China

For travel to Tibet, stricter rules may have to be followed, for example, entry from Nepal is only possible with a group visa in many cases. Travel groups on their way to Macao or Hong Kong, on the other hand, may be able to count on relief in the People's Republic of China.

Stays on Hainan Island are visa-free for up to 30 days, although a visa is required for the rest of the country. However, this requires registration via a Chinese travel agency and direct entry and exit via a third country (or Hong Kong).

The processing time for a visa application is usually 4 working days, but can vary depending on the location of the responsible Visa Application Centre.

The following documents may be required for a visa application: Proof of valid health insurance, proof of sufficient financial means for the duration of the stay, proof of onward travel and accommodation as well as passport photos and an invitation letter. To apply for a visa for minors who travel alone or with only one parent/guardian, a birth certificate and the declaration of consent of the other guardian may be required. Binding information on these matters is provided by the competent diplomatic mission abroad.

A one-time airport transit with a stay of up to 24 hours is possible without a visa. In some cities, a stay of 72 or 144 hours is also possible. The prerequisite for all visa-free transit stays is entry via one of the prescribed border checkpoints and onward travel to a third country that was not the starting point of the trip. A valid ticket and, if necessary, a visa of the third country must be presented accordingly. Onward travel with connecting flights within China is not permitted.

In the past, travellers with Turkish, Iraqi or Pakistani visas in their passports have been excluded from the scheme and turned back. The decision is made upon entry.

Applicants who have a passport issued after 1 January 2014, must partly present the expired passport together with the current one for the application. If the passport has been confiscated, a corresponding declaration must be made. It must be explained which countries have been visited in the last three years as well as the length of the respective stay.

Biometric data will be taken (fingerprints), for which fees will be charged. The visa must be applied for in person.

Travel exclusively to Hainan Island can be made visa-free through an accredited travel agency in Hainan for a period of up to 30 days. For further travel, a visa must be applied for in advance.

Travellers must also register for visa-free stays, which can be done by a hotel.

There are no known restrictions

There are no known restrictions

An extension of stay must be applied for at the local authority (Exit and Entry Administration, EEA) before expiry. Chinese missions abroad are not authorised to provide such services.

Travellers should ensure they do not exceed the permitted length of stay in the destination country in order to avoid possible sanctions such as fines, custody pending deportation or even entry bans.

Non-essential travel to China is currently advised against.

The so called "3G rule" is lifted when entering Germany, there is a recommendation to wear a mask at some airports.

Tourist travel to China is possible again as of 15 March. Cruise ships are allowed to dock in Hainan and Shanghai. The borders to Hong Kong and Macao have already been open again without restrictions (i.e. without test regulations and daily entry quotas) since February.

There are no COVID-19-related mandatory entry forms or online registrations to be completed before travel at this time.

There are no known restrictions

Visa-free transit stays in China have been possible again since 8 January.

Information on quarantine regulations, testing requirements and possible exceptions for transit travellers that have been vaccinated can be found in the respective categories (if available).

Children and minors are not generally exempt in case testing requirements apply.

There is no requirement to present proof of a vaccination against COVID-19 or negative testing.

There are no known restrictions

There are no known restrictions

There is no requirement to present proof of a vaccination against COVID-19 or negative testing.

There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry for completely immunized persons.

There is no requirement to present proof of a vaccination against COVID-19 or negative testing.

There are no known restrictions

There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry for incompletely vaccinated persons.

There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry for those who have recovered.

There is no ease of restrictions.

Current value: 0. Previous week: 0

Data source: Our World in Data / European Center for Disease Control. The data is only available at country level and is updated daily.

There are currently no more COVID-19-related restrictions.

There are no known restrictions

There are currently no more COVID-19-related restrictions.

The shops are open.

Restaurants and bars are open.

Hotels and other accommodations are open.

Public events may take place without COVID-19 restrictions.

Sports, leisure and cultural facilities are allowed to open without major COVID-19 restrictions.

Public transport is operating normally.

International and domestic flight operations are operating normally.

According to information from April 2023, isolation is no longer mandatory. The Chinese government recommends staying at home in case of mild symptoms.

At the moment, nothing is known about a general mandatory COVID-19 test when leaving China, but in most cases, travel to the airport (especially from areas affected by lockdowns) is only possible with a negative test result.

For travellers entering from a risk-free area, there are no longer any registration or other requirements.

There are no known restrictions

There is no obligation to test before entering Germany.

There is no obligation to test after entering Germany.

According to the Robert Koch-Institute, it is a risk-free area. There is no quarantine obligation after entry into or return to Germany.

There is no testing or quarantine requirement for completely immunized persons on entry/return.

Vaccinated persons are exempt from national quarantine and testing obligations. (Caution: In Germany, only the vaccines by BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax have been approved so far.) Further information is available from the Federal Government.

According to the Robert Koch-Institute, it is a risk-free area. There is no quarantine obligation after entry into or return to Germany.

There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry/return for incompletely vaccinated persons.

According to the Robert Koch-Institute, it is a risk-free area. There is no quarantine obligation after entry into or return to Germany.

There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry/return for those who have recovered.

Recovered persons are exempt from quarantine and testing obligations nationwide, area of active circulation of highly contagious virus variants. Those who have recovered need proof of a positive PCR test (or other nucleic acid detection) at least 28 days and no more than 3 months ago. Recovered persons must not have any symptoms of a possible COVID-19 infection. Further information is available from the Federal Government.