Traveling to China during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go

China closed its borders to nearly all travelers in March 2020, when the pandemic started spreading throughout Europe. On March 15, 2021, restrictions were eased for a select number of travelers from 23 countries. Those coming for work or for humanitarian reasons -- such as reuniting with family -- can apply for visas, as can holders of the APEC Business Travel Card. Residents may also return. All categories, however, must have been vaccinated with Chinese-made vaccines at least 15 days earlier.

China already has a Fast Lane agreement with Singapore, allowing business travelers. Business travelers from South Korea are also allowed in.The vaccine news has given hope that at some point in the future, borders might reopen to vaccinated tourists, too. China's foreign ministry says the move is about kickstarting international travel in an "orderly fashion." Government officials have stated that their goal is to have 40 percent of Chinese citizens vaccinated by June. 

Despite rumors that the country would only grant travel visas to people who had gotten the China-created Sinovac vaccine, the Chinese embassy in the United States confirmed on April 20 that travelers with confirmed history of vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines would also be eligible.

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