China issues rules to strengthen overseas travel, exit-entry management

China issued a new regulation on Friday to strengthen overseas travel risk prevention, clarify requirements for exit-entry applications, tighten restrictions on certain departures and arrivals, and regulate intermediary services.

The regulation, consisting of 19 articles and taking effect on Sept 15, aims to standardize exit-entry management, protect travelers' lawful rights and interests, and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

An official statement said the rules were introduced as China's high-level opening-up advances and new challenges emerge in cross-border travel and exit-entry services.

Under the regulation, foreign affairs and culture and tourism authorities, together with Chinese diplomatic missions overseas, must promptly issue security alerts and travel risk warnings based on wars, armed conflicts, public security conditions, natural disasters, accidents and infectious disease outbreaks.

Immigration authorities must remind citizens applying for travel documents or undergoing border inspections to exercise caution when traveling to high-risk destinations. Those who still need to travel will be advised to monitor local conditions and strengthen safety precautions.

Authorities may, when necessary, discourage travel to destinations under the highest-level warning or where serious threats to personal safety occur frequently.

Applicants for exit documents must provide truthful and lawful grounds for travel and cooperate with identity and purpose verification. Organizations and individuals issuing invitation letters will be responsible for the authenticity of their invitations. Immigration authorities may refuse to issue travel documents or permit departure when false materials or statements are submitted.

People may also be barred from leaving China after being administratively detained for fraudulently obtaining travel documents or illegally crossing borders, committing crimes overseas that harm national security or interests, or violating export control or technology trade rules in ways that may threaten industrial or technological security.

Foreigners applying for Chinese visas, entry, stay or residence must likewise provide truthful information and cooperate with identity and purpose verification. Entry may be denied to those who submit false materials, have been criminally punished for obstructing border administration, or have received administrative penalties for fraudulently obtaining documents or illegally entering or leaving China.

Immigration and visa authorities will also implement entry restrictions on foreign nationals placed on countermeasure lists, unreliable entity lists, malicious entity lists, or otherwise subject to restrictive measures under Chinese law.

The regulation establishes a filing system for exit-entry intermediary services. Agencies providing paid policy consultation, document applications and procedural services must register with local immigration authorities within 15 days of establishment. Existing agencies must complete registration within 90 days after the regulation takes effect.

Such agencies must have qualified staff, suitable premises and adequate funding. Overseas enterprises and organizations are prohibited from directly providing such services in China, while lawfully established foreign-invested and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan-funded entities may operate in accordance with the law.

Intermediaries are prohibited from publishing false information, using exaggerated or misleading publicity, submitting or assisting with false materials, or helping clients improperly obtain visas, residence permits, passports and other documents.

Guo Yongliang, a professor at the China People's Police University, said China recorded more than 697 million exit-entry trips in 2025, a record high. As the composition of travelers, travel scenarios and demands for rights protection continue to evolve, exit-entry authorities face higher expectations for safeguarding people's lawful rights and interests, he said.

Guo said the regulation establishes a coordinated protection mechanism covering the entire journey before, during and after overseas travel. Measures including advance travel risk warnings, more efficient services and clearer channels for seeking remedies extend State protection throughout cross-border travel and give citizens greater confidence in their safety abroad.