China Relocation Index

How China scores

Infrastructure and day-to-day services are generally reliable | Formal pathways exist for work-related visas and residence permits

• Peace and conflict safety64
• Immigrant safety35
• Visa accessibility21
• Residence permit realism16
• Labor market access35
• Healthcare60
• Civil rights30
• Discrimination safety45
• Status security21
• Infrastructure reliability75
• Cost of living sustainability60

Recent news impact

In the past month, China issued both a new exit/entry administration regulation (effective 2026-09-15) and several operational border/travel-related announcements. Overall, the regulatory update is likely neutral-to-slightly stabilizing, while the Tibet electronic border-permit suspension following a serious border-area incident introduces short-term disruption and uncertainty for cross-border movements in that area.

• Residence Policy Change

  A State Council regulation on exit and entry administration was issued, with implementation starting 2026-09-15, updating processing and management mechanisms for authorities.

• Border Restriction

  China’s immigration authority suspended issuance of electronic border-management area permits for Shigatse/Gyirong in Tibet from 2026-08-28, citing a landslide/mudslide incident on the Nepal side and the need to maintain order and support rescue work.

• Border Opening

  NIA expanded visa-free options for specific nationalities: 240-hour visa-free transit and a 30-day visa-free entry policy for Hainan, effective 2026-08-20 for Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.

Sources

• China Travel Advisory (detention and national security enforcement risks)U.S. Department of State
• Laws and Regulations: National Immigration Administration (Exit and Entry Administration Law)National Immigration Administration of China
• Entry-Exit and Stay (Residence) of Foreigners (residence permit processing and conditions)National Immigration Administration of China
• Rules for the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China (work requires permits and residence certificate)State Council of the People's Republic of China (English portal)
• World Report 2026: China (human rights and security enforcement context)Human Rights Watch
• Rule of Law - Governance score (WGI indicator page for China)World Bank (Worldwide Governance Indicators)
• China Investment Climate Statements 2024 (rule enforcement and legal uncertainty for foreigners)U.S. Department of State
• 国務院关于出境入境管理的规定（自2026年9月15日起施行）The State Council of the PRC (gov.cn)