China Extends Unilateral Visa-Free Entry for 40+ Countries and Adds Sweden Until End-2026
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Scheme Expanded to 65 Chinese Ports, Including High-Speed-Rail Hubs
China to Introduce Digital Arrival Card—Online Entry Declaration Available from 20 November
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‘Face-Swipe’ Fast Lanes to Cover 20+ Mainland–HK–Macao–Taiwan Border Crossings
Starting 5 November 2025, China will activate automated biometric immigration lanes at more than a dozen additional airports, ports and land crossings linking the mainland with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The ‘face-swipe’ system trims clearance times to under ten seconds, significantly easing frequent cross-border commutes for business travellers.
Winter 2025/26 Flight Schedule Adds 10.8 % More International Frequencies, Says CAAC
The CAAC’s winter 2025/26 schedule shows a 10.8 percent rise in international flights to and from China, restoring links to 83 countries and easing seat shortages for business travellers. Domestic capacity holds steady, while 586 new regional routes improve connectivity to emerging tourist and manufacturing hubs.
China Extends Visa-Free Entry Scheme to End-2026 and Adds Sweden
Beijing has prolonged its 30-day visa-free entry programme for 45 countries until 31 December 2026 and has added Sweden to the roster from 10 November 2025. The move gives business travellers and mobility managers a two-year planning window and underlines China’s push to revive inbound tourism and corporate travel.
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Expanded to 65 Chinese Ports
Effective 6 November, China’s 240-hour visa-free transit regime will operate at 65 entry ports, five more than before, making multi-city business trips and conference attendance easier—particularly in the Greater Bay Area.
New Immigration Package Eases Mainland Access for Taiwan Residents
Starting 20 November, Taiwan passport holders can obtain a single-entry Mainland Travel Permit at 100 ports—up from 58—under a package of 10 immigration reforms. The change slashes lead times for cross-strait travel and is expected to boost Taiwan-mainland business activity.
Hong Kong Hails Mainland’s Roll-Out of Talent Exit Endorsement and Biometric E-Gate Upgrades
Mainland China will widen its talent exit endorsement to five more provinces and free-trade zones on 5 November and deploy facial-recognition e-gate clearance at major Shenzhen–Hong Kong crossings. Hong Kong says the moves will speed up cross-border business travel and bolster its talent-hub strategy.
China Eastern Relaunches Shanghai–Hangzhou ‘Ferry Flight’ to Optimise International Transfers
China Eastern will restart a daily Shanghai Pudong–Hangzhou shuttle on 15 November to facilitate overnight international transfers and aircraft positioning. The move supports corporate travellers needing same-day links to Zhejiang’s industrial centres.