The China health declaration on arrival: the form is gone, one duty remains

The form was abolished on 1 November 2023

China's customs authorities announced the cessation of mandatory health declaration requirements for both inbound and outbound travelers. From 1 November 2023, inbound and outbound travelers no longer need to file a health declaration form with customs, according to a statement from the General Administration of Customs.

China drops health declaration requirements for cross-border travelers (The State Council of the People's Republic of China (Xinhua), reporting the General Administration of Customs announcement, page dated 2023-10-31, read 2026-07-25)

The legal basis for dropping it

On 31 October 2023 the General Administration of Customs of China issued an announcement that, under the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing rules, from 00:00 on 1 November 2023 travelers entering or exiting China are no longer required to fill out the Entry/Exit Health Declaration Form.

No More Health Declaration Form Required for Exit or Entry from November 1 (Beijing Municipal People's Government English portal, citing the General Administration of Customs of China, page dated 2023-11-01, read 2026-07-25)

Symptomatic travelers must still declare

Individuals entering or exiting who exhibit symptoms of infectious diseases such as fever, cough, breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, or unexplained subcutaneous bleeding, or who have been diagnosed with an infectious disease, must voluntarily declare their health status to customs authorities.

No More Health Declaration Form Required for Exit or Entry from November 1 (Beijing Municipal People's Government English portal, citing the General Administration of Customs of China, page dated 2023-11-01, read 2026-07-25)

And must cooperate with quarantine measures

A symptomatic traveler must cooperate with customs officials in health-quarantine procedures, including temperature checks, epidemiological investigations, medical screening, and sample collection and testing. The State Council report names temperature monitoring and epidemiological investigation among these measures.

No More Health Declaration Form Required for Exit or Entry from November 1 (Beijing Municipal People's Government English portal, citing the General Administration of Customs of China, page dated 2023-11-01, read 2026-07-25)

Concealment has real consequences

Failure to disclose, or an attempt to evade quarantine measures, results in corresponding legal consequences. Those who cause the transmission of, or pose significant risks of transmitting, quarantinable infectious diseases face criminal liability. The residual duty is not a formality.

No More Health Declaration Form Required for Exit or Entry from November 1 (Beijing Municipal People's Government English portal, citing the General Administration of Customs of China, page dated 2023-11-01, read 2026-07-25)

Why the page still exists after the form is gone

"You no longer fill a health declaration form" is itself the fact most travelers need, and it settles conflicting older advice. The State Council portal confirms the cessation for both inbound and outbound travelers, so the page reports the current rule rather than reconstructing a retired one.

China drops health declaration requirements for cross-border travelers (The State Council of the People's Republic of China (Xinhua), reporting the General Administration of Customs announcement, page dated 2023-10-31, read 2026-07-25)

Do I have to fill in a health declaration form to enter China?

No. Since 1 November 2023 the General Administration of Customs stopped requiring the Entry/Exit Health Declaration Form for both inbound and outbound travelers. If you have no symptoms of an infectious disease there is nothing to fill in at the customs health-quarantine area.

Is there anything I still have to declare about my health?

Yes, if you are unwell. A traveler who shows symptoms of an infectious disease, such as fever, cough, breathing difficulty, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, or unexplained subcutaneous bleeding, or who has been diagnosed with one, must voluntarily declare their health status to customs and cooperate with quarantine measures.

What counts as a symptom I need to report to customs?

The Beijing municipal portal, citing the General Administration of Customs, names fever, cough, breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and unexplained subcutaneous bleeding, along with having been diagnosed with an infectious disease. Any of these triggers the voluntary self-declaration duty that survived the abolished form.

What happens if I hide that I am sick at the border?

Concealing your condition or trying to evade quarantine measures results in legal consequences. Someone who causes the transmission of, or poses a significant risk of transmitting, a quarantinable infectious disease can face criminal liability under the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law. The self-declaration duty is legally backed.

What quarantine steps might customs ask me to do?

If you self-declare or appear symptomatic, customs may apply temperature monitoring, an epidemiological investigation, medical screening, and sample collection and testing. The published sources describe these as the health-quarantine measures a symptomatic traveler must cooperate with on entry or exit.