Currently, travel restrictions in China are very much in place due to the current situation caused by Covid-19, and whilst the country is far from “back to normal”, the situation there has improved greatly.
Here’s a brief guide to travel restrictions in place in Mainland China as of April 14th 2020.
BEIJING
Domestic Inbound
- Resident travelling from non-Hubei Provinces: 14-day quarantine.
- Resident travelling from Hubei Province: apply online through “京心相助” WeChat program, and report the information to your community (village) and unit before returning to Beijing. 14-day quarantine required.
- Visitor: No 14-day quarantine requirement, health certificate with a negative RNA test result within 7 days needed. The national health pass code needed or “北京健康宝“ is certified as “no abnormality”. Accept the health management of the hotel.
CHONGQING
Domestic Inbound
• Resident/Visitor travelling from Hubei Province: A green health QR code & a negative RNA test result are required; If without, the traveller is subject to 14-day quarantine & RNA tests at least twice a day.
• Resident/Visitor travelling from non-Hubei Provinces: No restriction.
International Inbound
Travellers from or who have traveled to 16 severe epidemic areas with negative RNA test result are subject to 14 days mandatory quarantine. Travellers from non-severe epidemic areas with negative RNA test result are required to conduct a 14-day stay-in observation and be included in the community health management.
Outbound
No Restriction for both domestic and international travel outbound. But currently only limited international flights departing from Chongqing.
CHENGDU
Domestic Inbound
• Resident/Visitor travelling from non-Hubei Provinces: no quarantine required.
• Resident/Visitor travelling from Hubei Province: (1) those who travels from Wuhan city after 8th April and can provide two negative RNA test results is exempt from further RNA tests; who provides only one negative RNA test result is subject to another RNA test after his arrival in Chengdu; who can’t provide any RNA test results is subject to RNA tests twice after his arrival in Chengdu. (2) who travels from cities other than Wuhan after 8th April and can provide a negative RNA test result is exempt from further RNA tests; who can’t provide any test result is subject to an RNA test. (3) those who travels from Hubei Province before 8th April and is currently under quarantine need to provide one negative RNA result (tested within one week) to release from quarantine. Read more
International Inbound
Travellers from or have travelled to the 16 severe epidemic countries/areas, as well as the other countries/areas, within the past 14 days are required to stay at the government-designated local hotels for health observation and RNA tests. Read more
Outbound
No Restriction for both domestic and international travel outbound. But currently only limited international flights departing from Chengdu.
GUANGZHOU
Domestic Inbound
• Resident/Visitor: No 14-day quarantine requirement. Basic temperature check on arrival. Need to fill in the 穗康码 or 粤康码 app in advance for health confirmation.
International Inbound
All will be subject to a nucleic acid test and quarantine. If an individual shows abnormal symptoms they will be brought immediately to a hospital. A chartered bus will bring all Guangzhou-destined travellers to a designated quarantine area for testing and travellers will stay there for 14 days. If a traveller’s destination is outside of Guangzhou, that city’s government will pick up the traveller and bring them to that city’s designated quarantine area for testing and travellers will stay there for 14 days.
Outbound
No Restrictions.
NANJING
Domestic Inbound
• Resident/Visitor: No Restriction if presenting a green health code; with yellow or red code might be required to undergo 14-day quarantine.
International Inbound
Personnel entering Nanjing from overseas will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine for medical observation at designated place.
Outbound
No Restrictions.
TIANJIN
Domestic Inbound
• Visitor: No quarantine requirement if providing green health code, but need to check with hotels in advance for further details.
• Resident: No restriction.
International Inbound
1) Following the national policy which has taken effect since 28th March. Foreigners are not allowed to enter Tianjin except ones with approved business related visa.
2) 14 days mandatory quarantine is implemented on Chinese residents travelling back to Tianjin. Read more
Outbound
No Restriction for both domestic and international travel outbound. But currently only limited international flights departing.
SHANGHAI
Domestic Inbound
• Resident: No restrictions. However, Shanghai issued a notice on 8th April to encourage and support enterprises and institutions to carry out coronavirus nucleic acid testing for the newly arrived (returning) employees from certain areas (didn’t specify which areas). Enterprises can make appointments at the medical institutions appointed by the Shanghai Municipal Health and Health Commission at their own expense.
• Visitor: No restriction, but needs to check with hotels in advance for further details.
International Inbound
1. All international flights are directed to Pudong Airport. From 28th March, all passengers entering Shanghai from abroad, including those transferring in Shanghai will be subjected to virus testing and centralised quarantine for 14 days. For the elderly, minors, pregnant women, people with reduced mobility, people with basic diseases or other reasons that are not suitable for centralized quarantine, if the test result is negative and conditions of home quarantine allow, home quarantine can be applied upon strict verification and approval. Read more
2. Ticketed Chinese passengers returning to China from 26 countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States) are required to fill in their personal data, health status and recent travel information on daily base consecutively for 14 days before boarding via a WeChat mini program “防疫健康码国际版”. Not filling in the form as required will lead to the rejection of boarding. If filling out the form with false information, the passenger will be blocked from further continuing the trip and has to assume related legal responsibilities. Read more
Outbound
No Restriction for both domestic and international travel outbound. But currently only limited international flights departing.
SHENYANG
Domestic Inbound
• Resident/Visitor travelling from Hubei Province: No quarantine; subject to one RNA test. Read more
• Resident/Visitor travelling from other Provinces: No restriction if presenting a green health QR code. Read more
International Inbound
Temporary suspension for the entry of foreigners holding a valid Chinese visa and residence permit. For the Chinese passengers, they should fill in the epidemic prevention health information form before landing in China and are then subject to a 14-day quarantine with 2 RNA tests and one antibody test; afterwards, subject to an additional control on their destination sites after leaving Shenyang. Read more
Outbound
No Restriction for both domestic and international travel outbound. But currently only a limited number of international flights are departing from Shenyang.
SHENZHEN
Domestic Inbound
• Resident/Visitor travelling from Chinese provinces/cities outside of Guangzhou: No 14-day quarantine requirement. Basic temperature check on arrival. Need to fill in the i深圳 or 粤康码 app in advance for health confirmation.
International Inbound
All will be subject to a nucleic acid test and quarantine. If an individual shows abnormal symptoms he will be brought immediately to hospital. A chartered bus will bring all Shenzhen-destined travellers to a designated quarantine area for testing and travellers will stay there for 14 days. If a traveller’s destination is outside of Shenzhen, that city’s government will pick up the traveller and bring them to that city’s designated quarantine area for testing and travellers will stay there for 14 days.
Outbound
No restrictions.
International flights to China
Whilst there are now some domestic departures within China, international departures and arrivals have largely ground to a halt.
So, yes, the situation in China is improving but getting in and out will probably not be happening for the foreseeable future.