Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 14 entries shown

Country All countriesAQAntarcticaAUAustraliaBRBrazilCACanadaCNChina (Mainland)EGEgyptFRFranceDEGermanyHKHong KongIEIrelandITItalyJPJapanMXMexicoMAMoroccoNLNetherlandsNZNew ZealandPTPortugalSGSingaporeZASouth AfricaKRSouth KoreaESSpainAEUnited Arab EmiratesGBUnited KingdomUSUnited States
Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 4 Nov 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Visa-free entry ports expanded to 65

Five new entry ports were added to the visa-free transit programme on 4 November 2025 — including Guangzhou, Zhuhai's Hengqin, Zhongshan, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and the West Kowloon Station — taking the total to 65 ports across 24 provinces. Materially improves cross-border accessibility from Hong Kong to Mainland China.

Who it affects: Travellers entering China at newly-added ports.

National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · State Council of the People's Republic of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 12 Jun 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Indonesia added to 240-hour visa-free transit; total reaches 55 countries

Indonesia was added to the 240-hour visa-free transit policy on 12 June 2025, bringing the total list to 55 countries. Reflects continuing post-pandemic opening and strategic engagement with major partner states.

Who it affects: Indonesian travellers transiting China.

National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (China) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 17 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

240-hour visa-free transit policy launched (extended from 72/144 hours)

On 17 December 2024, the National Immigration Administration extended the visa-free transit policy from 72/144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). 21 new entry/exit ports were added (taking the total to 60); coverage expanded to 24 provinces (added Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guizhou). Travellers must hold confirmed interline tickets to a third country.

Who it affects: Citizens of 55 eligible countries transiting through China for tourism / business / family visits.

National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (China) ↗ · State Council of the People's Republic of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Foreign-student post-study work residence permit pilot launched

A pilot programme launched in select cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen) from December 2024 to allow foreign graduates of Chinese universities to apply for a post-study residence permit (1-year duration) without requiring a Z visa Notification at the time of application. Material softening of the historic constraint that foreign students could not transition directly to employment without leaving the country.

Who it affects: Non-Chinese graduates of Mainland Chinese universities seeking employment in China.

National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · State Council of the People's Republic of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 30 Nov 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Unilateral 30-day visa-free entry extended to 30+ countries

A parallel programme of unilateral visa-free entry (30 days for tourism, business, family visit, transit) was progressively extended through 2024–2025 to over 30 countries — including most EU member states, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK, Brazil, and several others. Distinct from the 240-hour transit policy: no onward-ticket requirement.

Who it affects: Tourists, business visitors, and short-term-stay foreign nationals from designated countries.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (China) ↗ · National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Healthcare

Public Universal Health Insurance enrolment for long-term foreign residents clarified

NIA and the National Healthcare Security Administration clarified in September 2024 that long-term foreign residents (Z visa holders with 6+ months of consecutive employment) are eligible for and may be required to enrol in the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance scheme — depending on the locality. Implementation varies materially across cities; Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have stricter enforcement than secondary cities.

Who it affects: Long-term foreign residents on Z visa or work-permit holders.

State Council of the People's Republic of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Aug 2024
In force Visa & immigration

ASEAN-China expanded visa-free arrangements progressed

Bilateral visa-free arrangements with ASEAN member states were progressively expanded through 2024 — most prominently mutual permanent visa-free entry with Thailand (effective 1 March 2024), Singapore (effective 9 February 2024), and Malaysia (effective 1 December 2023). Part of the broader regional opening following the post-pandemic restoration of travel volumes.

Who it affects: Travellers from designated ASEAN countries (Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (China) ↗ · National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Foreign Worker Class A/B/C points system refined

The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs refined the Class A/B/C points-based foreign-worker classification in mid-2024 — slightly expanded eligibility for Class A (highest tier, R visa), broader inclusion of digital-economy and AI roles in Class B, and updated salary multipliers for points calculation. Material for foreign professionals at the borderline of upgraded classification.

Who it affects: Foreign professionals seeking Z / R visa classification.

State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jun 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Shenzhen Qianhai foreign-talent fast-track expanded

The Shenzhen Qianhai pilot free-trade zone expanded its foreign-talent fast-track programme in 2024 — 5-year work permits for designated industries, simplified residence-permit conversion, and dedicated immigration-office processing windows. Part of the broader Greater Bay Area integration strategy with Hong Kong and Macau.

Who it affects: Foreign professionals in tech, financial services, and biotech roles based in Qianhai pilot zone.

State Council of the People's Republic of China ↗ · State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Foreign Worker's Work Permit fully digitalised

The Foreign Worker's Work Permit system migrated to a fully digital workflow from April 2024 (in development through 2023) — applications, supporting documents, and the resulting Notification all handled via the integrated SAFEA platform. Material reduction in administrative friction; physical document submission largely eliminated for most application types.

Who it affects: Foreign workers and Chinese employers using the work-permit framework.

State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs ↗ · National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Taxation

CIPS expansion and RMB-payment internationalisation continued

The Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) was further expanded through 2024–2025, with new participating banks across the BRI corridor and continued growth of RMB cross-border settlement volumes. Practical relevance for foreign workers: easier outbound remittance of RMB salaries through expanded correspondent-bank coverage, though SAFE's annual US$50,000-per-individual currency-conversion cap remains in force.

Who it affects: Foreign workers receiving RMB-denominated salaries; international remittance flows.

State Council of the People's Republic of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Visa & immigration

APEC Business Travel Card programme continued for eligible nationals

China continues to participate in the APEC Business Travel Card scheme — providing multi-entry visa-free short-stay access for verified senior business travellers from participating APEC economies (Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, USA, etc.). 5-year card validity; up to 60 days per visit.

Who it affects: Senior business travellers from participating APEC economies.

National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Taxation

Individual Income Tax thresholds and special-additional-deduction parameters updated

The State Administration of Taxation maintained the 5,000 RMB/month basic deduction (60,000 RMB/year) and the schedule of special additional deductions (housing, education, parents, mortgage interest), with annual adjustments to certain rates. Foreign workers exceeding 183 days per year are taxable on worldwide income unless qualifying for the 6-year non-domiciled-resident grace period.

Who it affects: All Chinese tax residents — including foreign workers exceeding the 183-day-per-year threshold.

State Administration of Taxation ↗ · State Council of the People's Republic of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Residency

Permanent Residence pathway broadened (2020 reform continued)

The 2020 PR reform — broadening eligibility for senior-employment-track applicants and family-reunion cases — has been steadily implemented through 2023–2025 with refined documentation guidance and pilot fast-track lanes for specified categories. PR issuance volumes remain very low globally; the structural selectivity has not changed despite the eligibility broadening.

Who it affects: Long-term Z visa holders considering PR application; family reunification cases.

National Immigration Administration of China ↗ · State Council of the People's Republic of China ↗ · verified 2026-04-19