Visa-Free Foreign Entries Up 26.8% in First Eight Months
According to the National Immigration Administration, from January to August 2026, border inspection authorities processed 499 million inbound and outbound trips, up 8.7% year on year. This included 242 million trips by mainland residents, 196 million by Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, and 61.287 million by foreign nationals, up 10%, 8.9% and 19.5% respectively. Visa-free foreign entries reached 23.72 million, accounting for 77.6% of total foreign entries and up 26.8% year on year. The administration said it will continue to promote immigration policy innovation and optimize border inspection models.
Impact and considerations
Visa-free entries accounting for 77.6% of foreign entries and continuing to grow reflect the effect of China's inbound facilitation policies, with implications for inbound tourism product design, port services and business travel.
Key points
- From January to August 2026, border inspection authorities processed 499 million inbound and outbound trips, up 8.7% year on year.
- Mainland residents made 242 million trips, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents 196 million, and foreign nationals 61.287 million, up 10%, 8.9% and 19.5% respectively.
- Visa-free foreign entries reached 23.72 million, accounting for 77.6% of total foreign entries and up 26.8% year on year.
- The National Immigration Administration said it will continue to promote immigration policy innovation and optimize border inspection models.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- 中国旅游新闻网
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 10 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Page published
- 11 Sept 2026, 00:05
- Last updated
- 10 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Original links
- China Tourism News：今年1至8月免签入境外国人同比上升26.8%-中国旅游新闻网Document (opens in a new tab)Primary source · zh · Published 10 Sept 2026, 08:00