Qian Junya May 07, 2022 14-min read SHANGHAI Longtime Shanghai resident Alex Shoer's life path typifies that of many foreigners living in China. There was no additional information offered regarding precise locations and dates. Make sure you have permission to enter China (valid permit, visa, or ID card). and its never an emergency. Beijing expelled at least 18 foreign correspondents last year, and few Western outlets have been granted visas for new journalists to be based in China, according to the Foreign Correspondents . She also mentioned that no other conditions have been discussed about the border reopening so far. Any foreigner could easily get a job even as late as 2010, said Frank Tsai, the founder of China Crossroads, a platform for lectures by high-profile academics and business figures in Shanghai. When asked about a potential reopening date, a senior official from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that though theres no timeline when China will lift border restrictions, the country will do so in the future after meeting a number of requirements.. The competitive advantage of foreigners has gone down as that of locals, who are much more adept at navigating the countrys business world, has gone up, he said. The move is the latest in a . Now the the types of visas you can apply for include Z visa, M visa, Q visa, S visa, X visa, etc. I can really share your excitement & happiness. Just earlier this month, they were saying still that COVID was this deadly Western-made virus. You can get an answer faster to any visa-related questions: join our Going to China Facebook Group with 13k active memebers. The two talked on tourisms future, education, and the upcoming G20 summit in November. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. At least not for now. "With transmission typically higher in the winter months, it's possible that border restrictions could be kept largely intact until spring 2023." China's harsh measures to contain Covid won't. A negative nucleic acid test report within 48 hours before boarding. It can be filled in customs. China might have already passed the point of no return, as its unlikely to achieve zero Covid again without another Shanghai-style hard lockdown, Macquaries Chief China Economist Larry Hu said in a report Tuesday. See below for application requirements.. China has been one of a number of countries at the forefront of vaccine development and, as of March 15, China had exported vaccines to 28 countries, according to the Chinese Mission to the UN.. However, as they continue into their third year, it is now certain that Chinas pandemic-era border controls will have a major impact on mobility streams into and out of China in the foreseeable future.. Beijing ended the strict measures of mandatory quarantine, lockdown, and routine testing after record-breaking protests against these measures. Already have an account?Sign in to Sixth Continue with Recommended Cookies. Shi Yangkun for Sixth Tone. Pending on the Covid conditions outside of China. The signs from the companies that survived are positive. This outbreak does not seem to be linked to the recent Fujian surge a few weeks ago. Good luck! Suggested: Check out the full list of Asian countries reopening for tourism Join ourTravel Advice & Support FB Group. If you hold a validstudent residence permit, you can enter China without applying a new visa. According to Reuters, Hu Xiang of the National Health Commissions Office of Disease Prevention and Control said in a briefing that Beijings strict containment measures, including lockdowns, quarantines and mass testing, were completely correct and the most economical and effective. Health experts reportedly said procedures should be fine-tuned and changed to better help people at risk. Have unparalleled activities, and unveil the stories behind the sights and people. 11 Mar 2022. International students continue to demand for a date of return from China, whose borders have remained closed for 2 years. Inbound travelers wont be required to quarantine and the daily flight limit will be also removed. A few years ago, China was supposed to enter a new era when it came to immigration. Your patience proves worthwhile. He has noticed that loads of foreign musicians have left Shanghai in the past two years. As early as June, The Wall Street Journal reported that the country would remain largely closed through 2022, a . The NIAs annual reports for 2020 and 2021 show that carrying out pandemic control measures at Chinas borders has become one of its biggest points of focus in the past two years. Concerns about potential disruption in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, which is home to around 19 million people, were raised when China halted in-person education and dining at restaurants in an area in the citys core. A woman opens her arms while waiting at a crossing in Shanghai, April 12, 2022. You are required to declare your negative test result to China Customs by filling the Health Declaration Form on the WeChat miniprogram of China Customs (scan the QR code below), or at the website, or via the China Customs APP. 1. Singapore has flights toto Xiamen in April and May, to Guangzhou from June, and to Shanghaifrom September. Cool to know that theyre opening up again! You need a visa for the third country/region (if needed). Quarantine restrictions were gradually lifted after China abruptly abandoned its zero covid policy. China Airlines service to Denpasar has resumed just days after HE Deng Xijun, Chinas Ambassador to ASEAN Countries, met with Bali Governor Wayan Koster. A top Chinese health official has stated the country cant reopen until they can determine how well vaccines work in a large number of individuals. Although many people gathered with their families last week to celebrate the Lunar New Year, there was no obvious rebound. Concerns have long been raised about the covid reports from China. The border opening follows Saturdays start of chun yun, the first 40-day period ofLunar New Yeartravel, which before the pandemic was the worlds largest annual migration of people returning to their hometowns of taking holidays with family. EMILY FENG, BYLINE: Right. Over the past two years, some local governments, including in Shanghai and the southwestern Yunnan province, have relaxed rules regarding work permits to attract foreign workers. The country had citizens get tested up to 12 times in one month in one city to ensure they catch all elusive cases. China announced Monday that starting Jan. 8, 2023, travelers will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival on the mainland. 2. While reforms aimed at attracting more foreigners are on hold due to COVID-19, actual policy changes have sent many home. 3. Electronic door alarms have been installed to prevent infected people from leaving as well as evacuating people to sanitize their homes. The requirements of 144-hour visa-free policy: You can check out more on our Chinas 144-hour Visa-Free Policy (Eligible Entry/Exit Ports, Applicable Countries, Documents to be Prepared). Its been three years, we have no time to delay, he said. Thanks for sharing . Those holding certain visas (L or 10-yearvisas) issued before March 28th, 2020 may not enter China (even if vaccinated). On that occasion, the government had citizens get tested for coronavirus up to 11 times in a short period of time. The street in Shanghai where Koreans used to gather for a taste of home has become quiet. Chinese health authorities have stated they could start a quarantine-free travel bubble with Hong Kong this month. As of today, cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have fully inoculated almost 70% of their population. So we recommendyou prepare two hard copies (the airline may keep one) and one electronic copy. The disruption to her student life was depressing for a while. Dan Wang, chief economist of Hang Seng Bank (China), told Sixth Tone that Chinas market is growing so fast that relying solely on local talents wont meet the talent demand of the economy. Any negative effect of Chinas COVID-19 containment measures will be temporary, she said, as China will always remain an irresistible market to foreign companies. Probably yes. China Travel Restrictions 2023 & Travel Advisory. This came at a time when health authorities were warning of possible widespread infections and deploying tens of thousands of medical professionals to intensive care units in anticipation of an Omicron outbreak. I beg the Honorable Ambassador to encourage the Chinese government to allow their citizens to Bali. Foreigners who hold one of the three categories of valid Chinese residence permits for work, reunion, and personal matters. Despite the fact that a number of Asian countries are abandoning the zero-covid policy due to its inefficiency, China stays steadfast. Sid, a pseudonym to not jeopardize future visa applications, was suddenly one of many teachers looking for work. Criticized by many but praised for many more, Chinas intensive and exhausting efforts to contain the spread had paid off. Travelers entering Macau fromChinese Mainland, Hong Kong, or Taiwan don't needany test results.Quarantine is also not required. Please click below to complete your registration. Investors hope the reopening will eventually reinvigorate a $17-trillion economy suffering its lowest growth in nearly half a century. Prior to being let out of quarantine, travelers must still submit to routine testing and demonstrate a negative test result. The lifting of the entry ban also applies to their family members, and they can also return to the country to work. Plan a trip to Asia? If you have some questions about visa-free policy or entry visa, you can call for inquiry: This applies tofamily members of Chinese citizens and family members of foreign people who are going to work in China (or already working in China). Clinic visits fell by over 90% in January, and hospital admissions are down by over 85%. Paris has flights to Shanghai from September. Every reply Sydney has flights to Shanghai from August and to Guangzhoufrom September. Read our full post: China Might Reopen Some Border Regions For Foreign Tourists. Emily, why this sudden change? China on Sunday also resumed issuing passports and travel visas for mainland residents, and ordinary visas and residence permits for foreigners. It's been nearly two years since China shut its international borders as part of its efforts to keep Covid-19 out. Shoer, the American entrepreneur, came to China in 2011 because he sensed it was a land of opportunity an impression that has since waned. I personally dont like the idea of opening countries until there is a vaccine. Zheng Jinlian, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization, a non-governmental think tank focusing on globalization, international relations, and global migration, told Sixth Tone that the pandemic was a big blow to the NIAs work. And the exodus, in certain ways, reinforces itself. China will continue to open to the world, President Xi Jinping told a trade summit on Wednesday, just days after Beijing doubled down on its strict border controls. China has reopen borders for ALL nationalities but only to specific groups which are workers and family members of chinese nationals as well as family member of foreigners currently working on China. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. I am from the USA/UK, and I have alreadybeeninoculated with a Chinese vaccine and hold a valid residence permit. He's a research scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. 1. Severe quarantines and the closure of the worlds third-busiest port also played a role in eliminating the threat. He estimates the citys current lockdown will lead to a further decline. If you meet the conditions, you can travel to China without applying a new visa. And also don't expect a sudden rush of people going into China right now because ironically, it's one of the most likely places you'll get COVID right now. Thats interesting about masks not having any exceptions. They were also instructed to leave their front doors open and to leave their pets at home. And the danger now is holiday travel into January means the virus is spreading from cities to rural areas, where the health care system is often quite poor. More than 40 China officials have been punished for being unable to control the Delta variant in their territories. Macauresumes international transfer services.Foreign nationals who enter Macau and leave for Chinese Mainland within 7 days after their entry are required to show a negative PCR testwithin 48 hours before departure. Despite these trends, experts believe that Chinas demand for foreign professionals will remain high and will spur the country to open its borders once COVID-19 policies allow. I'm from Slovakia and I've visited 75 countries but for now, taking a little break in Barcelona. Maybe my girlfriend will need to come to Korea first because I will need time to build new businesses in China again, he said. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. China's borders have been closed for nearly three years now. If China begins to lift restrictions once vaccination rates reach 85 percent as some officials have suggested, the country would not reopen for at least another year.