Industry update
National Immigration Administration reports record cross-border travel in the first half of 2026
The National Immigration Administration said on July 13 that China handled 369 million inbound and outbound crossings in the first half of 2026, including 45.91 million by foreign nationals and 22.91 million inbound trips by foreign travelers, underscoring stronger access conditions for cross-border planning.
At a July 10 press conference, the National Immigration Administration released first-half 2026 border data, later published on its official English portal on July 13. The agency said China handled 369 million inbound and outbound crossings, with crossings by foreign nationals up 20.6 percent year on year.
The same release says inbound trips by foreign nationals reached 22.91 million, while visa-free entries by foreigners totaled 17.82 million and accounted for 77.7 percent of all foreign entries. For PatientChina readers, those figures matter as a broad access indicator when comparing timing, route flexibility, and the practical feasibility of short consultations or longer recovery-oriented stays.
These national statistics describe travel volume, not personal eligibility. Patients should still confirm whether their nationality, route, ticket structure, and planned length of stay fit the latest entry rules before committing to appointments, payment plans, or post-arrival medical scheduling.