Entry to China EVEN HARDER

5 Minute Read

• Starting from November, passengers on flights to China from some countries will be required to take both nucleic acid AND IgM anti-body tests within 48 hours (2 days!) before boarding, according to notices on the websites of Chinese embassies in countries including the US, the UK, Ireland, France, Poland, Spain, Italy and Nepal. 

• It will take into effect from November 6-8, depending on the country you’re in. Please visit the nearest Chinese Embassy's website to confirm the exact date.

Starting from November 6, passengers on direct flights from the US must have both nucleic acid and IgM antibody tests before the flight. Those who test negative can apply for a green health code or a health status declaration from the embassy. Travelers from the US transiting through a third country to China must take the tests in the US and the country of transit and apply for a health code from the Chinese embassy and consulates in the US or in the transit country.

Here's an overview of the requirements:

Items	Requirements
Before	Now
Health Declaration	Certificates of Negative Nucleic Acid Test Results	Certificates of Negative Nucleic Acid + IgM Anti-Body Blood Tests Results
Validity Period	3 days (72 hours)	2 Dyas (48 hours)
Issuance date -  boarding date	Testing date - boarding date
IgM Anti-Body Blood Tests	Not required	Required
Transit passenger	Just need the valid Health Declaration from Chinese Embassy in the departure country	Need valid Health Declaration from the Chinese Embassy in the transit country

The notice advises against passengers from third countries traveling to China via the US as major airports in the US are not equipped with the required tests.

The Chinese embassy in the UK issued a notice that from November 7, passengers departing the country for China should complete nucleic acid and IgM antibody tests within 48 hours before boarding. 

The consulates general in Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast will approve applications for health codes or health status declarations.

The websites of Chinese embassies in France, Italy and some other countries posted similar notices.

  Official statement - Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ireland 

Source: click here

Notice on Airline Boarding Requirements for Certificates of Negative Nucleic Acid and Anti-Body Blood Tests Results

In order to reduce cross-border transmission of Covid-19, starting from November 8th, 2020, all Chinese and foreign passengers who are to fly from Ireland to China will be required to take nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests and then apply for a green health code with the “HS” mark or a certified health declaration form before boarding the flights. The specific requirements as follows:

I. Test Requirements

Passengers going to China via connecting flights must take nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests in Ireland within 48 hours before boarding their flight to the transit country and then take both tests again in the transit country within 48 hours before boarding the flight to China. Passengers must apply at the Chinese Embassies/Consulates in BOTH countries for green health codes with the “HS” mark or certified health declaration forms with certificates of negative results of both tests.

II. Chinese Passengers Applying for Green Health Code with the “HS” Mark

Chinese passengers must upload to the WeChat Health Code app photos of their negative nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests results, which will then be examined and verified by the Chinese Embassies/Consulates. Then they will get the green health code with the “HS” mark. Passengers must present the green code within its validity period to the airlines flying directly to China before boarding.

Please visit https://hr.cs.mfa.gov.cn/help_two/help-two/hs.html for Q & A.

III. Non-Chinese Passengers Applying for Certified Health Declaration Form

Non-Chinese passengers must email the scanned copies of their negative nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests results along with their passport information page and the signed health declaration forms to the Chinese Embassies/Consulates mailbox (email address of Chinese Embassy in Ireland: [e-mail], please visit the website of the Chinese Embassies/Consulates in the transit country for their email addresses). The Chinese Embassies/Consulates will then examine and verify the above information and email the stamped certified health declaration forms back to the passenger. Passengers are advised to print the forms and bring them to the airport. They must present the forms within its validity period to the airlines flying directly to China before boarding.

IV. Reminder

Please read the requirements carefully and follow them accordingly. Failure to obtain the green health code with the “HS” mark or a certified health declaration form with negative nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests results means you will be refused to board the flight to China and will have to change your itinerary.

Please check the transit country’s entry regulations and its nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests requirements beforehand. Failure to enter the transit country or meet the requirements regarding the tests, the green code or certified health declaration form could result in being stranded and heightened infection risks.

Notice - Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America

Source: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/notices/t1828184.htm

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