In 2023, a total of 712 000 residence permits were issued, including 237 000 work-related permits (33%) and 208 000 study permits (29%). In terms of temporary migration, in 2023, 2.3 million foreign visitors entered China visa-free; 2.2 million entered with tourist visas; 2.1 million entered with business visas; 175 000 entered with APEC Business Travel Cards; 27 000 entered with short-term study visas; and 107 000 entered with visitor visas. Very sharp year-on-year increases were recorded for all these categories.
10.4 million foreign travellers entered China in 2023, according to statistics released by the National Immigration Administration (NIA). 13.1 million foreign travellers were inspected during the first quarter of 2024, four times the number inspected in the first quarter of 2023.
To address new situations and demands associated with China’s post-COVID‑19 pandemic opening, the NIA has implemented a range of policies and measures regarding exit-entry services. These include visa exemptions for regional entry and transit, as well as port visas.
Additionally, the NIA has implemented five measures as of 11 January 2024, aimed at simplifying the process for foreign nationals seeking to visit China. There are relaxed conditions for applying for port visas at major hub airports. Foreign travellers meeting prescribed criteria are exempt from border inspection procedures when transiting to a third country or region at any of the nine designated hub airports (e.g. Beijing Capital International Airport). Foreign nationals already in China may apply for visa extensions, renewals, and reissuance at the nearest local public security agency. Foreign nationals already in China may apply for a multiple‑entry visa. Lastly, foreign nationals now need to provide fewer types of materials for visa applications: foreign nationals whose accommodation registration records, business licenses, and other information can be checked through shared information systems are now exempt from presenting physical certificates when applying for visas.
On 1 December 2023, the NIA officially issued and launched the new version of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the People’s Republic of China (the “Five‑Star Card”), which can be used independently as the personal identity document of the cardholder without the need to present their passport.
Starting from 9 October 2023, new features were added to the NIA’s government service website. These features allow foreigners to make online inquiries, schedule appointments for visa extensions, renewals, reissuances, and for stay and residence permits, as well as check the status of their applications online.
The introduction of a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Spain in December 2023 saw entries increase by 29% compared with the previous month.
From 17 November 2023, the scope of China’s 72/144‑hour visa-free transit policy has been expanded to 54 nationalities. When in transit to a third country (region) via 41 ports in 19 provinces, including Beijing and Shanghai, visitors may apply for a visa-free stay in the specified area to engage in short-term activities such as tourism and temporary business visits.
International student enrolment has not fully recovered from prolonged pandemic-related closures and visa cancellations. China partially reopened to degree‑programme students in mid‑2022. While for the academic year 2021/22, there were 114 000 new entrants compared to 93 000 in 2020/21, overall enrolment slightly decreased from 256 000 to 253 000.
At the Asia-Pacific Economic Co‑operation (APEC) summit held in November 2023, China announced a goal of hosting 50 000 US students over the next five years; there were about 350 US students in China in 2023.
According to a report by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), China has been the largest source of international students in the United States for 15 consecutive years. Over the 2022‑23 academic year, there were 289 000 Chinese students studying in the United States According to Ministry of Education statistics, the number of Chinese students studying abroad increased from 524 000 in 2021 to 661 000 in 2022, and it is expected to recover to pre‑COVID‑19 levels (703 500 in 2019).
For further information: https://en.nia.gov.cn
