Flying direct to China from New Zealand? No need for Covid-19 PCR tests from Wednesday
- Travellers only need to take a RAT and declare negative results on arrival, Chinese embassy in New Zealand says
- It is not clear if Chinese embassies in other countries might make similar announcements
Travellers will only need to take a self-administered rapid antigen test (RAT) within 48 hours before departure and declare the results on arrival, according to the Chinese embassy in New Zealand.
The announcement comes after China earlier this year lifted most Covid-related border controls that had been in place since early 2020.
It is not clear if Chinese embassies in other countries might make similar announcements.
Under the new rule, airlines will no longer check test results during check-in from New Zealand. Arrivals will only need to fill in a health declaration form stating the result on the social media platform WeChat, or the China Customs app or its website.
However, while quarantine upon entry was scrapped, Chinese authorities still required airlines to check overseas passengers’ negative PCR test results taken within the previous 48 hours.
China’s cross-border trips at 3-year high as Hong Kong, Macau open up fully
New Zealand was also on the list of 20 countries where China allowed group tours to resume after the border reopening, with the first Chinese group tour due to land in Auckland on Friday, according to an earlier statement from the embassy.
Other curbs on travel to and from China, especially with regard to Japan and South Korea, have also been eased in recent weeks.
Japan has announced that instead of testing all arrivals from China, it would only test by random selection from Wednesday, according to Kyodo News. However, travellers must still show a negative test result at check-in.
The Japanese government, which no longer limits direct flights to and from China to the four major airports of Narita, Haneda, Kansai and Chubu, has also said it will allow airlines to increase the number of direct flights.
China was hit by a wave of Covid-19 infections in the weeks after lifting its strict zero-Covid policy of testing and lockdowns in December. The wave prompted Japan to limit flights from China and require on-arrival Covid-19 tests, while South Korea suspended short-term visas for Chinese visitors.