China
Warnings and insurance
This travel advice covers mainland China. See travel advice for the Special Administrative Regions, Hong Kong and Macao.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guideguide. andYou anymay specificalso travelfind adviceit thathelpful applies to you:to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our
disabledguidetravellerson disability and travel abroad - see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help Britishyou nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Update history
2024-11-29 16:19
New information on medical screening on entry into China (‘Entry requirements’ page), updated assessment that terrorists attacks in China cannot be ruled out, and new advice on the increase of violent attacks in China (‘Safety and Security’ page).
2024-08-16 16:17
Updated information on Visa requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-07-24 13:18
Information on Typhoon Gaemi which is currently expected to hit Fujian Province on Thursday 25 July (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-04 15:45
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2024-04-22 12:46
Updated information on flooding (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-11 11:45
Updated information on regional risks in China (‘Regional risks’ page).
2023-12-21 14:06
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-12-01 16:45
information that there are no COVID-19 vaccination requirements for travellers entering China (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-09-06 14:57
Updated information about entry requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-09-01 18:11
“Information on Typhoon Saola (Natural disasters page)”
2023-08-01 18:54
Updated information on Safety and Security and Local Laws and Customs in China (‘Safety and Security’ and ‘Local Laws and Customs’ page)
2023-06-22 09:38
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-05 11:33
Updated information on altitude sickness (‘Health’ page).
2023-05-03 15:39
Notification of a change to COVID-19 entry requirements for people travelling to China (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-04-21 16:52
Updated information on COVID-19 measures and restrictions (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry Requirements’ pages).
2023-04-14 11:56
Removal of information about COVID-19 rules for passengers travelling from mainland China to England as these have ended (‘Coronavirus’ page).
2023-03-17 15:51
Updated information on COVID-19 guidance for people arriving into England from mainland China (‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages).
2023-01-16 12:50
Updated information on COVID-19 guidance for people arriving into England from mainland China (‘Summary’ page, ‘Coronavirus’ page) and disruptions at the border between mainland China and Hong Kong (‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-01-04 18:22
Notification of a change in COVID-19 guidance for people arriving into England from mainland China (‘Summary’ page, ‘Coronavirus’ page)’
2022-12-30 22:47
Notification of a change in COVID-19 related travel restrictions for people arriving into England from mainland China (‘Summary’ page)
2022-12-30 22:27
Notification of a change in COVID-19 related travel restrictions for people arriving into England from China (‘Summary’ page)
2022-12-30 14:19
Updated information on COVID-19 measures and restrictions from 8 January 2023 (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages).
2022-12-14 11:24
Updated information on COVID-19 measures and restrictions (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2022-12-06 14:07
Updated information on local COVID-19 measures and requirements for entering China via transfer through a third country (‘Summary’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2022-11-29 15:59
Updated information on lockdowns as part of local COVID-19 measures and avoiding demonstrations or large gatherings (‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages). Addition of information on completing a PCR test within 48 hours before boarding your final flight into China (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-10-31 14:28
Addition of information on contacting the National Immigration Hotline if you are already in China and have a visa enquiry (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-08-12 14:44
New information about assistance hotlines opened by authorities in Sanya for foreign tourists and residents currently in Sanya (‘Summary’ page).
2022-08-12 08:54
Updated information on direct flights between the UK and mainland China (‘Coronavirus’ page).
2022-08-11 09:26
information about travel suspension in and out of Hainan Island (‘Summary’ page)
2022-07-15 13:52
Updated information on recent changes to Chinese quarantine rules (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-06-21 13:09
Updated information on the visa regime and COVID-19 regulations for travel (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-06-20 14:15
The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to Shanghai Municipality and Jilin Province due to the ongoing Omicron outbreak. Updated information on lockdowns and COVID-19 measures. Removal of information on airport letters (‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages)
2022-04-22 16:13
New advice for travellers who have confirmed flight bookings from Shanghai and require a Consulate letter to seek permission to travel to the airport (‘Coronavirus’ page)
2022-04-13 15:13
The FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to Shanghai Municipality and Jilin Province. This is due to the ongoing Omicron outbreak (‘Summary’ page). Update to information on COVID-19 restrictions and requirements after quarantine (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-04-06 11:30
Update to information on COVID-19 restrictions and testing measures in Shanghai (‘Summary’ page)
2022-03-28 13:42
New information added on lockdown measures in Shanghai (‘Summary’)