and the adoption of a more pragmatic approach to migration and border policy.

The changes, such as digital procedures taking over most of the paperwork, more generous visa-free transit , and the wider reach of talent endorsements, are among the signals that China is willing to attract not only tourists and professionals but also long-term contributors from the global population.