This article provides information on the latest travel policies in China – implemented temporarily due to COVID-19 – to help business travelers understand the current situation and develop feasible travel plans.
We address some frequently asked questions with regards to foreigners managing their China residence and work permits when stuck abroad due to the travel ban in our article here.
COVID-19 is now a global pandemic, and in a bid to prevent a second wave of the outbreak at home, China has not given up on drastic measures to contain infections or possibility of reinfection.

Since March 28, the country’s borders are closed to almost all foreigners. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) adopted the so-called five-one policy to cap international flights the following day. 
The number of international flights into China since then dropped 90 percent and only around 20 international flights can land on its soil each day.

The COVID-19 epidemic in China is basically under control. Most of the country is classified as low-risk areas. However, the virus hasn’t fully disappeared with sporadic outbreaks in individual cities.

Recently, a fresh cluster of COVID-19 cases emerged in Beijing from the city’s largest wholesale food market – Xinfadi wholesale market. 
With more than 100 people reported infected over the past five days, on June 16, Beijing raised its public health emergency response from the third to the second level. 
Compounds neighboring Xinfadi were fenced off with 27 now designated medium risk and one designated high risk. Beijing government called for residents of medium and high-risk areas, as well as those related to the Xinfadi market, to not leave Beijing. 
Other residents should not leave the city if the trip is not necessary. Those who have to leave should first have negative nucleic acid test results no older than seven days. All exhibitions, sports events, and shows will be stopped and tourist services to other provinces and overseas are suspended. 

Within other areas of the country, provinces and cities are easing domestic travel restrictions in an effort to boost consumption and get the economy back to normalcy. 
But local quarantine policies and controls still exist and vary, adding to the confusion of many business travelers.

This article provides information on the latest travel policies in China – implemented temporarily due to COVID-19 – and meant to contain any internal spread of the coronavirus.

International travel restrictions
Suspending the entry of foreign nationals From midnight (0 a.m.) of March 28, 2020, 
China suspended the entry of most foreign nationals, citing the temporary measure as a response to the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the world.

According to the announcement was made by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on March 26, 
foreigners who hold the following visas, even valid ones, are not allowed to enter China now:

Chinese visa;
Residence permit;
APEC business travel card; and/or
Port visa.

However, those who hold the following visas will not be affected: 
Diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visas; and new visa successfully applied for from Chinese embassies or consulates overseas after the announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, as the outbreak eases, to maintain the necessary international business activities, China is communicating with the rest of the world to relax the border restrictions.