The National Immigration Administration (NIA) held a press conference on January 14 to release the main statistics regarding the immigration management of China in 2024.

In 2024, the immigration management authorities in China inspected 610 million exit-entry travelers in total, marking a rise of 43.9% compared with the previous year. Specifically, 291 million were made by the residents of the Chinese mainland, 254 million were made by the residents of Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and the Taiwan region, and 64.882 million were made by foreign nationals, reflecting respectively year-on-year increases of 41.3%, 38.8% and 82.9%. A total of 32.566 million trips were made by vehicles of transportation (planes, trains, ships, and cars) throughout the year, marking a year-on-year growth of 38.8%. Specifically, 879,000 were made by flights, 101,000 were made by trains, 437,000 were made by ships, and 31.149 million were made by motor vehicles, reflecting year-on-year increases of 62.6%, 11%, 8.2% and 38.9% respectively. NIA's government service platform provided inquiry and other governmental services to Chinese and foreign exit-entry personnel a total of 130 million times. Additionally, China Immigration Service Hotline 12367 received 7.0841 million calls from Chinese and foreign citizens seeking advice, making suggestions, providing feedback, etc., achieving an average satisfaction rate of 99.36%. Governmental services related to immigration management became more convenience-oriented and border inspection and exit-entry procedures were further streamlined in the last year.

Gongbei Immigration Inspection Station of Zhuhai General Station of Immigration Inspection experienced a surge in the number of exit-entry travelers on August 3, 2024.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport was filled with travelers entering and exiting the Chinese mainland on December 25, 2024.

In 2024, NIA focused on facilitating a higher level of opening-up and continuously advanced immigration management reforms and policy and institutional innovation. As part of its active contributions to the exchanges and interactions between Chinese and foreign citizens, efforts were made to refine policies concerning, such as, port visas, visa-free transit, and regional visa-free entry. The "document-free" channels were opened on a trial basis. Throughout the last year, the number of visas and other exit-entry documents issued to foreigners reached 2.597 million, marking a 52.3% increase from the previous year. Notably, 1.476 million of these documents were port visas, indicating an 87.3% year-on-year growth. Additionally, NIA facilitated the submission of 72,000 applications from foreign nationals seeking visa extension, replacement, and reissuance near their residences in China, resulting in a steady growth in the number of foreign nationals entering China. The total number of the visa-free trips made by foreign nationals through ports across the country reached 20.115 million, marking a 112.3% year-on-year increase. Notably, the number of travelers eligible for the visa-free transit policy increased by 113.5% compared with the previous year. Following the optimization of this policy, there was a monthly increase of 29.5% in the number of eligible travelers arriving in China.

The "document-free" channels were opened at Shenzhen Bay and Gongbei ports on November 20, 2024.

China's visa-free transit policy was fully optimized on December 17, 2024. The visa-free stay period for foreign nationals under this upgraded policy was extended from 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). Besides, 21 additional ports were designated as exit-entry ports for visa-free transit travelers, offering more travel options in China.

Adhering to the principle of enhancing the efficiency of the one-stop services, a pilot project was launched in 20 cities including Beijing to support the replacement and reissuance of ordinary passports, Exit-Entry Permits for Traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and Exit-Entry Permits for Traveling to and from Taiwan online for residents of the Chinese mainland, exempting the need for in-person visits to service locations during the application processes. In 2024, a total of 23.319 million ordinary passports and 94.514 million endorsements for traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macao SARs and the Taiwan region were issued to the residents of the Chinese mainland, representing respective year-on-year increases of 26.5% and 9.8%.

Efforts were also made last year to support the better integration of Hong Kong and Macao SARs into the broader national development framework of China and facilitate the integrated cross-Strait development. A total of 10 immigration policies and measures were implemented to assist Fujian Province in establishing a demonstration zone for the integrated cross-Strait development. Regarding the two SARs, additional locations have been designated for issuing the endorsements for talent traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macao SARs, with the innovative services introduced for the "smart processing" of the applications for business endorsements for entering Macao SAR "at the nearest service locations". A total of 10 additional cities have been designated for issuing individual travel endorsements to Hong Kong and Macao SARs. In addition, policies to facilitate entry into the Chinese mainland for non-Chinese permanent residents of the two SARs were introduced. In 2024, the number of the Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents and Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan Residents reached 2.578 million. Notably, after the implementation of the policies of the "multiple entry" and "one entry per week" travel endorsements, which were introduced for traveling to Hong Kong and Macao SARs, in Guangdong Province's Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, since February 1, 2024, a total of 299,000 "multiple entry" travel endorsements have been issued for traveling to Hong Kong SAR, and Shenzhen's residents have made 1.04 million visits to Hong Kong SAR, up 22.3% year-on-year. From January 1, 2025, the number of the "one entry per week" travel endorsements issued for traveling to Macao SAR reached 59,000, along with over 6,000 "multiple entry" travel endorsements allowing visits to Macao SAR. In total, a total of 257,000 visits were made by Zhuhai's residents to Macao, marking a year-on-year increase of 26.1%. The number of tourists traveling to Hong Kong and Macao SARs surged, while the number of the two-way trips by the residents of the Chinese mainland and the two SARs continuously rose. 

The policies of "multiple entry" and "one entry per week" travel endorsements for traveling to Hong Kong and Macao SARs have been gradually implemented in Guangdong Province's Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin since December 1, 2024.

In 2024, the immigration management authorities across China carried on with the 2024 "Menglie" operation to crack down on crimes disrupting border management and continued strengthening the management of foreign nationals who illegally entered, resided, or/and worked in China. The immigration management authorities aim to firmly secure the safety and stability of the borders and unwaveringly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and developmental interests. In 2024, more than 35,000 criminal cases disrupting border management were investigated, resulting in the arrest of over 79,000 suspects. Additionally, 906 criminal organizations were dismantled. Among these cases, 328 were classified as major and serious ones that were designated to be handled within specific times. A total of 518 wanted people smugglers were apprehended. The immigration management authorities took decisive actions against illegal activities involving firearms, explosives, drug trafficking, and smuggling in border regions. A total of 494 drug-related cases have been dealt with, involving a total of 653 individuals and leading to the seizure of 7.8 tons of various drugs. The drug quantities involved in 105 cases exceeded 10,000 grams each. Additionally, over 2,000 firearms and more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition were confiscated. 

The immigration management police force of the Border Control Branch of Baoshan in Yunnan Province uncovered a particularly serious case of alcohol smuggling on February 27, 2024.

The Mounted Police Team of Inner Mongolia General Station of Immigration Inspection used drones for border patrols to assist in preventing and combating crimes disrupting border management.

In 2024, one unit and three individuals from the immigration management authorities in China were commended by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Furthermore, over 80 units and more than 240 individuals received commendations at or above the provincial-ministerial level or at least second-class merit awards. Throughout the year, 15 police officers and auxiliary police officers gave their lives in the line of duty and 66 were injured on duty, highlighting the solemn commitment of the police force to protect the public at personal sacrifice.