In order to contain cross-border transmission of COVID-19 and protect the heath of passengers, as from 5th November 2020, all Chinese and foreign passengers who are to fly from South Africa (or Eswatini) to China will be required to take both nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests for COVID-19 and then apply for a Green Health Code with the "HS" mark (for Chinese citizens only) or a certified Health Declaration Form (for foreign citizens only) before boarding flights. The specific requirements are as follows:

I. Test Requirements

(i) Passengers flying straight from South Africa (or Eswatini) to China must take nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests within 48 hours before boarding flights. They must take the tests at testing facilities designated by the Chinese Embassy/Consulates in South Africa and then apply at the Chinese Embassy/Consulates for a green health code with the "HS" mark or a certified health declaration form with negative certificates of both tests. To check the list of designated testing facilities, please visit http://za.china-embassy.org/eng/sggg/t1828312.htm.

(ii) Passengers flying from South Africa (or Eswatini) to China via connecting flights in other countries or regions must take nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests in South Africa (or Eswatini) within 48 hours before boarding flights to the transit countries or regions and then take both tests again in the transit countries or regions within 48 hours before boarding the flights to China. Passengers must apply at the Chinese embassies/consulates in both countries for green health codes with the "HS" mark or certified health declaration forms with negative certificates of both tests.

II. How to Apply for Green Health Codes (For Chinese Citizens Only)

(i) Chinese citizens should upload photos of their COVID-19 negative certificates of both nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests, passports and itineraries to the WeChat mini program COVID-19 Prevention Health Code International Version ASAP after obtaining both said test reports.

(ii) Passengers upon approval by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate will obtain Green Health Codes with an "HS" mark for a certain validity period. All passengers are required to travel within the validity period, and cooperate with airlines for health codes checking. Hard copies of COVID-19 negative certificates are strongly recommended to be kept on hand for further checking.

(iii) Passengers are requested to remind the testing facilities to send both said test reports to Chinese Embassy or Consulates according to the consular districts where they are domiciled:

1. Consular district of Chinese Embassy includes Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West provinces, and Eswatini.

Email address of Chinese Embassy: nflssf2@gmail.com

2. Consular district of Chinese Consulate General in Johannesburg includes Gauteng (excl. Pretoria) and Free State.

Email address of Chinese Consulate General in Johannesburg: ccgjhb1@gmail.com

3. Consular district of Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town includes Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.

Email address of Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town: chinaconsul_ct_za@mfa.gov.cn

4. Consular district of Chinese Consulate General in Durban includes KwaZulu-Natal.

Email address of Chinese Consulate General in Durban: consulate_durban@mfa.gov.cn

III. How to Apply for Certified Health Declaration Forms (For Foreign Citizens Only)

(i) Foreign passengers should send scanned copies of their COVID-19 negative certificates of both nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests, passports, itineraries and signed Health Declaration Forms to the designated email addresses of Chinese Embassy or Consulates. Passengers are also requested to remind the testing facilities to send the test reports to Chinese Embassy or Consulates accordingly.

(ii) After verification of the test reports, Chinese Embassy or Consulates will return the scanned copies of officially certified Health Declaration Forms to the passengers by email. All passengers are required to board with hard copies of Certified Health Declaration Forms within its validity period and cooperate with airlines for checking. Hard copies of COVID-19 negative certificates are strongly recommended to be kept on hand for further checking.

(iii) Passengers must make sure that the scanned copies of their COVID-19 negative certificates of both nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests, passports, itineraries and signed Health Declaration Forms are readable, clear and complete, and send them to the following designated email addresses of Chinese Embassy or Consulates, according to the consular districts where the testing facilities are domiciled:

1. Consular district of Chinese Embassy includes Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West provinces, and Eswatini.

Email address of Chinese Embassy: nflssf2@gmail.com

2. Consular district of Chinese Consulate General in Johannesburg includes Gauteng (excl. Pretoria) and Free State.

Email address of Chinese Consulate General in Johannesburg: ccgjhb1@gmail.com

3. Consular district of Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town includes Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.

Email address of Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town: chinaconsul_ct_za@mfa.gov.cn

4. Consular district of Chinese Consulate General in Durban includes KwaZulu-Natal.

Email address of Chinese Consulate General in Durban: consulate_durban@mfa.gov.cn

IV. Important Reminders

(i) Please read the Notice and requirements carefully and follow them accordingly. Those who fail to get COVID-19 negative certificates of both nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests, Green Health Codes with "HS" marks or Certified Health Declaration Forms will be denied boarding the relevant flights and have to change their itineraries.

(ii) Passengers who must go to China via connecting flights, should check the transit country's entry regulations and its nucleic acid and IgM anti-body tests requirements before the journey. Failures to enter the transit countries or regions, meet the requirements regarding the tests and hold the green codes or certified health declaration forms could result in being stranded and heightened infection risks.

(iii) The said requirements shall take into effect as from 5th November 2020. The applications for green heath codes and health declaration forms made before 5th November 2020 will be processed in line with the requirements of the Notice published on 24th August 2020 by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa.

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in South Africa

31st October 2020