China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has confirmed that 30.08 million foreign nationals entered the mainland on visa-free schemes in 2025, a 49.5 percent jump on the previous year (businesstoday.com.my). The figure covers travellers using three channels: the 30-day unilateral visa-waiver (now open to 48 countries), the 144-hour transit-without-visa (TWOV) programme, and the newer 240-hour TWOV option that was rolled out nationwide in mid-2025.
Business-travel stakeholders say the growth is already reshaping corporate mobility programmes for 2026. Multinationals report that short-notice trips for plant audits, sales calls and trade-fair visits have become markedly easier because staff can skip consulate appointments. Shanghai’s two airports processed 452,000 visa-free arrivals between 1 January and 23 February alone, equivalent to nearly two-thirds of all inbound traffic to the city (english.shanghai.gov.cn).
Companies and individual travellers looking to capitalise on these simplified entry channels can get up-to-date guidance through VisaHQ’s dedicated China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/). The service aggregates the newest visa-free policies, provides real-time eligibility checks, and assists with any residual visa requirements—making it a one-stop resource for HR teams and frequent flyers alike.
The NBS data show Europe remained the largest source region, led by France, Germany and Italy, while Asia-Pacific markets such as South Korea and Japan provided the fastest year-on-year growth. Early indications are that Canada and the United Kingdom—both added to the 30-day waiver list on 17 February 2026—will climb quickly into the top ten once full-quarter data are available.
For mobility managers the practical impact is two-fold. First, recruitment and assignment costs fall when candidates can enter on visa-free status while waiting for work-permit approval. Second, HR teams must strengthen overstay monitoring, because the waiver does not extend to paid employment and carries penalties for violations.
Travel analysts forecast inbound numbers to rise a further 20–25 percent in 2026, helped by a pipeline of 80 additional weekly international flights that Chinese carriers have requested for the summer timetable (travelandtourworld.com).
