China Travel Restrictions & Travel Advisory (Updated March/2022)
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China travel restrictions and bans continue to be lifted or increased as the domestic and foreign pandemic situation changes. Currently, foreign nationals may enter China for work or emergency humanitarian needs. Optimistically, China may open its borders in mid-2022.1.
China's Current Entry Policy
Who Can Go to China
China still maintains strict entry restrictions. Inbound tourism to China is still not feasible. Now there are three ways for foreigners to enter China:
Holding a valid Chinese residence permit for work, personal matters, or reunion
Holding a diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visa
Applying for a new China visa (the previous visa will not be cancelled) — only visas for work or emergency humanitarian needs, such as visiting a seriously ill family member, are possible.
Here is a simple flowchart showing how to enter China with the current COVID measures in play [Dec. 2021]. It is for reference only. For more detail, please see our page content.
Note: The second method "apply a new visa with a China
vaccine certificate" is temporarily unavailable to some countries, such
as Germany.
Q&A
FAQs about Traveling to China
1. If I hold a (long-term) L, 10-year, Q, or X visa, can I enter China now?
No. Those holding certain visas (L, 10-year, Q, or X visas) issued before March 28th, 2020 may not enter China (even if vaccinated).
2. My family members (wife/husband, fiancée/fiancé...) are Chinese citizens and now in China. Can I enter China to visit them?
Probably not. Family visits to China are still impracticable if you don't have a residence permit for reunion. However, now, if you have been fully inoculated with a Chinese vaccine, there is a new avenue to apply for a reunion visa to go to China.
3. Can international students return to China yet?
No. International students cannot return to China yet. There is no official news yet on when China will open its borders for international students.
4. Can I travel to China from the USA/UK?
Yes, you can come to China as long as you meet one of the above three requirements.
5. I am from the USA/UK, and I have already been inoculated with a Chinese vaccine and hold a valid residence permit. I need to go back to the USA/UK and return to China. Is that ok?
Normally yes. But we strongly suggest double checking with the Chinese embassy of the country you are returning to. You are required to quarantine when you return to China.
Policies change quickly. Please double check with the Chinese consulate/visa center to ensure your trip.
Hong Kong / Macau Travel Restrictions
Hong Kong / Macau cannot be used to transit into Chinese Mainland.
Who can enter Hong Kong?
Hong Kong residents
Non-HKRs who now reside in the Mainland or Macau
Non-Hong-Kong-residents now residing in high/medium risks areas such as the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Thailand, India, and Italy cannot enter in Hong Kong.
Can foreign nationals in Hong Kong enter Chinese Mainland?
Yes, but only those who are returning to work or who are in humanitarian need can apply for a visa to enter Chinese Mainland. See below for application requirements.
Quarantine is required whether you are coming from Hong Kong to Chinese Mainland or vice versa.
Who can enter Macau?
Macau residents
Residents of Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
Foreigners who have been in Chinese Mainland for all of the 21 days prior to their entry into Macau for the purpose of family reunification, work, study, important business events, or academic/professional activities
Non-Macau-residents now residing in the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Thailand, India, Italy, etc. may not enter Macau.
Can foreign nationals in Macau enter Chinese Mainland?
Yes, foreigners in Macau can enter Chinese Mainland by applying for a visa for business, work, travel, a family visit, etc. Applicants must have been in Macau for at least 28 days prior to departure or have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China. Quarantine is required.
China Visa Restrictions
Any new visa may only be valid for a month or 3 months. Upon arrival, it may only have a 30-day validity, during which time you need to apply for a residence permit.
The information we list below is for reference only. Because visa application requirements may change quickly and vary. As a travel agent, we only operate sightseeing tours in China. As for detailed visa information and application service, please contact your consulate/embassy/VAC.
You may apply for a new visa (your current visa will not be canceled) at your nearest Chinese consulate/embassy/VAC (Visa Application Center) to enter China for the following purposes:
1. For Work (Z Visa)
Applying for a work visa is by far the most popular way to come to
China (currently). Dependents (spouse and children under the age of 18)
may come on the same visa.
If you meet one of the following application requirements, you can apply for a Z visa:
An "Invitation Letter (PU)"+ a "Foreigners Work Permit" (both are handled by your company/organization in China) + a WHO-approved vaccination certificate
Or vaccination certificate for inoculation with a COVID-19 vaccine produced in China + "Foreigners Work Permit"
A PU letter is an invitation letter issued by the China Foreign
Affairs Office to successful companies who contact the district foreign
affairs officer, submit the application materials, and wait for the
approval.
You will need to complete all doses of your vaccine. Booster shot is not needed yet.
Some WHO-approved vaccines include:
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (2 doses)
Moderna (mRNA-1273) COVID-19 Vaccine (2 doses)
J&J COVID-19 vaccine (1 doses)
Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (2 doses)
Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine (2 doses)
Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine (2 doses)
2. For Family Reunion (S Visa)
This applies to family members of foreigners (working in Shanghai).
To apply for an S visa, you will need:
An "Invitation Letter (PU)" (your family member's) + relationship certification + WHO-approved vaccination certificate
3. For Business (M Visa)
If you meet one of the following application requirements, you can apply for an M visa:
An "Invitation Letter (PU)" (to be handled by your business partner) + WHO-approved vaccination certificate
Or vaccination certificate for inoculation with a COVID-19 vaccine produced in China + valid APEC business travel card.
4. For a Family Visit (Q Visa)
This applies to foreigners who have Chinese family members.
If you meet one of the following application requirements, you can apply for a Q visa:
For emergency humanitarian needs including death in the family (inside China) or family member in critical hospital/palliative care.
Or Chinese vaccine certificate + relationship certificate
What Are the Restrictions in 2022?
1. If you are fully vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine (e.g. Sinovac's and SinoPharm's):
You must take a first PCR test at your flight departure city 7 days before boarding. For example, if your departure date is January 10, you should do the first test on January 3.
Starting from the date of the first nucleic acid test, you must remain in your departure city and monitor your health for 7 days, and fill out a Personal Health Monitoring Form.
Within 48 hours before departure, take a second and third PCR test, each at one of two testing agencies* in the departure city. For example, if your flight departs on January 10 at 10:00, you can do the tests on January 8 after 10:00 or January 9 (before 13:00), but not on January 10 as you need the results (6+ hours usually) and HDF/HDC before check in.
Submit your three negative PCR test certificates, Personal Health Monitoring Form, "Letter of Commitment on COVID-19 Vaccination" (a first two vaccine doses form), and other information on the China Health Declaration Certificate website. (https://hrhk.cs.mfa.gov.cn/H5/).
If confirmed, you will get a Health Declaration Code (HDC) from the website, normally within 12 hours.
2. If you are fully vaccinated with non-inactivated vaccines (e.g. Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J), or partially vaccinated, or unvaccinated:
You must take a first PCR test at your flight departure city 7 days before boarding. For example, if your departure date is January 10, you should do the first test on January 3.
Starting from the date of the first nucleic acid test, you must remain in your departure city and monitor your health for 7 days, and fill out a Personal Health Monitoring Form.
Within 48 hours before departure, take a second PCR test and an N and S protein IgM test at a designated facility in the departure city. For example, if your flight departs on January 10 at 10:00, you can do the tests on January 8 after 10:00 or January 9 (before 13:00), but not on January 10 as you need the results (6+ hours usually) and HDF/HDC before check in.
Submit all your test reports, Personal Health Monitoring Form, "Letter of Commitment on COVID-19 Vaccination" (vaccination details form, only needed if vaccinated), and other information on the China Health Declaration Certificate website. (https://hrhk.cs.mfa.gov.cn/H5/)
If confirmed, you will get a Health Health Declaration Code (HDC) from the website, normally within 12 hours.
* Some countries, such as the United States, require two PCR tests to be conducted at different designated facilities, while the United Kingdom allows two PCR tests to be taken in two clinics separately or in one clinic. If the two PCR tests are taken in one clinic, two samples must be collected and the two samples must be sent to two different laboratories.Each country will have slightly different requirements. Please check the website of your local embassy or call to inquire.
4 Steps to Enter China:
1. Make sure you have permission to enter China (valid permit, visa, or ID card).
2. Book a direct flight to China if there are direct flights from
your country to China. If not, you can choose a connecting flight. But
please make sure that the transit airport has facilities for nucleic
acid testing.
3. Do the personal health monitoring and the required medical tests
and upload the form, test results, and other information to get a health
code for boarding. Under normal circumstances, the consulate will
complete test report verification and issue a health code within 12
hours.
4. Board the plane. Prepare your ID card or passport with permit/visa, health code, hard copies of negative nucleic acid test results, and certificate of vaccination if you are vaccinated. (While it's not mandatory to get vaccinated, it may make the process easier.)
China Quarantine Rules
Passengers (whether vaccinated or not) are required to quarantine at a designated site. The length of quarantine depends on different cities' policies. These measures will change from time to time, depending on the local pandemic situation.
Centralized quarantine means staying at in a designated hotel and not going out.
Home quarantine means staying at home and not going out.
Community health monitoring means you can go out to work and other essential activities, but not to join in parties and other group activities.
What if the City I Enter Is Not My Final Destination?
Passengers are required to be quarantined in their entry city. Generally, you can head to your final destination after a 14-day centralized quarantine (if your quarantine test results are normal) at your first city of entry.
Usually, you wouldn't need to do a 14-day quarantine again when you arrive at your final destination, but a 7-day home quarantine or 7-day health monitoring may be required. Every city has slightly different requirements.
Here is an example. If you land in Shanghai and your final destination is Chengdu, you will first do a 14-day centralized quarantine in Shanghai. After that, you can head to Chengdu. When arriving in Chengdu, you need to report to the community where you live. The community staff will tell you what to do next, usually a 7-day home quarantine or a 7-day health monitoring.
Quarantine Tips:
The expenses during the quarantine period are normally about CN¥400–600 (for board and lodging) per day in the hotel, which you must pay.
Quarantine hotels are assigned by the government. In general, you can't choose from among the designated quarantine hotels.
Normally, each person stays in a single room. Children under the age of 14 can be quarantined with a parent.
International Flights to China
Requirements for international flights to China:
A direct flight is required if your country (such as the USA) has direct flights to China.
You may find that some international flights to China with a short stop in Seoul (a refueling stop) are still considered direct flights.
A one-stop flight is required for those countries who have no direct flight to China. The transfer route should follow the designated route stipulated by the airline and the embassy.
Multiple-transit flights are not feasible due to testing requirements, etc.
Flights from the USA to China
Detailed Requirements:
At present, Health Codes are only issues for travelers using direct flights from the United States to China
The first NAT (e.g. PCR) test should be done 7 days prior to departure.
7 days of self health monitoring records are required after the first test.
The second NAT test should be done 48 hours before departure.
The 2 tests should be done at 2 different designated sites.
Due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, flights may be cancelled, even if they are paid for.
Flights from Italy to China
Before boarding your flight, please make sure you have:
A NAT (e.g. PCR) test 7 days prior to departure at a designated site
Self health monitoring for 7 days that is recorded from the first test
2 negative test reports (NAT + serum protein) tested 2 days before departure
A Health Code
From Other Countries to China
Besides the USA and Italy, flights are available to China from London, Vancouver, Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney, and over 20 other cities, but they are very limited, for example:
London has flights to Shanghai from May and Beijing from July.
Vancouver has flights to Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Chengdu from March.
Toronto has flights to Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen, Chengdu, and Guangzhou from March, and to Xi'an from April.
Paris has flights to Shanghai from May.
Frankfurt has flights to Shanghai from May and to Beijing from November.
Sydney has flights to Shanghai, Xiamen, and Guangzhou from March.
Amsterdam has flights to Xiamen from March and to Shanghai and Guangzhou from April.
Helsinki has flights to Shanghai from May.
Kuala Lumpur has flights to Guangzhou and Xiamen from March.
Singapore has flights to Xiamen from March, to Guangzhou from April, to Shanghai and Chengdu from June, and to Chongqing from August.
The above information is for reference only. Flights may change
depending on updated policies of the various countries and airlines.
You can find more information about flights to China and book tickets on the websites of China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, United Airlines, British Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Air France, or other relevant airlines.
Transfers in a Third Country
You could consider these cities for transit: Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Copenhagen, and Paris.
For transfer passengers, you need to do COVID-19 nucleic acid and IgM serum antibody tests again at the transit airport. So, you must leave enough transit time to get the results (at least 10 hours) before going on to China.
After getting the results, submit them online and you will get a new HDC or HDF (explained in the "What Documents to Prepare" section above). Then you can board the plane.
An example of an airport that has been processing international transfers to China is Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. You could check out specific transfer requirements and test booking at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport here: https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/services/covid-19-test-pcr-antigenic.
However, many airports don't have facilities for nucleic acid testing. You will not be able to transfer via such airports to China. You should check the transfer rules and facilities of the airport you will transfer at.
Source: Chinahighlights, By Chris Quan
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/china-travel-reopen-restrictions.htm
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