October 2026
Key Points of the Regulations of the State Council on Exit and Entry Administration (Mainland China)
To regulate exit and entry administration, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of travelers, and uphold national sovereignty, security, and development interests, the State Council, on July 22, 2026, promulgated the Regulations of the State Council on Exit and Entry Administration (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”). Effected on September 15, 2026, the Regulations comprise 19 articles as to the following key aspects:
I. Strengthening Exit and Entry Administration for Chinese Citizens
A. Risk Prevention for the Safety of Chinese Citizens Traveling Abroad
Article 2 of the Regulations expressly stipulates that relevant authorities shall promptly issue public security alerts regarding foreign countries and tourist destinations. Where Chinese citizens intend to travel to countries or regions subject to the highest level of risk, or where cases seriously endangering personal safety occur frequently and unexpectedly, they shall, where necessary, advise them against traveling to those destinations. Additionally, Chinese citizens should pay attention to overseas risk alerts and avoid traveling to or staying in high-risk countries or regions as well.
B. Compliance Measures for Exit and Entry
Articles 3 and 4 of the Regulations clarify that the purposes stated by individual applying for exit, entry, stay or reside in China, shall be truthful and lawful. If false materials are submitted or false statement are made, the competent authorities may refuse to issue the relevant exit-entry document or prohibit the individual from exiting or entering the frontier
Chinese citizens who have been subject to administrative detention for obtaining exit-entry documents through fraud or for illegal exit/entry, engage in illegal or criminal activities abroad endangering national security or interests may, under the circumstances specified in the Regulation, face a ban on exiting the country for a period ranging from six months to three years.
C. Potential Implications for Corporate Executives, Senior Technical Personnel and Others
It is worth noting that Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Regulations stipulates that where a Chinese citizen violates regulations on export controls or the administration of technology import and export in a manner that may endanger national industrial or technological security, relevant authorities may decide to prohibit the individual from exiting the country.
This provision may have certain implications for corporate executives, senior technical personnel and others; if deemed in violation of the aforementioned rules, in addition to facing administrative fines or criminal liability under the Export Control Law or the Regulations on the Administration of Technology Import and Export, the individual may also be subject to measures restricting exit from China. However, the specific implementation and enforcement of the regulations remain subject to further observation of the competent authorities’practicing.
II. Enhancing the Administration of Foreign Nationals’ Exit and Entry
Article 5 of the Regulations specifies that foreign nationals shall, in accordance with law, be prohibited from entering China where they have provided false materials or made false statements when applying for a Chinese visa or seeking entry into China; have been subject to criminal punishment for disrupting frontier administration; or have been subject to administrative penalties for obtaining exit and entry documents by fraud or illegally exiting or entering China.
Furthermore, foreign nationals included in countermeasures lists, the Unreliable Entity List, the Malicious Entity List, or those subject to countermeasures and restrictive measures etc., shall not be issued entry-exit documents or be permitted to enter the country, in accordance with the law. A matter worth considering is whether the personal travel of a foreign national might be affected if their employer is included in the aforementioned lists; the specific application of the Regulations in this regard remains to be seen.
III. Regulating Exit and Entry Intermediary Service Agencies
Another key focus of the Regulations is the regulation of agencies providing intermediary services relating to exit and entry. Articles 7, 8, 10, 12, and 13 of the Regulations establish a filing administration system for agencies and personnel engaged in such intermediary services, clarify the qualifications required for these agencies, outline certain prohibited behaviors, and impose fines ranging from RBM 5,000 to RMB 50,000 depending on the nature of the violation.
I. Strengthening Exit and Entry Administration for Chinese Citizens
A. Risk Prevention for the Safety of Chinese Citizens Traveling Abroad
Article 2 of the Regulations expressly stipulates that relevant authorities shall promptly issue public security alerts regarding foreign countries and tourist destinations. Where Chinese citizens intend to travel to countries or regions subject to the highest level of risk, or where cases seriously endangering personal safety occur frequently and unexpectedly, they shall, where necessary, advise them against traveling to those destinations. Additionally, Chinese citizens should pay attention to overseas risk alerts and avoid traveling to or staying in high-risk countries or regions as well.
B. Compliance Measures for Exit and Entry
Articles 3 and 4 of the Regulations clarify that the purposes stated by individual applying for exit, entry, stay or reside in China, shall be truthful and lawful. If false materials are submitted or false statement are made, the competent authorities may refuse to issue the relevant exit-entry document or prohibit the individual from exiting or entering the frontier
Chinese citizens who have been subject to administrative detention for obtaining exit-entry documents through fraud or for illegal exit/entry, engage in illegal or criminal activities abroad endangering national security or interests may, under the circumstances specified in the Regulation, face a ban on exiting the country for a period ranging from six months to three years.
C. Potential Implications for Corporate Executives, Senior Technical Personnel and Others
It is worth noting that Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Regulations stipulates that where a Chinese citizen violates regulations on export controls or the administration of technology import and export in a manner that may endanger national industrial or technological security, relevant authorities may decide to prohibit the individual from exiting the country.
This provision may have certain implications for corporate executives, senior technical personnel and others; if deemed in violation of the aforementioned rules, in addition to facing administrative fines or criminal liability under the Export Control Law or the Regulations on the Administration of Technology Import and Export, the individual may also be subject to measures restricting exit from China. However, the specific implementation and enforcement of the regulations remain subject to further observation of the competent authorities’practicing.
II. Enhancing the Administration of Foreign Nationals’ Exit and Entry
Article 5 of the Regulations specifies that foreign nationals shall, in accordance with law, be prohibited from entering China where they have provided false materials or made false statements when applying for a Chinese visa or seeking entry into China; have been subject to criminal punishment for disrupting frontier administration; or have been subject to administrative penalties for obtaining exit and entry documents by fraud or illegally exiting or entering China.
Furthermore, foreign nationals included in countermeasures lists, the Unreliable Entity List, the Malicious Entity List, or those subject to countermeasures and restrictive measures etc., shall not be issued entry-exit documents or be permitted to enter the country, in accordance with the law. A matter worth considering is whether the personal travel of a foreign national might be affected if their employer is included in the aforementioned lists; the specific application of the Regulations in this regard remains to be seen.
III. Regulating Exit and Entry Intermediary Service Agencies
Another key focus of the Regulations is the regulation of agencies providing intermediary services relating to exit and entry. Articles 7, 8, 10, 12, and 13 of the Regulations establish a filing administration system for agencies and personnel engaged in such intermediary services, clarify the qualifications required for these agencies, outline certain prohibited behaviors, and impose fines ranging from RBM 5,000 to RMB 50,000 depending on the nature of the violation.
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