China eases COVID testing requirements for inbound travellers from several countries effective 1 March 2023

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Air passengers flying directly from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia are now only required to present rapid antigen test (RAT) results.

Starting from 1 March 2023, instead of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, rapid antigen test (RAT, including RAT home testing kit) results will be accepted for air passengers flying directly to China.

The new rule applies to travellers from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Russia, Switzerland, Hungary, New Zealand, Egypt and South Africa. As such, the Chinese Embassies in these markets have updated their Guide on Epidemic Prevention and Control Measures for China-bound Travellers. 

According to the guide, travellers from these countries are required to undergo COVID-19 PCR or RAT test within 48 hours before boarding China-bound flights.

Passengers are required to travel to China with a negative test result, and declare the result to China Customs by filling out the Health Declaration Form on the WeChat mini-programme of China Customs, at an official website, or via the China Customs APP. Airline companies will no longer check the negative PCR or RAT test results.

Upon arrival, travellers can go through customs with the health declaration result, and China Customs may conduct random sampling inspections according to a certain proportion. If there are abnormalities in the health declaration, or travellers are showing symptoms such as fever, they are required to take a test by China Customs:

• those whose results are positive will need to self-quarantine or seek medical treatment as notified by the authority;
• those whose results are negative will go through a routine inspection by China Customs in accordance with the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law and other laws and regulations;
• those with no issues to report in their health declaration and who have been given regular customs inspection and clearance can enter society.

Travellers are suggested to wear a mask throughout the flight, and abide by the local epidemic prevention and control requirements after entry into China.

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