Preparing to Travel to China

• Check the U.S. State Department’s China country page or contact the nearest Chinese consulate in the U.S. for entry, exit, and visa details.

• Complete the application carefully. If applicable, use the same information as any previous Chinese visa application. Follow the specified photo size requirements, which differs from a standard passport photo.

• Processing times vary, so apply as soon as travel is confirmed. For expedited service, consider using a visa processing company like CIBT.

• Check U-M’s China risk rating and Student Travel Preparation.

• WeChat, a Chinese messaging platform, requires an existing WeChat user verification to install on a U.S. phone, or you may purchase a Chinese SIM card for your unlocked phone. Note: WeChat may have spyware, so use and delete it judiciously
• China blocks many U.S. websites and apps, which can be accessed through a virtual private network (VPN). China has the ability to monitor internet usage and content. China’s VPN usage laws are vague: only government-sanctioned VPNs (which may be monitored) are legal. Non-government sanctioned VPNs (commonly used) are considered illegal. Research your VPN options as effectiveness varies, download any VPNs before departure, and consider forwarding your Gmail to a non-Google email

• Apple Pay and certain non-Chinese credit cards might not work. Consider using Alipay or WeChat Pay for most purchases, or carry cash by exchanging currency at a bank or withdrawing from ATMs. See Travel Intern for app guides.

• Translation: Google Translate (Simplified Chinese); Pleco Dictionary
• Directions: maps.me; Apple Maps; Gaode Maps; DiDi (rideshare, also in Alipay)
• Other: Trip.com (train & attraction tickets); EPA AirNow; U-M Global Road Warrior

• Research public health conditions of concern in China through CDC Traveler’s Health page, CDC Travel Health Notices, and the Crisis24 Health report for China resources.
• Review the U-M Travel Health Preparation Guide and Resilient Traveling modules to reflect on your health and wellness vulnerabilities in the context of your travel plans.
• Visit the UHS Travel Health Services to receive healthcare services tailored to China and connect with a CAPS counselor (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, or Flint) prior to departure, if needed. You can also access virtual health mental health counseling through GeoBlue’s Global Wellness Assist, as well as CAPS telehealth option through UWill.
• Familiarize yourself with your GeoBlue Travel Abroad Health Insurance benefits. Use your GeoBlue insurance account via web or app to locate medical facilities, schedule a predeparture health consultation, mental health, and other appointments, and look up medication access and equivalencies. Note: some medications may be illegal in China.
• As described in the OSAC China Country Security Report, “Chinese cities are generally safe when compared to other global cities” though U-M encourages travelers of higher risk of harassment / detention, as described below, to carefully consider travel plans. Make sure to assess potential safety risks by consulting the OSAC report, Crisis24 China resources, and the US Department of State Country Information Page for China, which provide safety, security, and health information.

Though most travelers will not experience safety or security concerns in China, some travelers may be at increased risk of harassment, secondary inspection at immigration, or arbitrary arrest.

• Travelers at increased risk may be involved with research or activism that is perceived as sensitive by the Chinese government (Pro-Taiwan or Pro-Tibet, Uyghur rights, labor rights, LGBTQ+ rights, etc.)
• Researchers working with high-value technology or intellectual property (AI, energy, etc, see China Expands its Counter-Espionage Law) should be aware of China’s espionage laws that legalize arbitrary arrest, and should travel in accordance with U-M safe computing protocols.

• Travelers to China are strongly encouraged to follow ITS’ Security Guidelines for International Travelers. According to NSPM-33 guidelines, faculty and students receiving federal funding for research in China must follow ITS safe computing guidelines.
• Additional resources include U-M Know what you are taking with you , U-M International Travel and Export Controls, and the “Mitigation” section of OSAC’s The Effects of China’s New Data Security Law and VPN Restrictions on Information Security.