China on 26 December 2022 announced plans to downgrade Covid-19 from top-level Category A to less-strict Category B in its national infection management system and lift Covid travel restrictions for inbound and outbound travels.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ notice, the following changes will take effect from 8 January 2023:

• International Inbound Travellers:

International inbound travellers will no longer be tested or quarantined upon arrival. However, travellers will still need to upload a negative NAT test result, taken within 48 hours pre-departure, to the online China Customs platform before boarding their flight.

• International Flights:

All flight bans and quotas, or the “circuit breaker”, will be lifted from the same date, and international flights are said to be resumed gradually.

• Visa:

Visa issuance for work, business, study and family visit purposes will be resumed to accommodate respective needs. However, tourist visas are still said to be under review at the moment.

• Outbound Chinese Travellers:

Outbound travel will be resumed as well. So far, many cities in China have resumed passport renewal and issuance services for Chinese citizens, which had been restricted to people with necessary reasons to travel (e.g., study, business, family visit) for almost three years since the pandemic began in 2020.

However, due to the current surge in infections in China, the UK government has introduced precautionary and temporary measures. From 5 January 2023 all passengers from China (including the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions) arriving in England will have to provide a negative NAT test result, taken within 48 hours pre-departure, before boarding their flight. The UK government has also announced that it is working with the devolved nations to implement similar rules UK-wide. Some tests will be done upon arrival on a voluntary basis to monitor for potential new variants.

What does it mean to the UK institutions?

From 8 January 2023, UK travellers will be able to enter China without being quarantined. Since visa issuance and international flights will be resumed gradually, China is expected to welcome a growing number of business visitors and international students in 2023.

Meanwhile, because outbound travel controls are being lifted as well, the UK is expected to see an increasing number of Chinese visitors, including business visitors, international students, and tourists.

UK universities who are planning to visit China or organise events in China in the next one or two months should be cautious and keep an eye on the development of the Covid situation and follow the guidance of the UK government.

References:

UK Government Travel Requirements: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China’s Notice on Interim Measure for the Exchange of Chinese and Foreign Personnel: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/wjbxw_new/202212/t20221227_10995607.shtml