Which Foreigners are allowed to Enter China after April?

Announcement!    
In the afternoon of March 30th, the National Immigration stated that foreigners who really need to come to China to engage in necessary activities such as economy, trade, science and technology, epidemic prevention, cooperation and exchange, as well as those who have urgent humanitarian reasons, can try to apply visas from Chinese Embassies.

According to the above stated policy, all foreigners who need to enter to China for some urgent and important reasons can again apply for the visa at Chinese Embassy. It is further added that the visa you have that you get before 28th March 2020 cannot be used on temporary basis to enter in China.

Before this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on March 28 that the China will temporarily suspend entry for foreign nationals with visas or residence permits beginning at midnight on March 28 in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

"The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries. China will stay in close touch with all sides and properly handle personnel exchanges with the rest of the world under the special circumstances. The above-mentioned measures will be calibrated in light of the evolving situation and announced accordingly." Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 

(China wants to curb the number of new cases coming into China with a temporary ban on foreigners, including those with a Chinese visa/ scmp.com)

The announcement came after official Chinese data indicated that the country had almost stopped local transmission of the virus but was struggling to handle a growing number of people who were infected overseas.

The announcement represents one of the most comprehensive international travel bans imposed anywhere in the world, as governments try to slow the spread of the coronavirus that has already infected more than a half million people and killed more than 22,000.
 

Foreigners seeking to enter China for epidemic prevention and control, scientific research, international collaboration or humanitarian needs could apply or reapply for visas at overseas embassies and consulates, Liu said.

This has been a measure that we took after consulting the practices of many other countries and it is a temporary restrictive measure that we have no choice but to adopt. We believe that in the current situation we should minimize unnecessary cross-border activities to effectively protect the lives and health of every citizen, including foreign nationals, by preventing pandemic transmission through individual travel for global health and safety. It is a responsible and necessary measure.

Liu Haitao, director general for border control and management for the National Immigration Administration
 

(Beijing’s temporary ban will affect foreigners holding Chinese visas or residence permits, but it will not affect those with diplomatic, service or C visas/ scmp.com)

The Bigger Picture

Chinese authorities introduced unprecedented measures in January in an effort to contain the coronavirus, including suspending all travel in and out of all cities in Hubei province like Wuhan where the virus was first discovered and preventing the province's 59 million people from leaving home.

Sources:
1)https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3077355/coronavirus-beijings-ban-foreign-travellers-comes-force-months
2)https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/world/asia/china-virus-travel-ban.html
3)https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/travel-restrictions-china-due-covid-19
4)https://www.axios.com/china-foreigners-visas-coronavirus-6e87eea9-73f3-4342-aee2-a171ca742ea5.html

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