Visa Free Boom Sparks Record Foreign Arrivals in China in 2025
Forget everything you knew about long visa queues and paperwork marathons — China is rewriting the rules of international travel, and the world is taking full advantage.
According to the latest data from the National Immigration Administration (NIA), a staggering 38.05 million foreign nationals made cross-border trips to and from China in just the first half of 2025 — a whopping 30.2% jump from last year. But the real kicker? Over 13.64 million of these travelers didn’t even need a visa to step onto Chinese soil.
Yes, you read that right. Visa-free travel is booming — up 53.9% year-on-year — and it now accounts for more than 70% of all foreign entries to China in 2025 so far. That’s not just a trend; it’s a tidal wave of global wanderers pouring into the Middle Kingdom without the old red-tape headaches.
What’s Behind the Visa-Free Frenzy?
China has been on a diplomatic charm offensive, expanding its visa-free policies to encourage tourism, trade, and cross-cultural exchange. And it’s working — big time.
Here’s the breakdown of the recent 4 China visa-free transformations:
- Indonesia joined the 240-hour visa-free transit policy club, which now includes 55 countries. Travelers can roam the streets of Shanghai, Beijing, and more for up to 10 days without a visa if they’re transiting onward.
- A brand-new regional policy allows tourist groups from ASEAN countries to enter Xishuangbanna, a tropical gem in Yunnan Province, completely visa-free.
- China inked mutual visa waiver deals with Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and Azerbaijan.
- And in a bold unilateral move, China now offers visa-free access to nine more nations:
Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
Total Border Movement Skyrockets
Zooming out, the immigration numbers are equally thrilling. From January to June 2025, Chinese immigration authorities processed a jaw-dropping 333 million inbound and outbound trips — a 15.8% increase from last year.
- Mainland Chinese residents accounted for 159 million trips.
- Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents made 136 million trips, up 12.2%.
It’s clear: the borders are buzzing, airports are alive again, and China is reestablishing itself as a magnet for global movement.
What Does This Mean for Global Travelers?
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking the Great Wall, savoring street food in Chengdu, or closing that cross-border business deal in Guangzhou — now is your moment. China is rolling out the red carpet to travelers from around the world, with less paperwork, fewer costs, and more access than ever before.
And with more visa-free agreements expected on the horizon, global mobility into China is getting smoother by the day.
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