China tightens travel restrictions for citizens

China has implemented stricter travel regulations for its citizens, intensifying government supervision over citizens' activities abroad. Individuals deemed to have harmed China's national security or interests while overseas face a ban on leaving the country for up to three years after their return. Those who violate technology import and export regulations may also be prohibited from leaving.

Chinese authorities assert that these regulations aim to safeguard national sovereignty and security, denying allegations that they restrict the travel of ordinary citizens. However, critics argue that the new measures could empower Beijing to exert greater control over Chinese nationals' activities overseas.

Professor Tom Kellogg, Executive Director of the Center for Asian Law at Georgetown University, stated that the new rules could further enable Beijing to influence Chinese citizens' actions abroad. In certain cases, state security authorities may directly deny passports to individuals to prevent them from criticizing the Chinese government or to punish their advocacy activities.

According to the regulations, Chinese citizens may be prohibited from leaving the country if they violate technology import and export regulations that may jeopardize national industrial or technological security. Piyao, a Chinese government rumor-refuting platform, stated that the new rules do not restrict the travel of ordinary citizens but serve as a preventive measure against high-risk destinations and individuals with unusual travel patterns.

The rules were issued to address issues such as people being misled into leaving the country or engaging in illegal gambling and scam activities abroad.

Some Chinese nationals have reported facing unclear travel restrictions for years. A 26-year-old Chinese citizen, identified as Pipi, reported that his passport application in 2023 was rejected due to his attendance at pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019. Pipi claims he was questioned by state security police upon returning to mainland China and was told he could not obtain a passport because of the Hong Kong issue, though this was not confirmed in writing.

Pipi expressed his frustration, stating that he did not dare to escalate the matter due to fear of ending up in prison. He emphasized that he is an ordinary person with no malicious intent and is unsure if he will ever be able to leave China. Official Chinese sources do not provide a means for citizens to check their exit control status, and people typically only learn of the restriction when applying for documents or attempting to depart.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration authorities have not responded to inquiries from the BBC Chinese. Recent data from rights group Safeguard Defenders reveals that Chinese authorities have significantly increased exit bans on citizens in recent years. While the number of exit ban cases was only 89 in 2016, it surged to 188,760 by the end of 2025. The percentage of civil verdicts dealing with exit bans also more than tripled between 2019 and 2025.