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With the gradual control on the virus of COVID-19 and declination of the infection, as well as more and more people get vaccinated, people start to ask when I can travel to China? Can I travel to China in 2023?
YES, of course. All international travelers with valid passport and visa can travel from China in 2023.
China has already fully openned its border to welcome the international travelers from March 15th, 2023. Travelers with valid visas (including visas issued before March 28, 2020 are still valid) can enter China. All categories of Chinese visas including L-Visa (tourist visa) application is resumed and port visas are no longer suspended. Besides, 72-hour Visa Exemption and 144-hour Visa Free policys are also resumed.
From April 29, 2023, all international travelers will not request a PCR-rest, but take an antigen self-test instead. The pre-departure antigen test instead of a PCR test. It still needs to be taken within 48 hours of departure. Airlines won't check the test results when boarding any more.
So when you enter China, you just need to prepare a valid visa, passport, and a pre-departure antigen self-test. A proof of vaccination is also not required as well.
Therefore, China can definitely be one of your best travel destinations if you are planning your holiday in 2023. If you are now making a tour plan to China for your upcoming holiday, or even only with tentative dates, just contact us. The 1-1 travel consultant will customize you a China tour. You will be 100% refunded for any payment to TopChinaTravel if you cancel the booking 1 month before the departure date.
►Process of China Visa Application
►Do I Need a PCR Test to Enter China
►Hong Kong Travel Restrictions
►Recommended China Tours for First-timer
Wow! China has already fully opened the border to international travelers. That means you can travel to China if you hold valid visa or meet the relavent policy. There are several ways to enter China sharing with you as below,
China has already resumed all visa application for entering China.
If you have a valid China visa(any visa,including tourist visa), which is still valid, you can use it directly to enter China.
If your passport has expired, but your China visa is valid, you can use your expired passport containing a valid China visa and your new passport to enter China, but ensure the identical information on both passports.
If you do not have a China visa or your China visa has already expired, you can apply a new one. China has already resumed all types of visa application from March 15th, 2023, including tourist visa (L-Visa), business visa (M-Visa), work visa (Z-Visa) and so on. You are suggested to submit the visa application at least two months in advance.
For different visa application, the documents required are difference. i.e. For tourist visa application, except the general documents such as valid passport (validity more than 6 months), photocopy of the passport, COVA visa form, proof of residence, where you stay form, etc., round-trip air tickets and hotel orders (name and personal information of the applicant must be included), or invitation letters issued by a travel agency or individual are also requested. When you book a tour package with Top China Travel, we will offer you the invitation letter, which will give more convience and more flexibility of your air tickets & hotel bookings.
Therefore, the documents are required for different type of visa. For more details about the docments required for visa application, you may check the information offered by a China embassy / consulate.
China Tourist Visa
Now it is easy to apply for a visa according this Process of Visa Application suggested by a China embassy. You can apply for a visa by yourself instead of any intermediary.
Notes:
Generally speaking, the visa will be got after 7 working days and the visa fee is about USD150 per person.
China has aready resumed its 144-hour Transit Visa Exemption Program, which allow tourist to enjoy a longer stay (6 days) in China without visa. It is a good solution for many tourists who would like to travel to China, but do not want to bother visa-application.
What city or port are visa-free?
Currently, there are Over 20 cities and ports in China which apply to the 144-hour transit policy, including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Nanjing, Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Dalian, Qingdao, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, etc.
What are the conditions for visa-free policy?
If you would like to enjoy the 144-hour visa free policy, you will need to meet the qualifying creteria,
Shanghai implement a 15-day visa free plicy for those groups who enter China from Shanghai cruise port, which started from Oct 1st, 2016.
Tour Groups entering from Shanghai cruise port to China should be received by a legal travel agency in Shanghai.
The group should arrive and depart on the same cruise. The stay duration can not exceed 15 days and the activity scope is limited to some coastal provinces and Beijing, namely The duration of stay shall not exceed 15 days (from the day after entry), and the scope of activities shall be limited to coastal provinces and Beijing, namely: Shanghai, Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, cities in Hainan province where the cruise port is located and cities in neighboring provinces and Beijing.
Tour groups holding ordinary passports from ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines, entering China from Guilin Airport Port enjoy a 144-hour ( 6 days) visa free policy. This policy was implemented from May 28th, 2015.
Travelers from 59 countries, holding ordinary passport, enjoy a 30-day visa free policy. The travelers should fly to Hainan province directly from Hong Kong or other countries. Tourists can submit an application or be arranged by a legally managed travel agency in Hainan province.
List for visa-free countries to Hainan:
Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
No visa is requested for the international travelers from Hong Kong or Macau visiting the Pearl River Delta area (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc.) as long as they travel with a registered tour operator.
The APEC Business Travel Card is equivalent to a short-term business visa. If you are APEC card holder, you can travel to China with a visa. Generally speaking, an APEC card is valid for five years since its application. The holder can enter China for multiple times during its validity and stay in China for up to 60 days each time.
From April 29,2023, all international travelers will not request a PCR-rest, but take an antigen self-test instead. The pre-departure antigen test instead of a PCR test. It still needs to be taken within 48 hours of departure. Airlines won't check the test results when boarding any more.
Even though, travelers need to declare the negative test result to China Customs by filling the Health Declaration Form either on Wechat mini-program of China Customs (scan the QR code below)，or via the China Customs APP. If you do not use WeChat or do not want to download the APP, you can also fill the form at the website.
QR code for Health Declaration by WeChat
Starting from 1 April 2023, all travel restrictions are lifted. Travellers entering Hong Kong are no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or pre-departure test .
Travlers travelling from Hong Kong to the Mainland (except those aged 3 and below), if they have not been abroad or to Taiwan within 7 days before entering Chinese mainland, do not request any COVID test and proof of COVID-19 vaccine. Otherwise, a 48-hour pre-departure test will be requested.
In the past 2022, the COVID Omicron variant spread in China. It even sparked wide spread transmission before Chinese New Year in January of 2023. Currently the first wave of the infection summit has been passed.
China domestic anti-epidemic measures keep being adjusted and optimized. Since the end of December in 2022, health code and PCR test are not required for China domestic travel. Passengers can travel around and visit most places without PCR test report.
The wearing of masks is not mandatory in most public places, but you may find many people still wear mask in some crowded public places, such as airport, railway station subways, hospital etc.
China currently can be one of your travel options in 2023. Do not hesitate to CONTACT US to plan a trip in China, with the assistance from our expert travel consultant offering 1-1 service.
11 Days China Wonders Experience Tour, covering Beijing (Forbidden City & Great Wall), Xian ( Qin Terracotta Warriors), Guilin and Shanghai, the most famous and classic travel route in China, to enjoy the history, culture, natural view and modernity of China.
Check Top China Tours to view more China tours for first-timer traveling to China.
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