On November 3, 2025, the National Immigration Administration announced ten immigration and exit-entry management service policy initiatives, as follows.
Expanded scope of talent endorsement pilot.
Effective November 5, 2025, in addition to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the talent endorsement policy is implemented across the entire Yangtze River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions, as well as in all pilot free-trade zones nationwide.
With relevant certification issued by competent talent authorities, eligible employers and other relevant entities, outstanding talents, scientific research talents, cultural and educational talents, healthcare and medical talents, legal talents and other talents working in the area mentioned above may apply for a multiple-exit-entry talent endorsement to and from Hong Kong or Macao with a validity period ranging from one to five years and may stay in Hong Kong or Macao for no more than 30 days per time.
Mainland residents’ applications for family visit endorsements for travelling to and from Taiwan region now accepted nationwide.
Effective November 5, 2025, mainland residents planning to travel to and from Taiwan region for family visits can submit applications for family visit endorsements at any exit-entry administration authorities of public security organs above county level. The application procedures will be aligned with the requirements prescribed by the place of household registration of the applicant.
Intelligent exit-entry clearance in some ports open for navigation and passage with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions.
Effective November 5, 2025, in addition to Shenzhen Bay Port in Shenzhen and Gongbei Port in Zhuhai, the “facial recognition” intelligent exit-entry clearance function is being promoted and applied to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, Gaoqi International Airport and Wutong Port in Xiamen, Pazhou Ferry Terminal and Nansha Passenger Port in Guangzhou, Huanggang, Luohu, Liantang, Futian and Wenjindu Ports in Shenzhen, Hengqin and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Ports in Zhuhai.
Mainland residents holding valid Exit-Entry Permit for travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and multiple-exit-entry endorsements of stay, family visit, business, talent and other types, as well as Hong Kong and Macao residents holding valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (including non-Chinese citizens) and Taiwan residents holding five-year valid Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents aged 14 and above and who agree to have their facial and fingerprint information collected and verified, may choose to go through the intelligent fast lanes in the ports mentioned above through facial recognition.
Supporting the efficient cross-border flow of production factors within the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (HTCZ-SZ)
Effective November 5, 2025, the following convenience measures are implemented in HTCZ-SZ. For mainland talents working in scientific research institutes, technology innovation enterprises, and other institutions in the Cooperation zone, after applications submitted to the Shenzhen Park administrative department of the Cooperation Zone, the exit-entry administration authorities of public security organs may issue a three-year multiple-entry talent endorsement for travelling to and from Hong Kong or Macao.
Applicants are exempt from submitting talent certificates during the application process. Emerging and start-up enterprises are permitted to apply for business travel to and from Hong Kong or Macao with tax exemption in their first year of operation. Preferential treatment will be given to key enterprises and institutions in high-tech, advanced manufacturing and other sectors engaging in business travel to and from Hong Kong and Macao. Dedicated channels for the Cooperative Zone are set up at Huanggang and Futian Ports, allowing staff of enterprises and institutions within the ShenZhen Park to enter and exit via No. 1 Channel of Futian Bonded Zone.
More ports where individuals eligible for 24-hour visa-free direct transit may be exempted for immigration inspection procedures
Effective November 5, 2025, the 24-hour visa-free direct transit policy is extended to ten international airports, namely Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Haikou Meilan International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and Kunming Changshui International Airport. Individuals with international interline tickets transiting to a third country within 24 hours through any of the aforementioned airports without leaving the airport may be exempted from immigration inspection procedures.
Five Guangdong Province entry ports added to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy
Effective November 5, 2025, five entry ports in Guangdong are added to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, increasing the number of applicable entry ports for the policy from 60 to 65. He ports in question are Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Hengqin Port, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port, Zhongshan Port (Passenger) and West Kowloon Station Port of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
Citizens of the 55 countries eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, may enter China visa-free from any of the 65 ports in the 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) with valid international travel document and interline ticket with specified date and arrangement when traveling from China to a third country (region), and stay within the allowed areas for visa-free transit travellers for no more than 240 hours. During their stay, travellers may engage in tourism, business, visiting, family visits, and other activities, while those intending to perform other activities such as work, study, and news reporting, which require prior approval, must obtain the necessary visas in advance.
More pilot cities for “fully online-processing” of renewal and reissuance of exit-entry documents for mainland residents
Effective November 20, 2025, the number of pilot cities will be increased from 20 to 50. Registered residents above 16 years old (except for registered state functionaries and active-duty military personnel) of the pilot cities may apply for the renewal or reissuance of ordinary passport, Exit-Entry Permit for travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and Exit-Entry Permit for Mainland Residents traveling to and from Taiwan through NIA’s government service platform online instead of handling the procedures at the exit-entry administration office, providing great convenience for mainland residents to obtain exit-entry documents.
The 30 newly added pilot cities are as follows: Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province, Taiyuan in Shanxi Province, Hohhot in Nei Mongol Autonomous Region, Dalian in Liaoning Province, Changchun in Jilin Province, Wuxi, Xuzhou, Changzhou, and Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing and Jinhua in Zhejiang Province, Nanchang in Jiangxi Province, Yantai and Weifang in Shandong Province, Wuhan in Hubei Province, Changsha in Hunan Province, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province, Nanning and Guilin in Guangxi Province, Haikou in Hainan Province, Guiyang in Guizhou Province, Lanzhou in Gansu Province and Yinchuan in Ningxia Province.
Renewal of family visit endorsements in Hong Kong or Macao
Effective November 20, 2025, mainland residents traveling to and from Hong Kong or Macao with family visit endorsements may apply for the renewal of the same type of endorsement through China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited and China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd. before expiration, if the allowed stay period of the endorsement is insufficient for their continued stay. The application for renewal should be submitted in advance at least seven working days before the expiration of the stay period.
More ports eligible for issuing single-entry Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents
Effective November 20, 2025, the number of ports eligible for issuing single-entry Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents will be increased from 58 to 100. Taiwan residents arriving at the ports without valid travel document for entering and exiting the mainland may apply to the exit-entry administration authorities of public security organs at the port for the single-entry Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents and may obtain the document and enter upon approval.
The list of 42 newly-added ports are as follows: Tianjin Port, Manzhouli (airport), Manzhouli (highway), Erenhot (railway), Erenhot (highway), Dandong Port, Yingkou Port, Hunchun (highway), Heihe (waterway port), Tongjiang (waterway port), Fuyuan Port, Raohe Port, Luobei Port, Dongning, Suifenhe (highway), Lianyugang Port, Yantai Port, Rizhao Port, Weihai Port, Shidao Port, Longyan Port, Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Shekou Port, Huanggang, Luohu, Zhuhai Port, Hengqin, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Gongbei, Zhongshan Port, Shantou Port, Jieyang Chaoshan Airport, Youyiguan, Dongxing, Lijiang Sanyi Airport, Mohan (railway), Mohan (highway), Hekou (highway), Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, Dunhuang Mogao Airport, Kashi Laining Airport, Khorgos (highway).
Online filling of Arrival Card
Effective November 20, 2025, foreign nationals may complete the relevant entry information online before coming to China through NIA’s official website, Government Service Platform, “NIA 12367” APP and WeChat (Alipay) mini program or by scanning the QR code with mobile phones. Foreign nationals who cannot submit the information online in advance may complete the process upon arriving at the immigration inspection site in the ports of China by scanning the QR code with mobile phone or use the smart devices at the port to fill in the entry information online or fill in the paper Arrival Card.
The following seven categories of foreign national may be exempted from completing the Arrival Card:
- Those holding a PR China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.
- Those holding a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens).
- Those holding a group visa or eligible for group visa-free entry.
- Those transiting directly without leaving the restricted area of the port.
- Those entering and exiting with the same cruise ship.
- Those entering through fast lanes.
- Foreign employees of exit-entry transport vehicles.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.