COVID-19: Officials will facilitate visas for recipients of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine

Officials will provide “visa facilitation” to foreign nationals who have taken a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine, according to statements posted to a number of Chinese embassy websites. The change will allow eligible applicants to apply for visas under pre-pandemic rules.

Key Points:

• China has barred entry to most foreign travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has indicated it will now accept visa applications from foreign nationals who have received a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine and are traveling to Mainland China to resume work, for business or for “humanitarian needs,” including reuniting with family members.
• Visa applicants are encouraged to check statements published by the relevant Chinese embassy or commissioner’s office for more information. Among those that have published statements so far this week are embassies and commissioner’s offices in Belarus, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and the United States.

Additional Information: Earlier this month, China launched an International Travel Health Certificate for Chinese citizens. The certificate shows COVID-19 test results and vaccination status and contains an encrypted QR code that can be used by authorities in various countries to verify authenticity. The certificate can be displayed electronically or printed.

Analysis & Comments: The change will ease travel to China for some foreign nationals, though travelers should note that the visa facilitation is only available at this time to applicants who have received a Chinese-made vaccine.

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