Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, ministry spokesperson Zhang Ming said the policy allows eligible foreign travellers to stay in China for up to 10 days without a visa while transiting to a third destination, significantly boosting cross-border movement through the country’s ports of entry.
Official data show that the scheme has been expanded to cover travellers from 55 countries, with 65 ports now offering transit visa-free entry. Zhang added that the number of visitors making use of the 240-hour stay rose 60.8% compared with levels before the policy was optimised.
The figures suggest that the expanded arrangements have strengthened China’s appeal as a regional transit hub, encouraging more international travellers to route their journeys through the country and supporting broader growth in inbound passenger flows.
The transit visa-free scheme forms part of China’s wider push for institutional opening in immigration management, aimed at simplifying travel procedures for foreign visitors while supporting related sectors such as aviation, tourism and commercial services. Over the past year, public security authorities have introduced a series of supporting measures, gradually expanding both the list of eligible countries and the number of participating entry points.
Authorities said they will continue to refine the transit visa-free policy as part of the country’s broader opening-up efforts.
