8 Countries are Allowed Chartered Flights Back to China

China's civil aviation regulator adjusted policies for international passenger flights, allowing more foreign carriers to resume flights to China on a once-a-week basis starting from June 8.

In a notice dated May 25th, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said the establishment of the green channel aims to coordinate epidemic prevention and control work and facilitate economic and social development.

1

Which countries are allowed to have chartered flights back to China?

Finance magazine learned from the Civil Aviation Administration, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, the U.K., Italy, France and Switzerland will be allowed to schedule charter flights into China.

Civil aviation expert Lin Zhijie said that these eight countries currently have less new diagnoses of COVID-19. Except for UK, the other seven countries have fewer than 400 new diagnoses per day, ranking lower than 35 globally. 

2

Which countries already set up fasts track with China?

German

The first and second charter flights are from Germany arrived in Tianjin and Shanghai on May 30 and June 4, bringing back nearly 400 German executives and their family members. 

A passenger on LH342, first chartered flight to bring German managers, workers and family members back to China,  tested positive for coronavirus after arriving in North China's Tianjin although he did not show any symptoms. 

Source:Global Times

Korean

Two chartered planes belonging to China Southern Airlines brought 136 South Korean technicians and supplies representatives from Seoul to Wuhan, Hubei province, on May 1 as part of a move to restart business and production.

They work at three technology companies in Wuhan, the city that was hit hardest by COVID-19.They were the first group of more than 500 South Korean technicians these companies are expected to bring back via chartered flights to the city.

Source: China Daily

UK

A Fast Track for British business travelers of key sectors to China has been created in partnership with the British government, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has said.

Noting that there is a demand for British businesses to get their staff back to China, Liu said China has tried very hard to facilitate the flow of the personnel and to make sure that the businesses will not be affected, and try to limit the impact on the economy.

Source: XINHUA

Singapore

According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian, starting June 8th, people from Singapore and six Chinese municipalities and provinces can make essential business or official trips without having to go through the required 14-day quarantine period.

3

Is "green channel" policy related to the "five-one" policy? 

The "green channel" policy is not related to the "five one" policy, and is mainly aimed at foreign employees of multinational companies instead of ordinary travelers.

According to CAAC, domestic and overseas airlines that have been operating international passenger flights under restrictions imposed on March 29 will still stick to the previous plan, with domestic airlines flying one flight a week on one route to any country and foreign airlines operating one flight a week to China. The policy has been referred to as the "five-one" policy.

Foreign airlines with no international passenger flights to China will be allowed to operate one flight per week starting June 8.

4

Do passengers need to apply for new visas to take the chartered flights?

The administrative process for charter flight approval is complicated. First, China must approve the passenger list, and then even if the current residence permit or visa of the passenger has not expired, each passenger must apply for a new China visa to take the charter flight, according to Jens Hildebrandt, executive director of the north and northeast region of the German Chamber of Commerce in China 

5

Who are eligible to take chartered flights?

Wang Hongwei, a professor at Renmin University of China's School of Public Administration and Policy in Beijing told Global Times: Important business leaders and much-needed production technicians, could get priority to return to China.

Details need to refer to policies from specific companies and countries, but the country needs to be one of the 8 allowed to schedule charter flights into China.

6

How can I apply to travel back to China?

You can contact the chamber of commerce of your home country in China, airlines and Chinese embassies in your country for relevant applications.

7

Case for referrence

We've recently offered consultation for a client who successfully obtained business invitation approved by the Municipal Commercial Committee (Shanghai) which is valid for 3 months.

Thus he could apply and obtain M visa at the Chinese embassy in his country and travel back to China with his wife and kid soon. (As entry by foreign nationals with visas issued after the announcement of  the entry ban will not be affected.)

The client is CEO of a company in China thus viewed as an important business leader by the officials.

If you have any questions about visa application, feel free to contact our visa specialist Lisa and leave a messege. (Work hour 10am~6pm)

Hope you find above information helpful.

If you have other questions about living in China, feel free to reach AnyHelper real-time Q&A system via AnyHelper WeChat menu (Scan code below), our lovely volunteers are online from 9am-9pm everyday to help you!

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