On January 14, 2025, China's National Immigration Administration held a press conference to release key immigration management data for 2024.
Over the course of the year, a total of 610 million entries and exits were recorded, marking a 43.9% year-on-year increase. This includes 291 million trips by mainland residents, 254 million by residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and 64.882 million by foreign nationals, representing year-on-year growth of 41.3%, 38.8%, and an impressive 82.9%, respectively.
The movement of transportation vehicles across borders also surged in 2024, with 32.566 million inspections conducted, representing a 38.8% rise compared to the previous year. Among these, 879,000 flights were inspected, an increase of 62.6%; 101,000 train trips, up by 11%; 437,000 ships, an 8.2% rise; and 31.149 million motor vehicles, growing by 38.9%.
Visa issuance to foreign nationals saw significant growth as well, with 2.597 million visas issued throughout the year, a 52.3% increase compared to 2023. This includes 1.476 million port visas, which grew by 87.3%. Additionally, 72,000 foreigners were provided with nearby visa services, such as extensions and replacements, further facilitating international travel to China and contributing to a steady rise in foreign arrivals.
Visa-free entries reached 20.115 million in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 112.3%. The relaxation and optimization of the transit visa-free policy proved particularly impactful, with the number of people benefiting from this policy rising by 113.5% compared to the previous year. Following these changes, month-on-month transit visa-free entries increased by 29.5%.
