Passengers wait in line for border inspection in Shanghai. [Photo/Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection]
Shanghai has experienced increased international arrivals fueled by China’s recent relaxation of visa policies, including a new 240-hour visa-free transit policy and an expansion of its visa-free entry list.
Since the implementation of the 240-hour transit visa-free policy on Dec 17, Shanghai’s immigration authorities have issued nearly 1,000 temporary entry permits as of Dec 24.
The policy, applicable to citizens from 54 countries transiting through China, permits stays of up to 240 hours within designated areas across 24 provinces, a significant expansion from the previous 72/144-hour policy.
International travelers have lauded the policy for its convenience, with many taking advantage of their visa-free stay to explore popular destinations in Shanghai and beyond.
In Shanghai, nearly 4.45 million foreign nationals entered the city between Jan 1 and Dec 24, 2024, doubling the figure from the same period last year. Visa-free entries have witnessed a staggering 4.7-fold increase, totaling nearly 1.6 million people.
The recent inclusion of South Korea and Japan in China’s expanded visa-free entry list extended their visa-free stays to 30 days.
Since November, Shanghai has witnessed a surge in travelers from both countries, with over 11,000 passenger flights and 363,000 passenger movements recorded at Pudong and Hongqiao airports, marking a significant increase of over 20 percent compared to the period between September and October.
To ensure the smooth implementation of these policies, Shanghai immigration authorities have taken various measures, including setting up electronic arrival card self-service kiosks, optimizing information collection procedures, and implementing a unified inspection area for both entry and transit passengers.
Extensive efforts have also been made to raise awareness of visa policies through airline staff training, multilingual hotlines, and on-site volunteer assistance.
Source: thepaper.cn
,https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20241230/6df4421886bd457fbbb223cc5a534b6a.html