China's new visa rules: visa-free transit, online documents, and “smart ports”
Important changes are coming into effect in China for travelers and foreign nationals. The innovations relate to visa-free transit, online document filling, and simplified border crossing. Reforms will start on November 5 and 20, 2025, covering new cities and categories of citizens. Below is a brief overview of the key news.
1. Expanded 24-hour visa-free transit
Date: November 5, 2025
Now, passengers through 10 new airports — including Tianjin, Dalian, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Wuhan, Nanning, Haikou, Chongqing, and Kunming — can use the 24-hour visa-free transit. Foreigners can stay up to 24 hours without passport control.
2. Increased number of ports for 240-hour transit
Date: November 5, 2025
The list of ports where the 240-hour visa-free transit applies has been increased to 65. Among the new ones are Panyu (Guangzhou), Hengqin, Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, and others. Citizens of 55 countries, including Russia, can stay without a visa for up to 10 days when transiting to a third country.
3. Online immigration card filling
Date: November 20, 2025
Foreign nationals will be able to fill out the immigration card online through a website or QR code. This will speed up the entry control process. Exempt from filling are permanent residents, residents of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as group tour participants.
4. More ports for Taiwanese residents
Date: November 20, 2025
The number of ports where Taiwanese residents can obtain a single-entry permit has increased from 58 to 100. Among the new ones are Tianjin, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, and others.
5. Visa extensions without returning to the mainland
Date: November 20, 2025
Mainland residents staying in Hong Kong or Macao on family visit visas can extend them locally through China Travel Service.
6. Online application for passports and permits
Date: November 20, 2025
The pilot project for online passport processing has been expanded to 30 new cities, including Wuhan and Foshan. Now, mainland residents can remotely handle documents for trips to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
7. New 'smart ports' with facial recognition
Date: November 5, 2025
Biometric controls are being implemented in Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen. The system will speed up border crossing for mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwanese residents.
Want to travel to China?
Any visa — tourist, business, or student — can be quickly and conveniently processed through the visa agency www.buch-dein-visum.de without errors.
Get a visa to China easily and quickly!
Learn more about China and visas:
Please try again later.
Regards,
Your Buch-dein-Visum.de team
Mozambique launches ten-year visas for investors
Germany speeds up visa issuance for Nigerian citizens
Egypt and Kyrgyzstan have abolished visas for citizens of both countries
Recent Posts
Tips for Travelers in China
Relocation to China
Travel to China
Country Menu