A duty-free store at Sanya Phoenix International Airport. (Source: Sanya Phoenix International Airport)

International visitors to Hainan can now get tax refunds on their shopping purchases more easily than ever.

At the international departures hall of Sanya Phoenix International Airport, customs officers can retrieve a traveler's tax refund information simply by scanning a QR code. For some applications, physical inspection of the purchased goods is no longer required, allowing customs clearance to be completed in under a minute.

The streamlined process reflects Hainan's ongoing efforts to improve the shopping experience for international visitors.

A new policy jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs and four other government departments took effect on July 1, 2026, introducing measures to further streamline departure tax refunds and boost inbound consumption. Data released by Haikou Customs on October 10, marking 100 days since the policy took effect, showed that from July 1 to October 8, customs authorities in Hainan processed 24,000 departure tax refund verification applications, covering more than CNY 30 million in eligible purchases.

The new measures streamline the departure tax refund process by replacing paper documents with digital processing and individual inspections with spot checks for lower-value purchases. The fully paperless system allows customs officers to verify information online by scanning travelers' tax refund QR codes, enabling data sharing and end-to-end traceability.

For tax refund applications on purchases under CNY 10,000, Hainan has introduced a spot-check system, enabling most travelers with lower value claims to complete departure procedures more quickly.

The improvements also extend to the final stage of a visitor's trip. International visitors who shop at designated tax refund stores anywhere in China can verify their departure tax refund at ports in Hainan. The permitted departure window, during which purchases can be made and have tax claimed back from, has also been extended to 28 days.

These changes make Hainan not just a shopping destination, but also a convenient transit hub for international visitors traveling around China. With more time to explore different cities, travelers can enjoy more flexible, relaxed trips that combine shopping, leisure, and business.