Terms and Conditions

Can Australians visit China without quarantine?

No. Unlike some other countries in Asia which are cautiously reopening internal borders, China's borders remain tightly controlled under the country's strict "COVID zero" policy.

Travellers with valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion may be able to enter China without applying for new visas, but multiple testing requirements are in place and hotel quarantine on arrival is mandatory — and arduous.

In some Chinese cities, travellers face a month-long quarantine during which they're tested seven times and only allowed to open their hotel room doors to accept food deliveries.

There are currently no plans to tighten border restrictions in response to Omicron. 

Direct flights between China and Australia are limited, and China has suspended all visas on arrival, including transit visas.

Nearly two years after the coronavirus emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, China is enforcing a "zero COVID" strategy of widespread lockdowns and testing in a bid to contain outbreaks in more than a dozen provinces.

Though many of its neighbours in the Asia-Pacific have abandoned COVID elimination strategies, China's borders have mostly remained shut to stop the virus from being imported with overseas travellers ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.

And if its low COVID death rate — 62 times better than Australia's — is accurate, the policy could be seen as a success.

Until recently, life in China has mostly continued this year "as normal" — full restaurants, open shops and theatres, domestic travel — because of the country's efforts to control the spread of the virus.

Authorities take swift and drastic action to contain outbreaks when they emerge, sometimes sending hundreds of COVID cases and contacts into quarantine and carrying out mass testing.

While many Chinese are supportive of the approach, others — including some in Australia — say they've suffered from not being able to travel freely to visit relatives and friends.

And it's unclear how long the COVID-zero policy will be maintained. Though 80 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, questions have been raised about the efficacy of its locally produced vaccines, which could create problems when the country opens up.

"There is a view that China's COVID-zero policy is likely to continue to the end of the Winter Olympics," La Trobe University Professor Chaojie Liu said last month.

"It's difficult for any country or government to really abandon the elimination strategy because people have got used to living in that kind of environment."

Australia does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with China, which means that if you need medical assistance, travellers or their insurer must pay the full cost of treatment.

Again, flights between China and Australia are currently limited. Only travellers who are exempt or have been granted an individual exemption can come to Australia — so long as they hold a valid visa. Exempt categories include Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents. 

At this stage, from December 15, travel exemptions will no longer be imposed on fully vaccinated eligible visa holders.

Terms & Conditions

We have new Terms & Conditions.  You will be required to acknowledge these before any bookings can be made.

🌏  Traveller Costs: There will be costs associated with all the COVID testing requirements on departure/on arrival at the destination/on arrival into Australia. To be safe, I recommend to have a COVID kitty valued between AUD$300-$500 for a destination.

🌏  PCR Tests: There is PCR testing at SYD & MEL airports.

Here is the link to the site which you might find helpful. https://www.histopath.com.au/traveltesting

While some airlines will be happy with an e-copy, some aren’t. Be on the safe side and get your paper copy

🌏  FIJI travel:
Firstly you can only stay at resorts, hotels and use activity operators that are registered as Care Fiji Committed (CFC). Travellers will needs to show documented proof of a confirmed CFC booking at check-in.
Check out the CFC accommodation here: https://www.fiji.travel/places-to-stay
*** If the accommodation is not CFC, you will need to change accommodation. Beware of AIRBNB’s etc #thatswhyyoubookwithme

On the accommodation page on the top right of the screen it will show these icons, indicating the hotel/resort is CFC.

⚡ It is essential that everyone over 12 years old gets a negative RT PCR Test done 72 hours before they board the flight.
⚡ Travellers will also need to take a mandatory Rapid COVID-19 test at their CFC-certified resort 48 hours after arrival.
⚡ Travellers will need to download the careFIJI contact tracing app to check into businesses.
⚡ Coming back into Australia also requires a RT-PCR test. Selected clinics in Nadi and Suva will be able to issue you with a fast and convenient negative RT-PCR test.

📄 For entry requirements to Australia check https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/covid-19/covid-19/covid-19-re-entry-and-quarantine-measures

Checking COVID protocols per country, there is also a plugin on Smartpoint for Travelport+ users and Smart Traveller also has the information.

As countries open up, COVID protocols may change so if you are forward booking with me, I'll send an update closer to your departure.

Jade xx

#covidtravel #travelinternational #airports #travelling #idream #iwonder #itravel #itraveladventures #travel #australia #supportlocal

Terms & Conditions

We have new Terms & Conditions.  You will be required to acknowledge these before any bookings can be made.