The ninth China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10, 2026. Overseas exhibitors, buyers, and other participants should check the entry requirements applicable to their circumstances, taking into account their nationality, purpose of visit, itinerary, and visa status.

Shanghai has introduced new measures to facilitate entry for overseas CIIE participants. These include on-site port visa applications for eligible foreign nationals in the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone who hold a CIIE invitation letter, and fully online port visa applications for foreign exhibitors and buyers invited by enterprises and public institutions in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces.

1. Eastern Hub IBCZ: entry with a filed invitation

For eligible overseas visitors, domestic inviting organizations must submit the required filing in advance through the cooperation zone’s comprehensive information management service platform. The inviting organization must generally complete the filing 48 hours before the visitor's arrival. If urgent circumstances prevent advance filing and the visitor has already arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the visitor or inviting organization may complete the filing on site. Overseas visitors must present their passport or other travel documents and a valid filed invitation, then enter the zone after verification and approval by the immigration authorities.

Stays in the zone are generally limited to 30 days, counted from midnight on the day after entry. If an extension is needed, the overseas visitor or inviting organization must submit the required materials at least 24 hours before the permitted stay expires. Total extensions may not exceed 30 days.

Special note: entry into the Eastern Hub IBCZ with a filed invitation does not authorize entry into other areas of Shanghai or other parts of the Chinese mainland. To leave the zone for other areas, a person must present a passport or other travel document and any required visa or other entry permit to the immigration authorities, complete the required procedures, and obtain immigration clearance.

2. Port visa service at the Eastern Hub: what if entry beyond the zone is required?

Foreign nationals who plan to proceed to other areas of Shanghai or other parts of the Chinese mainland after completing activities in the zone may consult the entry and exit service window in the zone. Those eligible for visa-free entry may enter under the applicable policy, and those eligible for a port visa or temporary entry procedures may apply to the immigration authorities. All applications are subject to review and approval by the competent authorities.

Shanghai public security authorities have established four standardized port visa windows at the Eastern Hub, offering round-the-clock service. In a January 2026 official release, the Shanghai municipal government said that eligible foreign nationals in the zone who need to enter China for business negotiations, contract signing, or on-site inspections may apply for a port visa on the spot. If eligible, inviting organizations in the zone may also submit electronic port visa applications through Shanghai's online government services platform.

For the ninth CIIE, a new arrangement has been introduced to connect the Eastern Hub directly with the expo. Eligible foreign nationals in the zone who hold a CIIE invitation letter may apply for a port visa on site to enter China for the exhibition and related activities.

3. Foreign exhibitors and buyers invited by organizations in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui: port visas handled entirely online

The ninth CIIE has expanded its fully online port visa service to cover foreign exhibitors and buyers invited by enterprises and public institutions in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces.

Under measures announced on Oct 30, 2026, eligible foreign exhibitors and buyers invited to the expo by organizations in the three provinces can apply for port visas entirely online, streamlining the entry process.

Sources: National Immigration Administration, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services