China and the rest of the world have started to rebound after the pandemic. As of this week, nearly three years after the initial outbreak, Chinese embassies are issuing all kinds of visas again, including tourist visas. The lingering restrictions from the zero covid policy, which were removed at the end of last December, marked a turning point in China’s forty year participation in global growth.
Beijing has also confirmed the possibility of visa renewals for those issued before March 28, 2020, provided the visa is still valid. In addition, there are still visa exemptions for tourists from Hong Kong, Macau, and some Southeast Asian countries. Visitors arriving on Hainan Island or from past journeys to Shanghai are likewise affected by existing regulations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says these steps will facilitate exchanges between Chinese citizens and visitors from abroad.
Close to normal before the pandemic
Travel to China has faced long delays and a lot of hurdles for years. Visas were often hard to obtain, flights could be scarce and expensive, itineraries were frequently cancelled, and travelers faced lengthy quarantine and medical testing regimes. During the mid months of the pandemic, the Covid zero policy began to loosen. By mid December the requirements were simplified to a negative PCR test from an approved clinic or hospital within two days of the flight.
The ministry spokesman, Wang Wen Bin, announced that from now on the antigen test would be affordable and can be taken at home with immediate results. He explained that testing measures have been refined and travelers from related countries will find a more controllable situation overall, with fewer barriers.
Chinese officials moved slowly toward reopening in the second half of the previous year. Student visas, one of the most affected groups, began to reappear in August. Many families heard about a rare pneumonia during the Christmas period and had not returned to China for more than two years.
Reopening to international tourism
The decision to relax foreign restrictions followed China declaring victory over the virus. Travel into China crossed 115 million border journeys last year, with foreigners accounting for a small share. In comparison, 2019 saw about 670 million trips to and from the country. The tourism sector has shown greater resilience than many other destinations. Domestic travelers have powered recovery in some markets, while international travel continues to rebound slowly for destinations that depend on cross border visitors.
The shift has come during a period when the internal market remains a strong pillar for tourism, supported by a large population and robust domestic demand. After a long period of caution, the reopening measures are allowing international students and tourists to enter and leave China again, restoring a flow that benefited both China and the broader world. As the measures begin to take full effect, travel between China and Canada and the United States is expected to improve, with greater ease of entry and more predictable travel requirements for visitors from North America.