Teachers, Doctors, Even Pensioners: Why China Is Not Allowing Its Public Employees to Travel Abroad
A widespread clampdown is compelling Chinese public sector staff to hand over their passports, obtain multiple levels of approval, and refrain from foreign travel—even for personal reasons.
A report by The New York Times has disclosed that China has considerably widened its restrictions on overseas travel for individuals working in the public sector. These curbs now extend beyond high-ranking officials to include frontline teachers, healthcare personnel, government staff, and even pensioners.
As per the new rules, numerous public servants are being asked to deposit their passports with their employers and are required to secure official approval for any international trip, including personal holidays. In several cities, foreign travel for leisure has been completely prohibited. Employees across various departments have said that they received internal memos cautioning that failing to comply with the rules may lead to disciplinary action or even job termination.
In one documented incident, a literature teacher working at a government school in southern China discovered a clause in her contract stating that unauthorised international travel could result in immediate dismissal. The control measures are not just limited to teachers. A nurse interviewed by NYT said she needed clearance from four different administrative levels before she could travel abroad. In some cities, retired government employees have been informed they may have to wait up to two years to get their passports back.
Who Is Impacted by the Travel Restrictions?
The curbs are affecting a wide range of individuals in China’s public sector. Besides civil servants and essential service providers, the rules also now cover employees of state-owned companies and even contractors working with the government. Applicants for government jobs with foreign academic qualifications or overseas work exposure are increasingly being turned down. In most provinces, individuals who have lived abroad for more than six months are not eligible for civil service jobs.
Shanghai remains one of the rare exceptions where such candidates are still considered. However, even there, those whose spouse or close family member lives abroad may be found ineligible for roles in the police or other security services.
Apart from restrictions on passports, employees in certain regions have been instructed to avoid talking to foreign journalists while overseas and to report any interactions with international organisations—especially those labelled as “anti-China forces”—to Chinese embassies.
In some workplaces, staff have been directed to declare all previous international trips, in some instances going as far back as 2018.
Why Is China Tightening Public Sector Travel Rules?
These restrictions form part of a broader strategy under President Xi Jinping, who has gradually tightened the Chinese Communist Party’s influence not only over governance but also over the daily conduct and thinking of public employees. Beijing has offered three primary justifications for these measures: safeguarding national security, enforcing political discipline, and maintaining financial prudence.
The national security rationale has gained traction in recent years amid worsening ties between China and the West. Authorities have raised alarms about growing threats from so-called “hostile foreign forces”—a term often used to describe Western governments, NGOs, and media seen as meddling in China’s internal matters. In 2023, the Ministry of State Security accused a Chinese citizen living in Italy of spying for the CIA. Around the same period, China amended its anti-espionage law, broadening the definition of spying and giving the state more leeway to oversee foreign interactions.
Another major reason is ideological control. President Xi has repeatedly underscored the importance of unwavering political loyalty among civil servants. In July 2025, People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official newspaper, declared, “people-to-people diplomacy exists because of the Party and must be guided by the Party.” This reflected growing concerns in Beijing that unmonitored contact with the outside world—even by ordinary professionals such as teachers and nurses—could result in exposure to undesirable ideologies or narratives about China.
A third motive behind the crackdown is fiscal control. In May 2023, the central government issued instructions to curb “wasteful and unnecessary” expenditure. As per a Firstpost report, official circulars particularly targeted travel, liquor consumption, events, floral decorations, and expensive office furnishings. Senior Party leaders, including Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi, advised cadres to refrain from “lavish dining and drinking.” The long-standing anti-corruption drive has now expanded to include personal travel of public employees—even if the travel is self-funded.
By limiting their officials’ exposure to foreign cultures and experiences, the leadership aims to shield them from any external ideas that may contradict the Party’s narrative. For President Xi, the goal is to ensure that every public servant, regardless of rank, stays aligned with the government’s message—both within China and abroad.
How Are These Measures Being Implemented?
Implementation of the policy differs slightly across provinces and departments, but the overall trend is clear: movement of public employees is being closely scrutinised and increasingly curtailed. Many are now required to file written applications for overseas travel, justify the need, and obtain approvals from multiple layers of bureaucracy. In several cities, surrendering passports is mandatory and for an indefinite period.
Some offices have introduced formal declaration forms, asking staff to disclose whether any close relative holds foreign citizenship or permanent residency abroad. In a few local governments, employees must undergo ideological education or attend security briefings before their travel gets cleared.
Those seeking government jobs are now subject to even more stringent background checks. Candidates with any foreign academic or work history are often screened out—especially outside Shanghai. In some provinces, even a brief study stint abroad can be a disqualifier.
Has China Imposed Similar Restrictions Before?
This is not the first instance of such restrictions. In October 2023, Reuters reported that civil servants and workers of state-backed enterprises were already facing tighter rules on personal international travel. The restrictions included total bans on foreign trips, reduced permissible durations abroad, and more complicated clearance procedures.
Some were allowed to go overseas just once annually—and for no longer than 12 days. Others had to undergo mandatory confidentiality training before departure. Government bodies such as the national pension fund publicly confirmed the tightening of travel regulations. In certain cities, employees were also asked to submit details of relatives living abroad and records of previous international visits.
Reuters highlighted a rising effort by Chinese authorities to track the international connections of public workers and minimise external influences, especially in the context of China’s strained diplomatic ties with Western nations.
How Are Public Workers Reacting?
There have been no large-scale public protests, but underlying frustration is growing. Several public employees interviewed by NYT expressed feelings of being confined and uncertain—particularly due to the contrast between China’s external message of encouraging foreign investment and tourism, and its internal policy of keeping its own public workers grounded.
