China records 192 million border crossings in Q3; visa-free foreign entries up 24.1%
In short
China's National Immigration Administration said on 20 October that immigration authorities checked 192 million entries and exits in the third quarter of 2026, up 7.9% year on year. Visa-free foreign entrants numbered 8.992 million, 77.5% of all foreigners entering, and up 24.1%.
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China's National Immigration Administration held a press conference on 20 October to release its main immigration data for the third quarter of 2026. National immigration authorities checked 192 million entries and exits, up 7.9% from a year earlier, according to CLS and China News Service. [ 1 , 4 ]
By group, mainland residents made 95.96 million crossings, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents 73.14 million and foreigners 23.272 million. These rose 7.4%, 6.4% and 15.6% respectively. Visa-free foreign entrants numbered 8.992 million, which is 77.5% of all foreigners entering, and the number rose 24.1% year on year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The ten leading countries of inbound foreign travellers were listed as Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, Mongolia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Australia. They accounted for 63.9% of total inbound travellers. [ 1 , 4 ]
Authorities also checked 10.955 million vehicles, trains, ships and aircraft entering or leaving, up 10.6%. Aircraft numbered 259,000, about level with a year earlier. Trains numbered 28,000, ships 117,000 and motor vehicles 10.551 million, up 3.7%, 2.6% and 11% respectively. [ 2 , 7 ]
Immigration authorities issued 5.338 million ordinary passports and 28.789 million endorsements for mainland residents travelling to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. They also issued 473,000 permits for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents to travel to the mainland and 603,000 visa documents for foreigners. [ 2 , 7 ]
In its report, Jiemian also gave service figures, citing CCTV News. The administration's government service platform provided services to 22.863 million people, and free identity verification went to 12.2716 million Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents and overseas Chinese. The 12367 service platform handled 2.03 million consultations involving more than 100 countries and regions, with an average satisfaction rate of 99.03%. [ 7 ]
Why it matters
The figures are an official quarterly statistical release, and the documents give no analysis of their causes. They show foreign crossings growing faster (15.6%) than those of mainland residents (7.4%) and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents (6.4%).
Key facts
- Immigration authorities checked 192 million entries and exits of people in the third quarter of 2026, up 7.9% year on year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Mainland residents made 95.96 million crossings, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents 73.14 million and foreigners 23.272 million, up 7.4%, 6.4% and 15.6% respectively. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Visa-free foreign entrants reached 8.992 million, 77.5% of all foreigners entering, up 24.1% year on year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Authorities checked 10.955 million vehicles, trains, ships and aircraft entering or leaving, up 10.6%. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- Immigration authorities issued 5.338 million ordinary passports and 603,000 visa documents to foreigners. [ 2 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The National Immigration Administration released its third-quarter 2026 data on 20 October at a press conference. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 7 ]
- Total checked crossings were 192 million, up 7.9%, and visa-free foreign entrants were 8.992 million, 77.5% of inbound foreigners, up 24.1%. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The top ten countries of inbound foreign travellers were Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, Mongolia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Australia. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Reasons for the rise in visa-free entries The documents give the figures but no explanation of what drove the 24.1% increase.
- Per-country entry numbers The documents name the top ten countries but give no figures for each country.