British business travellers hoping to travel to China will need a new visa to do so after the country said it was temporarily suspending entry for non-Chinese nationals in the UK holding visas or residence permits that were issued before 3 November.
The Chinese embassy and consulates in the UK will no longer issue certified health declaration forms for anyone in this situation.
Entry by non-Chinese nationals in the UK with visas issued after 3 November 2020 will not be affected.
The ruling also does not apply to holders of diplomatic, service, courtesy or C (crew) visas. Foreign nationals visiting China for emergency needs may apply for visas at Chinese embassies or consulates.
The Chinese embassy in the UK said, “The suspension is a temporary response necessitated by the current situation of Covid-19. The above-mentioned measures will be assessed in accordance with the evolving situation and any adjustment will be announced accordingly.”
The new national lockdown that came into force in England on Thursday 5 November includes an exemption for travel for work purposes.
Meanwhile, the UK government has announced changes to its travel corridor list, removing Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
This means that anyone arriving in the UK from Denmark after 4am on Friday 6 November will need to self-isolate for 14 days. For Germany and Sweden, the new requirement to self-isolate on arrival comes into force at 4am on Saturday 7 November.