Germany’s Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) revised its China travel and security advisory on 19 September, adding a prominent warning about the growing use of “Ausreisesperren”—exit bans—against foreign nationals, including Germans. The update follows Beijing’s rollout of State Council Order No. 841 and mirrors a similar caution recently issued by the United States. The advisory notes that foreigners resident in, or merely present in, China can be barred from leaving in connection with civil or criminal proceedings, national-security concerns, or sanctions-related investigations. It emphasises that exit bans may be imposed without prior notice and that affected individuals often discover the restriction only at airports. Travellers are urged to keep itineraries flexible, maintain legal compliance and register with the ministry’s crisis list (ELEFAND). Berlin also reminds citizens that Germany’s current 30-day visa-free entry arrangement with China remains valid until 31 December 2026, but stresses the obligation to register with local police within 24 hours when staying in private accommodation. The advisory retains a Level-2 risk rating but flags continuing flash-flood disruption near the Nepal–Tibet border and heightened security checks in Xinjiang. For German firms, the update is a timely prompt to audit cross-border staffing plans. Mobility managers should identify employees who may be called as witnesses in Chinese litigation, ensure they have local legal support and avoid scheduling critical business meetings immediately before international flights. Travel-risk insurers are also likely to revise wording to exclude delays caused by exit bans unless clients purchase bespoke coverage. The foreign-office move highlights how external governments are tracking China’s evolving border-control toolkit. Corporate travellers should expect more rigorous due-diligence questionnaires from HQ and may see higher approval thresholds for trips involving sensitive technologies or data transfers.
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
