In the third quarter, 160 million people entered and exited the country, and 4.885 million foreigners entered and exited without visas.

On October 20, in Beijing, the National Immigration Administration released key data regarding its operations for the third quarter of 2024. According to the report, a total of 160 million entry and exit inspections were conducted across the country, marking a 30.1% increase compared to the previous year. The number of foreign nationals arriving in China reached 8.186 million, up 48.8% year-on-year. Notably, among these, 4.885 million entered without a visa, reflecting a striking 78.6% increase.

The report also highlighted that among the inspected individuals, mainland residents accounted for 78.545 million, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents totaled 6.469 million, and foreign nationals comprised 16.461 million. This represents year-on-year increases of 27.3%, 28.9%, and 50.5% respectively. Additionally, there were inspections of 8.429 million modes of transport (including aircraft, ships, and vehicles), which is a 31.1% rise compared to last year.

In an effort to continually optimize immigration policies, the National Immigration Administration has introduced several measures. This includes a new 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups entering Hainan from Hong Kong and Macao and expanding a similar 144-hour transit visa exemption in Henan and Yunnan. They have also begun issuing travel permits to non-Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macao, further enhancing the accessibility of entry and exit documentation, which can now be processed entirely online.

In the third quarter, the administration issued approximately 5.987 million ordinary passports, and 26.649 million permits for mainland residents traveling to Hong Kong and Macao, with year-on-year increases of 28.5% and 4.7%, respectively. Additionally, around 807,000 visas were granted to foreign nationals, representing a 32.7% increase.

Furthermore, the administration has intensified its crackdown on crimes that disrupt national border management, specifically through an operation dubbed “Mongoose Hunt 2024.” During this operation, over 9,800 cases related to border management violations were investigated, resulting in 68 drug-related cases involving 91 suspects. The enforcement efforts also targeted smuggling activities in border areas, leading to the seizure of 409 firearms, over 13,000 rounds of ammunition, and smuggled goods valued at 101 million yuan.