Singapore lifted its quarantine requirements for unvaccinated visitors, South Korea is dropping pre-departure COVID-19 tests for all, and Japan is gearing up for welcoming individual tourists back in September. The Malagasy government has removed all health restrictions for travellers to Madagascar. Heathrow extends the passenger cap until the end of October. Plans to charge UK citizens to enter the European Union have been delayed again.
Contents:
- Singapore, Japan, and South Korea ease their entry rules
- Madagascar has removed all entry restrictions
- Heathrow extends passenger cap until the end of October
- EU delays the introduction of tourist fees for another year
- France permits restriction-fee entry to all travellers
- New Zealand has fully opened up
- British passport ranked in the world’s top 10
Updated: 01/09/2022
Japan, South Korea, and Singapore ease their entry rules
Starting September 7, 2022, Japan will no longer require boostered travellers to show a negative COVID-19 result to enter the country. Also, the Japanese government is planning to start accepting individual visitors in September. Currently, all tourists are required to join group tours to visit Japan. Obtaining a visa and booking through a travel agency are also necessary. According to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a decision on whether to raise the daily entry level from the current 20,000 is about to be made.
South Korea lifts its requirement for a pre-departure COVID-19 test to enter the country from September 3, 2022. However, incoming travellers would still need to take a PCR test within 24 hours of their arrival. Visitors can pre-book a PCR test at Incheon International Airport (ICN) or take the test at an approved medical facility. All passengers entering South Korea must register their test results on the Q-code website. There are some exceptions, including under 6s and those tested positive for COVID-19 between 10 and 40 days of their flight. Individuals that test positive will need to quarantine for seven days. Short-term visitors must self-isolate at a designated quarantine facility.
From August 29, non-fully vaccinated travellers entering Singapore no longer have to undergo a 7-day quarantine upon arrival or take an exit-SHN PCR test. They must, however, show a negative result of the pre-departure test within two days of travelling to Singapore. Non-fully vaccinated short-term visitors (STVs) are also required to purchase COVID-19 travel insurance to cover the duration of their stay in the country.
Starting August 1, 2022, Malaysia dropped all of its remaining COVID-19 entry restrictions. Make your way to this colourful to see the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur, admire the street art in Penang, and chill in Langkawi. You don’t have to get pre- or post-arrival tests, travel insurance, quarantine or show proof of recovery anymore, regardless of your vaccination status. Also, visitors to Malaysia no longer need to fill in the Traveller’s Card on the country’s contact tracing app, MySejahtera.
The Indonesian authorities have clarified the new entry rules that took effect on July 17, 2022. Travellers who have received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine can enter Indonesia without quarantine. Those who have received a full course of vaccination and a booster don’t need to have an antigen/PCR test to travel domestically. If you haven’t received a booster dose, in most cases, you need to show a negative result of a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before departing or a negative PCR test taken within 3 days before leaving. Contact your airlines for further details. If your body temperature is above 37.5 °C, you’ll also have to take a PCR test upon arrival. If you are either unvaccinated or have only got the first shot, you’ll need to undergo a 5-day quarantine.
Starting July 17, an antigen or PCR test is required for internal travel within the country, including Bali. Those who have received a booster dose are exempt from the obligation to show proof of the negative test results when boarding public transportation. All passengers must download, install, and sign up for the PeduliLindungi mobility tracking app.
For the first time in over two years, the small Himalayan country of Bhutan will open to tourists. Travellers will be required to pay $200 per night, a steep increase from the $65 charged pre-pandemic. Tourism professionals in Bhutan state that this tax is meant to enforce high standards in the tourism industry, and offset travellers’ carbon footprints.
If you’re fully vaccinated, you only need to present proof of vaccination to enter Cambodia. Unvaccinated travellers are no longer required to quarantine on arrival, but they must return a negative COVID-19 antigen rapid test (LFT) taken by health officials at their entry point into Cambodia. Each test costs $5. If positive, those with mild symptoms may isolate at home or at any other accommodation as determined by the Ministry of Health. Those with more severe symptoms must isolate at a designated state COVID-19 treatment centre. All costs associated with any treatment and accommodation will be borne by the traveller.
Say “sawadee Thailand!” — as from July 1, you will only need either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result to visit the Land of Smiles. The previous requirement that foreign visitors have $10,000 in travel health insurance and apply for a Thailand Pass will be abolished. Likewise, wearing a mask outdoors will no longer be required from the same date.
From July 1, foreign nationals travelling to Thailand are only required to show proof of either a certificate of vaccination or a negative result of a PCR or professional ATK test taken within 72 hours of travel. These can be in a print or digital format.
Travellers and close contacts must now spend seven days in a quarantine facility and self-monitor at home for three days. Previously, there was a 14-day quarantine period and a seven-day home isolation period. Some parts of China still practice 21 days of isolation (sometimes across two different locations). In most parts, however, quarantine was usually limited to 14 days.
Vaccinated travellers are no longer required to present a negative COVID-19 test before departure to the Philippines. The mandatory travel insurance requirement for incoming passengers is also lifted, although getting one remains highly encouraged by the Philippine government’s Department of Tourism (DOT).
Oman has removed all measures and restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam removed the COVID-19 test requirement for visitors entering the country by air starting May 15. This applies to all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status. If you’re travelling by road, rail or sea without proof of a negative COVID-19 test, you will have to take either an RT-PCR or a rapid antigen test at your own expense in the first 24 hours from the time of arrival in Vietnam.
Visa on entry and e-Visa are available again to visit Laos from May 9, 2022. Fully vaccinated travellers don’t need to have pre-departure or on arrival tests. Unvaccinated individuals are required to take an ATK test a maximum of 48 hours before departure. There is no requirement to quarantine. Visitors contracting or arriving with COVID-19 will be responsible for all treatment costs.
Published: 17/08/2022
Madagascar has removed all entry restrictions
On August 11, 2022, the Malagasy government lifted all COVID-19 health restrictions for travellers to Madagascar. Pre-departure PCR tests and testing on arrival are no longer required for entry to Madagascar. You don’t have to prove your vaccination status either.
You will need a non-immigrant visa to enter or travel through Madagascar as a short-term visitor.
Latest travel news for African destinations:
- Namibia lifted all of its pandemic-related restrictions on July 15, 2022. However, foreign travellers must still show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to enter the country.
- South Africa is no longer requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination, nor take any tests before travel or quarantine on arrival from June 23, 2022.
Updated: 15/08/2022
Heathrow extends passenger cap until the end of October
As travel struggles and staff shortages continue this summer, London’s Heathrow Airport has limited the number of daily departing passengers to 100,000 through October 29, 2022. Heathrow’s operators say more tickets have already been sold on many days, so they asked airlines not to sell new ones for that period.
According to Heathrow’s operators, most existing bookings won’t be affected, but some airlines may still move flights or cancel itineraries. Keep an eye on your itinerary if you’re travelling through Heathrow. If your flight gets cancelled or altered, get in touch with your airline or travel agent to discuss your options.
Published: 11/08/2022
EU delays the introduction of tourist fees for another year
EU delays the launch of its passport scan system and €7 travel fee for British tourists until late 2023. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) was initially scheduled to be launched next month but was firstly postponed until early 2023. It is now pushed back to November 2023.
Travellers from the UK and over 50 other countries outside the EU who currently have visa-waiver status will be eligible to apply for the ETIAS to visit any of the 26 countries in the Schengen Zone. They will need a passport, email address and debit or credit card payment form to process their application. Most travellers will have their application granted in minutes, and one application will be valid for three years.
Published: 01/08/2022
France permits restriction-free entry to all travellers
Say hello to hassle-free travel to France! On August 1, 2022, the country removed its pandemic-related entry requirements for all arrivals, regardless of their country of residence. Travellers entering France are no longer required to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival.
The majority of EU/EEA countries have already lifted entry restrictions. There are only two of them that still require citizens of third countries to meet COVID-19 travel rules. These are the Netherlands and Spain.
Published: 01/08/2022
New Zealand has fully opened to all travellers
New Zealand’s borders are fully open again for the first time since March 2020. While Australian travellers have been able to hop over the Tasman for quite some time now, Brits and many other international tourists are just now getting the chance to explore New Zealand.
To visit New Zealand from August 1, 2022, all air passengers must complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration, show proof of vaccination, and take two rapid antigen tests after they arrive — the first on Day 0/1 and the second on Day 5/6. Once you have gone through customs, you’ll be given a welcome pack containing the RATs kit at Biosecurity. You must report your RAT results — even if you test negative.
Other important long-haul destinations updates:
- Chile’s Easter Island reopened to tourists on August 4, 2022, after more than two years of pandemic shutdown. As of 1 September, foreign travellers entering Chile will need either a negative PCR test or a vaccination certificate. Vaccination proof obtained in the country of origin will be considered equivalent to the Mobility Pass. In other words, vaccinated tourists won’t have to fill out an online Travel Affidavit form or take a PCR test before departing.
- Canada resumed random COVID-19 testing at four major airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto. If the test is positive, travellers will face 10 days in hotel quarantine.
- Australia went restriction-free from July 6, 2022. Travellers arriving in the country no longer have to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status or obtain a travel exemption.
- The United States no longer requires a pre-departure COVID-19 test to enter the country by air from June 12, 2022.
- Brazil dropped the rule of presenting proof of a COVID-19 test with a negative or non-detectable result from April 2, 2022. Now, travellers are only required to present proof of vaccination.
Published: 21/07/2022
British passport ranked in the world’s top 10
The British passport ranked sixth in a global ranking of the most powerful passports this year. Using IATA’s data, the Henley Passport Index ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival. The holders of the British passport can go to 187 destinations without needing to get a visa beforehand.
Japan topped the list for another year running, allowing its holders to travel to 193 visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries. Singapore and South Korea tied for second place with 192 points each. EU member states filled up the rest of the top 10 spots, with Germany and Spain both ranked third with a score of 190.
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