China's National Immigration Administration has said it will not be renewing passports for non-essential travel while the international Covid-19 epidemic situation is still severe and cross border travel poses “great security risks”.

The administration said in a statement on social media it will “normally issue passports” for individuals who need to travel abroad for study, employment, or business.

But rumours it will issue passport renewals for individuals looking to travel abroad for leisure are false, the authority said.