Guangdong streamlines exit-entry procedures for visitors

As Shenzhen prepares to host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November, entry and exit procedures for foreign visitors across Guangdong province are being streamlined to ensure faster clearance.

The number of visitors from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies arriving in Guangdong's major cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan and Dongguan, has risen steadily since the start of the year, reflecting deepening ties between APEC economies and the southern innovation and manufacturing hub, officials said.

According to the Shenzhen General Station of Immigration Inspection, as of early August, foreign nationals entering and exiting Guangdong through Shenzhen's border ports had topped 5 million, a figure reached 58 days earlier than in 2025.

Wu Sijue, a senior immigration inspection officer in Shenzhen, said that officers are working to improve port clearance efficiency, upgrade the digital arrival registration system, expand bilingual and multilingual services, and strengthen on-site consultation and passenger guidance.

"We will open dedicated APEC lanes at eight ports, spanning airports, seaports, land ports and railway ports, and roll out tailored guidance and inspection measures to ensure safe, efficient and convenient clearance," Wu added.

The Guangzhou General Station of Immigration Inspection said the demographic profile of the incoming visitors continues to diversify, driven by conventions, exhibitions, cultural tourism and other business activities.

In the first half of the year, foreign nationals entering through ports administered by the station exceeded 2.02 million, up 32.9 percent year-on-year. Conference and business visitors accounted for 26.2 percent of all foreign arrivals, with the China Import and Export Fair, which is also known as the Canton Fair, being a core driver of this growth, it said.

As a cross-border e-commerce hub, Guangzhou also attracts a steady stream of foreign sellers and logistics providers.

As the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting approaches, presummit meetings for senior officials, a CEO summit and thematic working group sessions have brought waves of official delegations, business leaders and think tank experts, creating repeated visitor peaks, inspection officials said.

Visa-exempt foreign arrivals accounted for more than half of all entries at Guangzhou's ports, and most of these were from APEC economies.

The Zhuhai General Station of Immigration Inspection reported that foreign arrivals and departures through the city's ports had reached 1.46 million as of Aug 25. Among these, 310,000 entered under visa-exempt policies or with APEC business travel cards, accounting for more than 20 percent of all foreign arrivals.

Han Yonghui, executive dean of the Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, attributed the sustained growth in APEC-related arrivals to visa facilitation, the momentum of the APEC "China Year", deep trade links with the Asia-Pacific region, expanded international connectivity, and improved urban services for inbound travelers.

"Visa exemptions are the foremost driver," Han said, noting that strong trade, investment and industrial chain ties between Guangdong and APEC economies have created solid demand for recurring business travel, while a high-density air network has cut travel costs.

The policy push is fueling strong interest among foreign visitors.

French traveler Axel Jeremy Tom Beriel, who loves Chinese food, especially Cantonese cuisine, said he wants to see Guangdong's natural beauty, such as the mountains and forests, as well as the scenic landscapes surrounding the province's cities.

"Chinese culture fascinates me too," he said. "There are so many time-honored, magnificent buildings and temples, and I'm eager to travel around and explore them all."

Paul John Tomlins, a British traveler, said the entire customs clearance process was smooth and pleasant, adding that high-speed trains offer convenient transportation, allowing visitors to take in the scenery of different cities on a single trip.