Travel insurance for China

Safety

Like anywhere in the world, petty crime is common across China. Pickpockets, bag snatchers, thefts, and scams that target tourists mostly occur in busy areas such as public transport, bars and shopping precincts. Demonstrations and protests are also tightly controlled by the government, so if you join a protest or even film it you could land yourself in trouble. There are also increased security measures in Xinjiang with security checks in major cities. You’ll also need permission from Chinese authorities before entering Tibet. If you want to visit, you can only apply and travel through specialised travel agents.

Health

Depending on where you visit, tap water could be unsafe to drink, so stick to bottled water. China is also prone to more diseases than in Australia, like Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, and hand, foot and mouth disease. There are also common cases of animal and human rabies, so be careful around wild and domestic animals. Insect-borne diseases like Japanese encephalitis, dengue, and chikungunya are also common, especially during the wet season and in southern provinces. China also has high pollution levels, which can impact travellers with heart or lung conditions, and can delay flights. Authorities will flag red air quality alerts, but make sure to talk to your doctor if you’re worried.

Visa

Good news! China has included Australia in its visa waiver program until the end of 2025, which means Australian passport holders can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days. Your eligibility will be assessed when crossing the Chinese border. If you plan on staying longer, you’ll need to sort out your visa before travelling (three months before is best). Break the rules for your visa and you could be fined or detained for up to 30 days.  

If you plan on visiting Hong Kong or Macau, there’ll be separate visa and entry rules from mainland China. If you’re visiting Hong Kong, you won’t need a visa if you’re visiting for under 90 days, for Macau, this is 30 days. But for both countries, you’ll need to confirm that your original Chinese visa will let you re-enter the mainland or that you’ll still be fine to enter visa-free.  

Local laws

As a traveller, you’re subject to local laws and penalties, which could be harsher than back home. If you do get in trouble and end up arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can. But it won’t be able to get you out of jail or skip through the justice system. China also has strict drug laws with penalties including the death penalty in some circumstances. Police can conduct random drug tests, even if you returned a negative test, and you can still be fined or deported regardless of when or where you used drugs. China also doesn’t recognise dual nationality. So, if you’re a Chinese Australian dual national, you might be treated as a Chinese citizen and not be able to get consular help. If you have a dual citizen, make sure to travel on your Australian passport and get a visa.