CANADA: Eases travel requirements as COVID cases decline

Canada will ease entry for fully vaccinated international travelers starting on Feb. 28 as COVID-19 cases decline, allowing a rapid antigen test for travelers instead of a molecular one, officials said on Tuesday.
Canada
Airline
Borders
Car
Hotel
Business
Leisure

Flydubai to launch first UAE flights as Saudi’s AlUla

The emerging Saudi tourist hotspot of AlUla has received a big boost from its neighbour, the UAE, after Flydubai announced the launch of flights to the historic destination. Flydubai will become the first UAE carrier to operate flights from Dubai to AlUla as the north-west Saudi region continues to attract more visitors. The carrier said it will also resume its operations to Yanbu growing its network in the kingdom to six points including Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh.
Middle East
Airline

Emirates set to resume African flights after the UAE lifts entry ban

Emirates has announced it will resume passenger operations between Dubai and five African countries starting Saturday following an easing of coronavirus restrictions. The restoration of services will include Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dar El Salaam, Tanzania; Nairobi, Kenya; Harare, Zimbabwe; and Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban in South Africa. The entry requirements for travellers from Uganda, Ghana and Rwanda were updated as well, with new rules coming into effect from Saturday. Flights between Dubai and South Africa will operate as a daily flight to and from Johannesburg, effective Saturday and double daily services from February 1. Flights to and from Cape Town and Durban will operate daily from February 1. Emirates will operate 10 weekly flights to Nairobi from Saturday while flights to Addis Ababa will operate daily from Sunday.
Middle East
Airline
Borders

UNITED STATES: Covid tests the govt. are sending NOT meant for travel

At home tests for travel must be proctored. That means the traveler must perform the test during a live telehealth video call with an authorized technician supervising the procedure in real time. The free rapid tests the government is distributing are not the type that are proctored.
United States of America
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

TURKEY: Turkey reopens for travel from South Africa

As of 10 January South African travellers can once again enter Turkey. Travellers will be required to submit a negative PCR test taken within a maximum of 72 hours before arrival in Turkey and must complete a Passenger Locator Form on https://register.health.gov.tr/ within 72 hours before travel. Documented proof of 2 doses of vaccine approved by WHO ( except 1 dose for Johnson & Johnson ) will be required – a minimum of 14 days must have passed since receiving the 2nd dose. Travellers under the age of 12 years are exempt from submitting a PCR test and travellers who are between 12-18 years old, travelling with their parents and cannot provide vaccination certificate, will be required to provide a negative PCR test result before travel and will be asked to have another PCR test upon arrival. Travellers who cannot provide vaccination documents must enter quarantine for 7 days at their place of residence or at an address that they declare, with an option to test to release on day 5.
South Africa
Turkey
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

THAILAND: Thailand lifts entry ban for African countries as of 11 January

Thailand will lift entry ban for African countries as of 11 January with two options when entering Thailand. Travel will be allowed into Thailand under either the Sandbox initiative, covering travel into Phuket/Krabi/Phang-Na/Surat Thani (Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan, Ko Tao). Or under the Alternative quarantine option, whereby travellers can enter at any point in Thailand, however, must undergo government quarantine for minimum of 7 days before moving on. Under the Sandbox initiative travellers must arrive direct at Phuket Airport with no BKK transits allowed. All travellers must be fully vaccinated, not applicable to children under 18 traveling with vaccinated parents. Further detailed requirements in terms of testing and stay apply.
South Africa
Thailand
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

MAURITIUS: travel ban on South Africa lifted on 07 January

On 7 January 2022, the Covid-19 travel ban imposed by the Republic of Mauritius on the Republic of South Africa has been lifted and commercial passenger flights from these countries to Mauritius can resume. Travel for fully vaccinated travellers can be undertaken without the 14-day quarantine that would apply to unvaccinated travellers. Covid-19 insurance health cover will be mandatory (Mauritian Citizens, resident permit holders and occupational permit holders are exempted). Travellers must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure. Covid-19 testing will be required upon arrival (day 0) and on day 5 of your stay. All travellers will be required to complete the mandatory health forms before the flight to Mauritius, printed and signed.
Mauritius
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

UNITED KINGDOM: Relaxations in UK regulations as of 09 January

Changes and relaxations in UK regulations will be in effect from 4am on 09 January, whereby eligible fully vaccinated travellers and under 18 year olds, will no longer have to take a pre-departure test or self-isolate on arrival in England. A lateral flow test can be used instead of PCR test for eligible fully vaccinated travellers and over 5 year olds to take on or before day 2. This will only be in effect for arrivals after 4am on Sunday 9 Jan. The lateral flow test will be bookable on the UK government website from 7 Jan. Unvaccinated travellers must continue to take a pre-departure test, PCR test on or before Day 2 and on or after Day 8 and self-isolate for 10 days. ‘Test to release’ remains an option for unvaccinated people to shorten their self-isolation period. A Passenger Locator form is still be completed within 48 hours of travel, and the after-arrival test must still be pre-booked before departure.
South Africa
United Kingdom
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

NORWAY: Special entry restrictions for arrivals from South Africa ended

The Norwegian government has ended the special entry restrictions for arrivals from South Africa and travellers will no longer have to quarantine on arrival, should they be able to present a Covid-19 certificate approved and linked to EU systems. All travellers arriving in Norway must complete an entry registration declaration prior to arrival (children under the age of 16 and selected groups are exempt from this requirement). A test to be taken before travel (PCR or a rapid antigen test) will be required within less than 24 hours before arrival in Norway, as well as a test after arrival (within 24 hours after arrival). Full vaccination or recovery certificates (as per accepted list) will have to be presented. For travellers over the age of 18 who are unable to provide an approved Covid-19 certificate quarantine, 10 days of travel quarantine has to be completed after arrival. Quarantine can be complete at home or at other suitable accommodation. All people can now end travel quarantine early, following a negative PCR test taken no sooner than 3 days after arrival.
Norway
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

SPAIN: South Africa moved to high-risk list as of 06 January

As of 06 January 2022, South Africa will be listed as a high-risk country for entry into Spain for fully vaccinated or recovered travellers. Travellers will be considered fully vaccinated, if all doses are received at least 14 days before departure. A Covid-19 recovery certificate can be presented (valid from day 11 after the first positive NAAT and up to 180 days after the sample date). Negative PCR test result is required, for tests taken 72 hours before arrival or Antigen Test 48 hours before arrival. Health Control Form completed on https://www.spth.gob.es/ and QR code printed out. The form is to be completed by all persons travelling, including children of any age, travellers in transit and residents in Spain returning home.
South Africa
Spain
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

FRANCE: South Africa removed from scarlet red list as of 05 January

On 5 January 2022, French government announced that South Africa will be removed from the scarlet red list. All vaccinated travelers are now welcome to travel to France, provided they present proof of your vaccination, a sworn statement certifying the absence of COVID-19 symptoms and of any contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and a negative PCR or antigen test taken less than 48 hours prior to departure (departure of first flight in case of connecting flights). Unvaccinated travellers must present a compelling reason for travel and will have to quarantine for ten days.
France
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

Emirates issues fresh wave of restrictions for travellers from African countries

In light of continued Covid concerns, the carrier has issued fresh notices for travellers from 15 countries in Africa. According to the latest update on the Emirates website, customers originating from the following destinations will not be accepted for travel to or through Dubai: Angola, Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana and Ethiopia. While customers originating from Conakry to Dakar will not be accepted for travel, outbound passenger operations from Dubai to these destinations remain unaffected. But flights to and from the following points will not be accepted for travel: Core d’Ivoire, Lusaka, Harare, Lagos, Abuja and Casablanca. A statement said: “Affected customers do not need to call us immediately for rebooking. Customers can simply hold on to their Emirates ticket and when flights resume, get in touch with their travel agent or booking office to make new travel plans.”
Middle East
Airline
Borders

IRELAND: Additional measures related to Omicron variant to be removed for travel to Ireland

With effect from 00:01am on 06 January, the additional international travel requirements applied in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant have been removed. Vaccinated or recovered travellers into Ireland are required to present evidence of a valid Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) or other acceptable proof of vaccination/previous infection prior to travel. Travellers that are not vaccinated or recovered (with the exception the exemptions specified on gov.ie, including children aged 11 and under) are required to present evidence of a not detected RT-PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours before their arrival into Ireland.
Ireland
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

ISRAEL: Vaccinated/recovered tourists from 'orange' countries will be permitted

As of 09 January 2022 entry of vaccinated/recovered tourists from 'orange' countries will be permitted, which South Africa will now be qualified as. The following regulations will be in place; fully Vaccinated with final dose at least 14 days prior to entry and at most 180 days when leaving Israel, or have received a booster shot at least 14 days prior to entry. An Entry Statement to be completed within 48 hours of entry on https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flights/. PCR Test 72 hours before flight or Antigen test 24 hours before flight. A second PCR test will be administered on arrival, where visitors will then be required to quarantine for 24 hours or until a test result comes back negative, whichever is sooner. The requirement for testing on arrival will be in place from 04 January for all vaccinated arrivals. The test can be paid for on arrival or prepaid online prior at a more affordable rate on https://testngo.femi.com/en/sign-in. Unvaccinated travellers will have to quarantine for 14 full days and will not be allowed to leave the country until the quarantine period is completed.
Middle East
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

SEYCHELLES: South Africa removed from list of restricted countries

With effect from 06 January 2022, South Africa has been removed from Seychelles' list of restricted countries. The following regulations and entry regulations will apply for visitors to Seychelles. Negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Completed Health Travel Authorisation required available on seychelles.govtas.com. Valid travel and health insurance to cover Covid-19 related quarantine, isolation and treatment. Individuals who have had a recent past infection (between 2 and 12 weeks before the date of departure) can produce a negative rapid antigen test within 72hours of departure, with evidence of this infection (positive test result and certificate confirming completion of isolation or certificate of recovery) instead of a PCR test. These documents should be submitted during the Travizory application process. Asymptomatic children under the age of 2 will be exempted from PCR or Antigen testing requirements. When staying at a certified tourism establishment no tests will be required to be taken during the stay, however where this is not the case, a day-5 PCR test is required to be taken. Conditions for the stay of children up to age 17, will be as for the parent/guardian they are accompanying. Different regulations will apply for Seychellois, residents and their Dependents as well as Gainful-Occupation-Permit holders and their Dependents.
Seychelles
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

UAE to ban unvaccinated citizens from travel, institute Covid-19 booster jab requirement

The UAE will ban all unvaccinated citizens from travel on January 10, the country’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced Saturday. The new rules also require Emiratis planning to travel to have received a booster dose of vaccine if they are eligible. The booster can be taken six months after an individual has received their second dose of vaccine.
Middle East
Airline
Borders

GERMANY: Germany removes South Africa as virus variant area

South Africa will be removed as a virus variant area from 03 January. From 04 January South Africa will be considered a high-risk area, whereby travellers from high-risk areas can enter Germany under the relaxed conditions. All travellers will be required to complete the digital entry registration form. Persons over the age of six must provide a negative test result, proof of recovery OR vaccination. Tests that are accepted will be either a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours prior to entry or a negative antigen rapid test, carried out no more than 48 hours prior to entry. For persons who have been vaccinated or recovered and arrive from a high-risk area, mandatory quarantine ends immediately after submitting proof of vaccination or proof of recovery on the entry portal of the Federal Republic of Germany. For all other travellers, a 10 day self-isolation applies, that can be ended after 5 days by submitting a negative test result.
Germany
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

SOUTH AFRICA: Adjusted Alert Level 1 Curfew lifted

South Africa will remain at Adjusted Alert Level 1. Curfew will be lifted and there will be no restriction on the hours of movement of people. Gatherings are permitted however only a maximum of 1000 people indoors and no more than 2000 people outdoors will be allowed. All international travellers arriving in South Africa must produce a negative PCR test, to be presented on arrival and not older than 72 hours from the date of departure from the country of origin. Masks must be worn for the duration of travel. A person entering the Republic must be subjected to screening on arrival at the point of entry, including the completion of a traveller health questionnaire.
South Africa
Airline
Business
Leisure

CANADA: Reintroduces PCR test for travel abroad

The federal government is reintroducing the requirement for a pre-arrival negative PCR COVID-19 test for all travellers leaving Canada regardless of trip duration.
Canada
Airline
Borders
Car
Business
Leisure