COVID-19 Testing Requirements to China

Updated April 25, 2023

China will no longer require travellers to the country to provide a negative PCR test result, abandoning a rule that has been a major deterrent for visitation since the world’s second-largest economy emerged from Covid-19 isolation in January.

From April 29, travellers can instead show negative rapid antigen test results while airlines will not be required to check the proof, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Tuesday at a press briefing in Beijing.

According to the Foreign Minister's press briefing 4/25/2023:

To further facilitate cross-border travel, China is taking new steps to refine pre-departure testing requirements guided by the principle of ensuring safe and orderly travel and keeping the measures science-based and well-targeted. Starting from April 29, inbound travelers may choose to take antigen tests within 48 hours prior to boarding other than nucleic acid tests. Airlines will no longer check pre-departure testing results.

We would like to remind inbound and outbound travelers to look after their health in the run-up to their departure and strictly follow the COVID protocols of China and their travel destinations so that they can have a healthy and pleasant trip and a safe journey home.

China will continue to refine prevention and control policies in a science-based manner in light of the evolving epidemic situation to ensure the safe, healthy and orderly travel between China and other countries.

EpicWave laboratory offers COVID-19 tests for all situations. COVID-19 Antigen tests are $49 and results are available within 30 minutes of collection. Results are sent to you electronically through email and with a verifiable barcode. We are a CLIA-certified and CDPH-certified clinical laboratory.