Travel from British Indian Ocean Territory to China is straightforward
This is the generic answer for any British Indian Ocean Territory citizen. Not legal or medical advice — verify with your airline and destination authorities before travel.
Confirm visa requirements for British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders travelling to China with China's official immigration authority.
Generic country-level guidance for China. Verify against the official source before you travel.
This page covers a direct flight to China. If your route connects through a third country, that country may require its own transit visa — sometimes even for a short airside layover. Transit rules depend on your specific routing, so check the country you connect through separately, or analyse your full itinerary.
You're travelling to China (CN). Your home cellular plan may or may not include data abroad — check your carrier's international options before you fly. An eSIM is a low-commitment alternative if your plan doesn't cover the destination or charges high roaming rates.
China (CN) screens applicants and arriving travellers against criminal records (visa application). If your history is clean, no action — proceed normally. If you've ever been convicted of anything, two things matter: (1) any visa or entry-permit application asks the question, and answering 'no' when the answer is 'yes' is itself grounds for refusal even if the original conviction wouldn't have been; (2) some categories trigger denial regardless — the canonical examples are DUI for Canada and drug-related convictions for Japan. Research waivers / rehabilitation routes well before booking if either applies to you.
Declare CNY 20,000 or equivalent when entering or leaving China (CN). Form: Customs declaration. Declare CNY 20,000+ or USD 5,000+ equivalent on entry
This page covers the generic case for any British Indian Ocean Territory citizen. Sign in (free) to factor in your specific passport expiry, vaccinations, previous visas held, and connecting flights — and get the same analysis for your exact itinerary.
Sign in (free) to personalize →The US State Department publishes these advisories for your route. China: Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution (as of 2024-11-27). Review the country page for the specific areas and risks flagged before you go. This is a US State Department safety perspective, not an entry or boarding rule — it doesn't affect whether you can board, only what to be aware of on the ground. Travellers from other countries should also check their own government's advisory.
China (CN) restricts or bans the import of: codeine, morphine, some psychiatric medications. The risk is real — travellers have been detained at customs for over-the-counter products that are routine elsewhere. If you take any prescription medication, look up the active ingredient against the restricted list above before booking. Always carry the prescription bottle plus a doctor's letter naming the medication and the condition it treats. Adding your medications to your profile (optional) lets us tell you specifically which of yours match. China limits quantities; carry prescription and doctor's letter in Chinese if possible.
China (CN) requires foreign visitors to register with Local police (PSB) within 1 day of arrival. Must register at local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours. Hotels register automatically.
Typical September conditions at PEK (China (CN)): mild. Typical lows around 14°C, highs around 26°C, some rain (~45mm for the month).
Your passport-to-China pairing isn't in our verified reference yet — coverage is expanding. Before booking, confirm the requirement directly with China's official immigration portal (linked below). If a visa is needed it usually has to be applied for in advance, so don't rely on a check-in agent's word.