In a recent press conference held on April 18, the National Immigration Administration unveiled a striking uptick in the number of foreign nationals entering the country, debunking myths of a dwindling foreign presence in the country. With a whopping 305.2 percent increase in the first quarter of 2024 alone, foreign residents, tourists, and business travelers are evidently finding China – and particularly hubs like Shanghai – more welcoming than ever.

A surge in foreigners entering China in Q1 of 2024

The total entries of foreigners reached an impressive 13.07 million, signaling not just a rebound but a significant surge from previous years. This growth coincides with China's move to streamline and enhance immigration policies, which now include more generous visa exemptions and simplified procedures for visitors, particularly in cosmopolitan areas like Shanghai. As of this writing, we're up to 16 new countries added to a growing list of visa-free agreements with China contributing to a surge in tourist and short term business traffic alone.

Visa's to foreigners jump by over 100 percent in Q1

In the first quarter of 2024, there was an astounding 118.8 percent increase in visas issued to foreigners, totaling 466,000. As China's international hub, Shanghai is likely where a large portion of these expats are ending up. This increase highlights China's aggressive measures to attract global talents and visitors, part of broader efforts to foster an open, multicultural environment. While the number of visa issuances includes all visa types (including tourist visas), the overall net positive is a step in the right direction toward seeing an larger foreign presence in Shanghai, including an expanding expat community.

Adding to the allure for global citizens, the Bureau has introduced five new measures aimed at making China an easier place to work and live. These include expansions in visa-free entry for certain nationalities into regions like Hainan Province, and improved services for expats, boosting the country's appeal as an international business and cultural hub. As details are released on each of these new policy measures, we'll write about them.

China has an immigration hotline in English

Initiatives to improve the experience of coming to China have paid off. The Immigration hotline 12367 service platform, boasts a 99.2 percent satisfaction rate among users, and... even has services in English (just press 2).

For those who have been waiting, and hoping to see things turn around, these are some very encouraging numbers to see. 2024, might just be the beginning of an exciting new era for Shanghai.