Beijing unveils next phase of visa-free entry reform, promises fully digital border services

China took another significant step toward making its borders easier to cross on 27 July. At a State Council Information Office briefing in Beijing, vice-minister of public security Qi Yanjun outlined a package of measures that will “refine visa-free transit and entry programmes while accelerating the digitisation of immigration services.” Under the plan, travel documents—including ordinary passports, border-area travel permits and residence permits—will be issued in digital form and accepted at new smart-gate lanes that use facial recognition. The Ministry of Public Security will also pilot fully online visa, residence-permit and work-permit renewals in selected free-trade zones before a nationwide roll-out. Companies hosting foreign assignees will be able to file invitation letters and sponsorship documents through a single portal connected to the National Immigration Administration (NIA) database. Qi said authorities aim to widen China’s 240-hour visa-free transit scheme—currently available to travellers from 55 countries at 65 ports—and to “further adjust” unilateral visa-free entry, which already covers 50 nationalities. Digitised entry records will be integrated with hotel, telecoms and tax- refund systems so visitors can register accommodation, buy SIM cards and claim VAT rebates via mobile apps instead of queuing at counters. For global mobility managers, the announcement signals quicker lead times for short-term business visits and a lower administrative burden for longer postings. HR teams should start mapping how digital residence cards and online renewals can be embedded into assignment workflows, and ensure that data-protection protocols align with China’s Personal Information Protection Law when interfacing with government APIs. The ministry did not give firm launch dates, but experience from earlier pilots suggests a phased implementation running through early 2027. Companies with operations in central and western provinces should watch for local public-security bureaux joining the scheme, as Qi promised successful pilots would be “extended where conditions allow.”