China Makes Major Change to COVID-19 Policy for International Visitors

We’ve seen a LOT of travel changes in the past few years!

Face Mask Sign previously in Disney World

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel policies were altered worldwide, with quarantine requirements, vaccine mandates, and even border shutdowns. We’ve seen things change significantly since the pandemic first began, and now one country is updating its policies for international visitors.

China announced late Monday, December 26th that international travelers will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival, starting on January 8th, 2023. CNBC notes that this change follows an abrupt relaxation in domestic COVID-19 controls from earlier this month.

China has announced that travelers will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival on the mainland starting Jan. 8. https://t.co/r6SsE3DzUd pic.twitter.com/2i1vhrT6DC

— CNBC (@CNBC) December 27, 2022

Since March 2020, travelers to the mainland have typically been required to quarantine for 14 days in a hotel upon arrival into the country. The current policy requires 5 days of quarantine at a centralized facility followed by three days at home.

Former Mask Signage in Disney World (2021)

Other things that will stop on January 8th include the tracking of COVID patients’ close contacts, the designation of COVID risk areas, and the cancelation of measures that slow the import of goods. Travelers to China will only be required to show a negative COVID test from the past 48 hours and will no longer be required to apply for a clear health code. Masks will still be required on the flights.

We’ll continue to monitor the travel conditions around the world and keep you updated. We’re interested to see how this change impacts international travel numbers in the coming months.