One invitation letter, and you can enter China visa-free?
It sounds unbelievable — but at the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone, it’s real.
Under a groundbreaking policy approved in February 2024, overseas business visitors can enter this special zone without applying for a Chinese visa. All they need to do is complete a filing on the zone’s comprehensive information platform at least 48 hours in advance. After approval, they can travel with a valid passport (or international travel document) and an officially registered invitation letter. Once cleared by immigration authorities, they are allowed to enter the zone directly — visa-free — for up to 30 days if arriving on an international flight.
The zone is designed as a high-efficiency “international reception hall,” focusing on global business negotiations, high-end exhibitions, and professional training services. And it’s already being put to the test.
On January 30, the zone hosted its first major international business event since launch. More than 400 participants from 11 countries — including South Korea, India, and Thailand — gathered there, becoming the first group to experience this innovative entry policy.
To make the process seamless, Shanghai border authorities introduced 24-hour filing reviews, emergency entry arrangements, and flexible stay extension mechanisms. Volunteers guide shuttle vehicles in coordinated time slots, ensuring smooth transfers from airport arrival to zone entry. All participants can use fast-track immigration lanes, and for group travel, passengers on a 20-seat shuttle bus can complete inspection procedures in about one minute.
Many attendees described the experience with the same words: fast and convenient.
What if participants want to leave the zone and travel into downtown Shanghai or other parts of China?
In that case, they must present their valid passport and appropriate visa or entry permit to immigration authorities. Once approved, they can formally enter the rest of the country.
Importantly, Shanghai has also introduced a pre-review filing system for those exiting the zone and entering China proper. Approved participants can continue using fast-track immigration channels. For those who already entered China but still need to move between the zone and domestic areas, invitation records can be converted into travel permit applications with one click — further simplifying paperwork and reducing processing time.
Beyond just hosting meetings, the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone is positioning itself as a strategic springboard. International firms can use the zone as their first landing point — holding negotiations, exhibitions, and training sessions visa-free — before expanding into Shanghai’s broader market and, eventually, other regions across China.
In short, the zone is not just about easier entry. It’s about building a smoother gateway for global business to connect with China.
