US Requires COVID Test for Passengers Arriving from China, Hong Kong and Macau

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery for air passengers boarding flights to the US originating from China (PRC), Hong Kong and Macau effective 0001 ET, January 5, 2023. We outline details of this testing and documentation below.

All air passengers 2 years and older originating from the PRC, Hong Kong or Macau must get a test (PCR or antigen self-test administered and monitored by telehealth service or licensed provider, and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or relevant national authority) no more than 2 days prior to departure from the PRC, Hong Kong, or Macau. They must show this negative test result to the airline upon departure.

1. The requirement applies to these air passengers regardless of nationality and vaccination status.
2. This also applies to persons traveling from the PRC, Hong Kong, or Macau via third country transit and to passengers connecting through the US onward to further destinations.
3. Passengers transiting Incheon International Airport (South Korea), Toronto Pearson International Airport (Canada), and Vancouver International Airport (Canada) on their way to the US must provide a negative COVID-19 test if they have been in the PRC, Hong Kong or Macau in the last 10 days, no more than two (2) days before their departure to the US.
4. Passengers who tested positive more than 10 days before the flight can provide documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in lieu of a negative test result.
5. Airlines must confirm the negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers, two years and older, before they board, or the airlines must deny boarding.

For further information, please see https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1228-COVID-china.html.