COVID-19 test a must for all overseas flyers to China

A foreigner receives a nucleic acid test at a temporary inspection point in Shanghai on March 21, 2020. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/chinadaily.com.cn] 

All passengers taking inbound flights to China from overseas will be required to have a nucleic acid test within five days before their flights in an effort to curb the cross-border spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of international travel, said the country's top civil aviation regulator.

According to a notice jointly issued Tuesday by multiple departments including the Civil Aviation Administration of China and General Administration of Customs, all passengers, whether Chinese citizens or overseas travelers, should take the nucleic acid test at medical institutions designated by Chinese embassies.

Passengers who are Chinese citizens are required to take photos of and upload the nucleic acid test results via an epidemic prevention mini program on the Chinese instant messaging platform WeChat, it said.

Overseas travelers need to apply for a declaration of health status from the Chinese embassy with a valid written report of a negative test result, it added.

Airlines will check the health QR code or health declaration ahead of boarding, and those failing to produce such documents will be denied boarding, it said, adding that passengers who provide false certificates and information shall bear the corresponding legal liabilities.