Last updated: [1/27/2023]
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) requirement of proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect. For more information, see the Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.
Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.
Entry and Exit Requirements
- Are there COVID-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens? Yes. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) currently allows foreign nationals with valid residence permits and valid visas to enter the country under certain limited conditions. The U.S. Embassy is not involved in the creation of these policies, and they are subject to change at any time.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes. Please follow guidance on the PRC Embassy website to identify timing requirements for the pre-departure test and information regarding labs approved by the PRC.
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes, incoming passengers will have their temperature taken via scanner.
Quarantine Information
Effective January 8, 2023, there is no longer a requirement of quarantine for international arrivals entering the PRC. Note that regulations in the PRC can change quickly, so please review the PRC-specific Travel Advisory when planning travel and again shortly before departure.
- U.S. citizens in the PRC should follow PRC and U.S. CDC guidance for prevention, signs and symptoms, and treatment of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Testing
Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in the PRC? Yes.
Some of several COVID-19 testing sites in Beijing are:
Sanfine International Hospital: 010 6413 6688
Beijing Hospital: 010 85132266
Peking University International Hospital: 010 69006900
Beijing Shijitan Hospital: 010 63926600
Beijing United Family Hospital Jianguomen Clinic: 4008-919191 (24-Hour)
- For a nationwide list of COVID testing centers, please see here (Mandarin)
- WeChat users can select “official accounts (公众号)” and then press the “+” key to search for “city name (本地宝)” to find additional testing locations. Follow the account, type “核酸检测” into the search bar at the bottom of the screen, and then click the hyperlink that leads to a list of all testing locations.
- For a list that includes testing centers with English language services, please see here. (933 KB)
Are test results reliably available within 24 hours? Yes;
- COVID-19 tests are widely available throughout the PRC. COVID-19 tests are available at most hospitals and clinics. Test results are often returned within 12-24 hours. The cost of the COVID-19 test is about $17 US dollars but can vary.
- Test results may be delivered by a variety of methods: email, text, or an update to the local COVID-19 monitoring app are the most common methods.
- Please refer to local health authorities for more information on COVID-19 testing.
- For information on limited humanitarian exemptions to the CDC’s requirement that all U.S.-bound travelers present a negative COVID test, please review the following Humanitarian exemptions to this order will be granted on an extremely limited basis and will only be considered when the country of departure lacks adequate COVID-19 testing capacity. To apply for an exemption, email:
- Beijing Consular District: BeijingACS@state.gov
- Guangzhou Consular District: GuangzhouACS@state.gov
- Shanghai Consular District: ShanghaiACS@state.gov
- Shenyang Consular District: ShenyangACS@state.gov
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Are vaccines available in the PRC for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes.
- The PRC government has conditionally authorized several vaccines that are currently available to foreigners residing in the PRC. The two most commonly available, Sinopharm and Sinovac, have not yet received approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States. Sinopharm and Sinovac have received approval for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). Please contact your local health authorities for more information.
- Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
Movement Restrictions
Is a curfew in place? No.
Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.
Local Resources
- The PRC State Council’s COVID-19 webpage
- Other links:
- COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
- CDC page on COVID-19
- PRC Travel Information
- Map of Number of Daily New COVID-19 Cases by Province – Last updated on 1/11/2023 (PDF 341 KB)