China unveiled on Monday a new package of measures to make tax refunds easier for foreign visitors, as Beijing seeks to stimulate inbound consumption and support the recovery of international travel.

The policy, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and five other government bodies, including the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration, outlines eight steps aimed at improving the country's departure tax refund system for overseas travelers.

The measures upgrade an earlier policy released in 2025 and are designed to make the process "more convenient, faster and easier" for foreign shoppers, according to an official notice.

A key component of the plan is expanding the number of tax refund stores. Authorities will encourage more eligible retailers to register as tax refund outlets and optimize their geographic distribution, particularly in areas with high concentrations of international visitors such as major shopping districts, tourist attractions, markets and ports of entry.

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Local governments are also encouraged to ensure that tax refund services are widely available in key commercial zones and travel destinations.

Starting from July 1, China will introduce a random inspection system for smaller refund claims. Refund applications involving purchases of less than 10,000 yuan ($1,380) will be subject to spot checks rather than mandatory physical inspection of goods, while applications at or above that threshold will continue to require full verification.

Officials say the change is intended to speed up processing for most travelers while maintaining regulatory oversight.

The notice also calls for improvements to the country's "buy-and-refund-immediately" scheme, which allows foreign visitors to receive tax refunds directly at participating stores instead of waiting until departure. Under the new policy, authorities will promote cross-regional recognition of the service so that tourists who receive instant refunds at the point of purchase can complete final verification at a different departure port.

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In addition, the time limit for completing departure procedures under the instant refund program will be standardized nationwide at 28 days.

China will also push forward paperless processing for tax refunds. From July 1, customs authorities and tax refund agencies will be allowed to verify refund application forms and sales invoices online, enabling the entire refund procedure to be handled digitally.

Officials also plan to set up dedicated tax refund service areas at major trade exhibitions, including the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair and the China International Consumer Products Expo, to facilitate purchases and refund services for overseas buyers attending the events.

Beyond procedural changes, the policy also aims to improve the overall consumption environment for international visitors. Cities designated as international consumption hubs or pilot zones for globalized retail environments are encouraged to expand tax refund services, improve payment convenience and build globally competitive shopping districts.

Authorities also pledged to promote additional international passenger flights to make travel to China easier for overseas visitors.

The policy comes as China steps up efforts to revive inbound tourism and cross-border consumption, while positioning retail spending by international travelers as a new source of growth for the country's consumer economy.

Government agencies will also strengthen overseas promotion of China's tax refund policies as part of a broader campaign to build the "Shopping in China" brand and attract more international shoppers, the notice said.