China Tightens Exit Rules of Citizens Involved in Tech
By Reuters | 31 Jul, 2026

Chinese citizens may be prohibited from leaving China if they violate export controls or technology import and export rules in a way that may endanger industrial or technological security.

A Chinese national flag flies at the Bund in Shanghai, China, February 28, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

China will bar citizens from leaving the country if they are deemed a potential threat to national technology security, under new exit-and-entry regulations published on Friday.

Here are more details:

• Chinese citizens may be prohibited from leaving China if they violate export controls or technology import and export rules in a way that may endanger industrial or technological security, a document released by the State Council said.

• Citizens who committed illegal or criminal acts abroad that harmed national security or interests may face an exit ban of six months to three years after returning to China.

• Foreign nationals may be barred from entering China for one to five years if they submit or make false statements when applying for a Chinese visa abroad or at the border.

• The rules will take effect from September 15.

• In March, Beijing barred two co-founders of Manus from leaving China as authorities carried out a regulatory review into whether Meta's $2 billion ‌acquisition of the AI startup violated investment rules, the Financial Times reported.

• Beijing ordered Meta to unwind the purchase in late April, highlighting its commitment to prevent U.S. companies from acquiring Chinese AI talent and intellectual property.

(Reporting by Ethan Wang and Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Alexander Smith)