Q: Are foreigners allowed to enter or leave the country as usual during the period of epidemic prevention and control?

 

A: The Chinese government has taken a series of strong measures since the outbreak of COVID-19. As general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping stated, China has full confidence and capability to fight and win the battle against the epidemic. At present, except for the closure of exit channels of ports in Wuhan, all port visa agencies are operating as usual. The visa-free policy for transit foreigners has not been adjusted. All land, sea and air ports of China remain open, and foreigners can enter or leave the country as usual with their valid exit-entry documents.

 

Under the current circumstances, reducing the cross-border mobility of people is conducive to effective prevention and control of the epidemic. Foreigners may make reasonable travel arrangements to China according to their actual conditions and those already in China may continue to stay or reside in China. For foreigners who essentially need to leave the country, given that some countries and regions have implemented corresponding entry control measures in response to the epidemic, it is recommended that foreigners learn clearly in advance the entry regulations and practices of destination countries or regions to avoid cost and time loss in case of any entry refusals. Those who travel to countries or regions without entry restrictions should arrive at exit ports ahead of departure time for necessary checks by relevant departments. Foreigners having fever with symptoms of acute respiratory infection such as cough or breathing difficulties shall avoid international travels and seek immediate medical treatment at the nearest medical institutions. Information such as recent activities and close contacts shall be provided truthfully to relevant management personnel, so that the departments concerned may take prompt screening and investigation measures.

 

Q: How can foreigners apply for extension of visa and stay or residence permits during the period of epidemic prevention and control?

 

A: All exit and entry departments of China's public security organs, during the period of epidemic prevention and control, will be in full service for visa extension and stay or residence permits to ensure foreigners' legitimate stay in China. Urgent services for emergency situations will also be provided.

 

To avoid crowds gathering effectively, exit and entry departments of China's public security organs will make arrangements for services on appointments. Foreigners are advised to make appointments in advance for proper arrangements of any application. For those institutions which host large numbers of foreigners, such as universities, research institutes, enterprises and public institutions, exit and entry departments will allow agent service or provide other necessary conveniences depending on the conditions.

 

Q: How to deal with the situation that a foreigner's visa, stay or residence permit expires during the epidemic prevention and control period?

 

A: According to the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, foreigners shall exit from China before their visas, stay permits or residence permits expire. Those who need to continue to stay or reside in China are required to apply for the extension of their visas, stay permits or residence permits at exit and entry departments of China's public security organs.

 

In light of relevant laws and regulations and the current situation, those who are unable to exit as scheduled and can’t extend their visas, stay permits or residence permits due to the epidemic prevention and control shall be given a lighter or mitigated punishment or be exempted from punishment by the immigration administration authorities depending on the conditions.

 

Q: For foreigners staying or residing in China, what should they do to cooperate during the epidemic prevention and control period?

 

A: It is advised that foreigners enhance awareness of self-protection, avoid going to crowded public places and take scientific preventive measures. It is strongly suggested to actively cooperate with local communities and units and their hosts in the implementation of prevention and control measures and abide by relevant laws and regulations as well as prevention and control measures of public security organs, immigration management departments, health departments and other departments.

 

In case of having a fever with symptoms of acute respiratory infection such as cough or breathing difficulties, foreigners shall report in a timely manner to the local communities, health departments or immigration management departments and cooperate actively in medical treatment and epidemic investigation. Immigration management departments at all levels will work closely with relevant departments for the epidemic prevention and control to provide consultancy for foreigners, assist in disease screening, diagnosis and treatment with medical institutions, and address difficulties and problems encountered by foreigners during their stay or residence in China.

 

Q: Are residents of Chinese mainland allowed to enter or leave the country as usual?

 

A: At present, except for the closure of the exit channel of ports in Wuhan, all land, sea and air ports of China are in service as usual. Residents of Chinese mainland can exit or enter with their valid exit-entry documents. All entry-exit frontier inspection agencies of the National Immigration Administration (NIA) will continue to provide services and conveniences for Chinese nationals who return from overseas, and coordinate with relevant health departments in conducting necessary screening checks.

 

In view of the epidemic prevention and control situation as well as entry restrictions adopted by some countries and regions, and in order to ensure health and safety of all travelers and maintain normal exit-entry order, it is advised that residents of Chinese mainland schedule their trips properly and avoid unnecessary financial and time costs.

 

To our knowledge, countries including DPRK, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Philippines, ROK, Qatar, Japan, Vietnam, India, Britain, Indonesia, France, Myanmar, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Australia, as well as Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan of China have adopted entry restrictions for travelers from Chinese mainland. Travelers in urgent need of exit from Chinese mainland are advised to make travel arrangements after consulting with relevant diplomatic representative agencies, airlines or their overseas hosts on entry restrictions of the destination counties or regions.

 

Q: Could Chinese citizens apply for exit-entry documents such as regular passports at exit and entry departments of public security organs?

 

A: In order to ensure health and safety of Chinese citizens and foreigners, reduce risks of cross-border movements for the epidemic prevention and control, and maintain normal exit-entry order, we advise that residents of Chinese mainland schedule their trips properly, and postpone applications of exit-entry documents unless for emergent reasons.

 

At present, exit and entry departments of Hubei Province have suspended accepting applications of exit-entry documents from Chinese citizens. The resumption of the service will be subject to the situation of the epidemic prevention and control. Application services are suspended at exit and entry departments of other provinces during the Spring Festival holiday. Under normal circumstances, exit and entry departments of public security organs excluding on-site service desks will resume service after the Spring Festival holiday.

 

Applicants may contact local exit and entry departments in advance for further information about the office hours of service desks and relevant requirements for such applications.

 

To avoid crowds gathering and unnecessary travels, applicants in need may confirm the time for application submission via online appointment for better services and higher efficiency. Applicants in urgent need for exit-entry documents (including those in Hubei Province) may contact local exit and entry departments at any time for individual urgent applications.

 

Q: Are travelers allowed to exit and enter through ports of Wuhan?

 

A: International travelers can enter into China through ports of Wuhan (referring to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport and Hankou ferry terminal). Due to the lockdown of exit channels of ports in Wuhan, travelers are not allowed to exit through any port of Wuhan without approval.

 

Q: Could residents of Chinese mainland go through frontier inspection formalities by self-service channels?

 

A: Some exit-entry frontier inspection agencies may close some self-service channels for the moment due to the need of epidemic prevention and control. Under such circumstances, travelers shall go through manual inspection channels. It is advised for travelers to follow instructions of frontier inspection officers and go through border clearance formalities according to relevant regulations.

 

During the period of epidemic prevention and control, frontier inspection officers at manual inspection channels may work together with relevant competent departments and take necessary screening measures such as taking travelers' temperatures and making inquiries about travel itineraries and close contacts. Cooperation by the travelers will be appreciated.

 

Exit-entry frontier inspection agencies are making efforts to guarantee the border inspection waiting time of not more than 30 minutes for Chinese citizen at large ports and smooth border clearance for foreign visitors.

 

Q: How to deal with the situation that some travelers have already obtained endorsements to Hong Kong, Macao SAR and Taiwan region but cannot travel within the validity period due to the epidemic?

 

A: At present, authorities of Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan have implemented travel restrictions on residents of Chinese mainland. For those who have obtained endorsements to Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan but fail to travel within the validity of endorsements because of the pandemic, exit and entry departments of public security organs will issue the same type of endorsements with the same duration free of charge based on the will of the holders after the epidemic.

 

Q: How to deal with the situation that travelers start to have suspicious symptoms of COVID-19 during the exit or entry process?

 

A: Travelers who have fever with symptoms of acute respiratory infection, such as cough and breathing difficulties, shall suspend travels immediately, stay far away from the crowds, and seek treatment at the nearest medical institutions.

 

The immigration management departments at ports or of places of residence will provide necessary assistance as well.

 

 

Notice: This English version is only for reference. To learn more, please refer to the authoritative Chinese version.