The rules require travelers to provide truthful and lawful reasons for entering, leaving, staying or residing in China.
Immigration and visa officials can question applicants and request documents, other materials and electronic data while verifying identity and travel purposes. False statements or documents can result in refused travel documents or permission to enter or leave China.
Chinese citizens face tougher exit controls
Authorities will strengthen warnings for Chinese citizens planning trips to destinations affected by armed conflict, crime, natural disasters, major accidents or infectious disease outbreaks.
Officials may advise against travel to destinations classified as extremely high risk or experiencing serious threats to personal safety. However, a travel warning alone does not automatically constitute an exit ban.
Chinese citizens punished for fraudulently obtaining travel documents or illegally entering or leaving another country can be barred from leaving China for six months to three years after completing their punishment.
The same restriction can apply to citizens involved in overseas activities that harm China’s national security or interests, as well as certain export-control or technology trade violations.
Foreigners could face five-year entry bans
Foreign nationals who submit false documents or statements when applying for a Chinese visa or seeking entry can be barred from China for one to five years.
Similar bans can apply to foreigners punished for crimes involving border administration or administrative violations involving fraudulent travel documents or illegal entry and exit.
Individuals and organizations issuing invitation letters or other supporting documents will also be responsible for their accuracy. Individuals providing false documents can be fined 5,000 to 10,000 yuan (app. US$744 to US$1,488), while organizations can face fines of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan (app US$1,488 to US$7,440).
Immigration intermediaries face registration
Businesses and individuals providing immigration advice or assistance with visa and entry-exit procedures will have to register with local immigration authorities.
New businesses must register within 15 days of establishment. Existing providers will have 90 days from September 15 to comply.
The rules prohibit false information, misleading advertising, fraudulent documents, improper visa assistance, personal-data leaks and involvement in illegal cross-border activities. Serious violations could result in suspension or loss of a business license.
No blanket phone-search requirement
The regulations DO NOT introduce blanket mobile-phone searches for tourists.
Officials can request electronic data when verifying identity or the stated purpose of an application, but the regulations do not require every traveler to have their phone searched.
The rules also do not cancel China’s existing visa-free programs. Official guidance currently covers 50 countries under China’s unilateral visa-free policy, allowing eligible ordinary-passport holders to stay up to 30 days for permitted purposes.
Separately, China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy covers nationals of 55 countries traveling through China to a third destination, with eligible travelers allowed to stay up to 10 days in designated areas.
Tags: travel restrictions China
