At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ regular press briefing on July 28, spokesperson Lin Jian revealed that more than three-quarters (17.8 million) of the 22.9 million foreign entries recorded in the first half of 2026 were made under a visa-free scheme. The figure, which marks a year-on-year jump of 30.6 %, is the clearest statistical confirmation to date that Beijing’s rolling unilateral visa-waiver programme is rapidly reshaping inbound mobility. Lin said the government is “studying ways to refine and extend” the pilot visa-free transit and short-stay policies that currently benefit travellers from 47 countries, including much of Europe, parts of the Middle East and, since February, Canada and the UK. Digitalisation is also on the agenda: more immigration formalities will migrate into the National Immigration Administration’s 12367 app and associated WeChat/Alipay mini-programs, cutting airport processing times for business travellers. Behind the scenes, officials are said to be reviewing biometric requirements and the 30-day cap that applies to most visa-free visitors. Business chambers in Shanghai and Shenzhen have lobbied for an extension to 60 days to better accommodate project-based assignments. Analysts expect the next batch of visa-free announcements to coincide with China’s International Import Expo in November, when Beijing traditionally unveils liberalisation measures. For multinational employers, the numbers underline a tangible easing of China’s once-onerous entry regime. HR mobility teams should update travel compliance matrices: employees holding ordinary passports from the 47 listed countries can now enter mainland China repeatedly for business meetings, installation work or customer visits of up to 30 days each without securing a visa in advance, provided they carry the required return/onward ticket. Those who still need a visa – for example engineers staying beyond 30 days – will soon be able to complete the arrival-card step online before departure, saving 20–30 minutes at immigration. Practical tip: remind travellers that visa-free status does not automatically allow employment in China. Work activities that go beyond “business meetings and short-term technical support” still require a Z-visa and a work permit. Violations can lead to fines and a five-year re-entry ban, according to NIA regulations.
