Recently, China released the 9th version of its COVID prevention rules, easing quarantine measures after returning to China. Today, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. also announced new policies, with lots of good news!
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Double testing
First, the double testing requirement has changed to two separate tests on the two days before boarding, and the tests can be done at any testing facility with CLIA certification. You cannot go to the same facility for both tests. In other words, the free but slower nucleic acid tests available in the U.S. can also be used for travel back to China. For the test taken one day before departure, since results need to be issued within 24 hours, please pay attention to whether the facility can guarantee fast turnaround, because you also need time left to apply for the health code. Also, note that the two tests must be at least 24 hours apart. That is, the first test can be taken 48 hours before departure, and the second test must be taken at least 24 hours after the first one.
Transit ban lifted
It appears that transiting back to China is no longer prohibited, but you still need to pay attention to the green code requirements of the Chinese embassy or consulate in the transit country. This will give you many more options for returning to China, although there are already many flights from the U.S. to China.
Pre-departure antigen test canceled
The rapid antigen test before departure has been canceled and is no longer required.
Full text of the notice
In order to further strengthen COVID-19 prevention and control work and implement the latest domestic prevention requirements, starting from June 30, 2022, people traveling to China should apply for a health code to the Embassy of China in the U.S. according to the following rules:1. Pre-departure testing requirements
(1) All passengers taking flights from the U.S. to China must complete “double nucleic acid” testing within 48 hours before boarding, and the second test must be completed within 24 hours before boarding.
(2) The “double nucleic acid” tests should achieve “parallel testing and cross-verification,” meaning that the tests must be performed at different testing facilities, using two different reagents, with the two sample collections at least 24 hours apart.
Example: If your flight check-in date leaving the U.S. is July 10 local time, the timing requirements for the two nucleic acid tests are as follows: the first sample collection time is July 8, the second sample collection time is July 9, and you must choose different testing facilities and use different test reagents.
2. Testing facilities
Nucleic acid test certificates issued by legal testing facilities in the U.S. (generally those with CLIA certification; CLIA certification can be checked at https://www.cdc.gov/clia/LabSearch.html) are acceptable. The test report should include specific information such as the individual’s name, date of birth, sample collection time (time of collection), report issue time, and contact information that can be used to verify the testing facility.
3. Applying for the health code
(1) Materials to prepare
Please prepare scanned copies or screenshots of the following materials in advance:
1. “Double nucleic acid” test reports;
2. Flight ticket or itinerary for departure to China;
3. Valid travel document for boarding (such as a passport or travel permit). If you are not a Chinese citizen, upload your passport and valid visa to China;
4. For persons with a prior infection history, two additional nucleic acid test reports must be provided as required below.
(2) Application channels
1. Chinese citizens (including holders of Chinese passports, travel permits, “Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents,” and “Taiwan Compatriot Permits”): search for “防疫健康码国际版” in WeChat or scan the QR code below to enter the WeChat Health Code International Version mini program to submit the application;
2. Non-Chinese citizens: use the Foreigners’ Health Declaration QR code webpage, please click https://hrhk.cs.mfa.gov.cn/H5/
3. Please select the corresponding Chinese embassy or consulate in the U.S. in the health code mini program according to the location of the testing facility for the second nucleic acid test (within 24 hours before departure). The jurisdiction of Chinese embassies and consulates in the U.S. is as follows:
Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: Washington, D.C., Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and, in place of the former Consulate General in Houston, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas
Chinese Consulate General in New York: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco: Alaska, Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles: Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Pacific Islands
Chinese Consulate General in Chicago: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin
The three counties of SAN LUIS OBISPO, KERN, and SAN BERNARDINO and north thereof fall under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco; south thereof (inclusive) fall under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles
(3) Fill in the declaration information accurately
1. In each step of the declaration, make sure that your name, date of birth, and document number are consistent with the document you hold, and that they are accurate.
2. Document numbers such as passport numbers will be used directly to cross-check the test results provided by the testing facility. If they are incorrect, the application will be delayed or rejected.
3. Please truthfully provide your personal phone number and make sure it remains reachable.
4. Verification and approval
(1) [Full verification] The Embassy of China in the U.S. will fully verify the authenticity of the test report and, if necessary, will require the applicant to contact the testing facility for verification and confirmation.
(2) [Review time] The Embassy of China in the U.S. reviews health code applications from 9:00 to 23:00 every day (including holidays). Please submit your application as soon as the materials are complete. You can check the review result online by yourself; there is no need to call repeatedly to urge processing, so as not to affect the review progress and delay the travel plans of other people going to China.
(3) [Blue code, green code] After submission and review, if qualified, you can obtain a “green code,” which allows boarding. Chinese embassies and consulates in the U.S. will temporarily no longer issue “blue codes.”
5. Check-in inspection
(1) [Health code inspection] The airline will inspect the health code at check-in. All passengers traveling to China must open and log in to the mini program or webpage at the check-in counter to display the health code. Screenshots, printed copies, and other forms of health code display are not accepted. Passengers holding a “green code” may board.
(2) [Additional airline requirements] The airline may take measures such as temperature checks and inspection of the original test report according to its own rules. Please cooperate. The Chinese embassies and consulates in the U.S. will actively coordinate with the relevant airlines to optimize and adjust these additional requirements.
(3) [Scope of use of the international version of the health code] The international version of the health code issued by Chinese embassies and consulates in the U.S. is only for use at check-in on international flights departing the U.S. For customs inspection and quarantine, quarantine observation, health code, and other policies at the port of entry, please consult the relevant competent authorities.
6. Notes for persons with a prior infection history, close contacts, persons with suspected symptoms, etc. when applying for a health code
(1) Confirmation of recovery. Undergoing 2 nucleic acid tests at least 24 hours apart and obtaining 2 negative reports can be regarded as confirming recovery.
(2) After recovery is confirmed, starting from the date the second negative nucleic acid test report is issued, if 14 days of health monitoring pass without abnormalities, you may then take the double nucleic acid tests within 48 hours before boarding. When applying for the health code, you should upload the 2 negative nucleic acid test reports used to confirm recovery, as well as the double nucleic acid test reports taken within 48 hours before departure.
(3) Close contacts, persons with suspected symptoms, etc.
The Embassy does not issue health codes to close contacts, persons with suspected symptoms, persons whose nucleic acid test results are “inconclusive,” or persons in the nucleic acid test “gray zone.” Such persons must complete 5 days of health monitoring after the last date of contact, after symptoms have disappeared, or after receiving an “inconclusive” test result. If there are no abnormalities during this period, they may apply for a health code through the normal process.
7. Transit issues
For trips involving transit, in principle testing should be completed separately at the point of departure and at the transit point (the departure point of the direct flight to China), and health codes should be applied for separately.
There are many U.S.-China routes, airports, and testing facilities, and the specific situations vary. People traveling to China should analyze and judge comprehensively, carefully evaluate different travel options, and avoid delaying their trip.