IRELAND: Ireland – new entry regs

From 1 February, for entry to the Republic of Ireland, vaccine certificates from the primary vaccination series will not be accepted for travel if more than 270 days have passed since the final dose. Vaccine certificates based on the booster or additional doses are not time limited. Passengers with an accepted proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the prior six months do not have to show an additional pre-departure COVID-19 test result. Passengers without proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the prior six months, must show evidence of a negative PCR test result taken within the 72 hours prior to arriving in Ireland.
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AUSTRALIA: Ukraine upgraded to do not travel

Overnight, Smart Traveller has updated its advisory to do not travel to Ukraine due to the risk of conflict. It also advised that anyone in Ukraine at the moment should look to leave when it is safe to do so.
Australia
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AUSTRALIA: Germany classifies Australia as a COVID-19 high-risk country

Germany has now classified Australia as a COVID-19 high-risk country. Travellers entering Germany from a high-risk country are required to submit a digital registration form before travelling. All travellers over the age of 6 years of age must provide a negative COVID test (PCR or antigen), proof of vaccination, or evidence of having recovered from COVID-19. Incoming travellers from a high-risk country are required to quarantine for 10 days unless evidence of vaccination or recovery is provided with the digital registration. Alternatively, quarantine can be ended by submitting a negative test result taken after five days at the earliest.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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AUSTRALIA: UK testing rules relaxed

Doubly vaccinated passengers will no longer have to take pre-departure COVID tests in England from 04:00 GMT on Friday 07 January, the government has said. They will also not be required to self-isolate while awaiting test results after arriving in England. If they arrive after 04:00 GMT on Sunday 09 January, people need to take a lateral flow test by day two and if positive, a further PCR test.
Australia
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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.
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Russia announces total ban on nine African countries

A new Russian government ruling on COVID cancels all earlier exceptions for diplomatic passport holders, travellers on business visas, and some other categories of visitors from Hong Kong and nine African nations – Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Eswatini, and South Africa. The highest number of those infected with the Omicron variant has been detected in South Africa. The new strain has since been recorded in over 50 countries.
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CROATIA: Croatia to join Schengen Area

The Council of the European Union agreed on 9 December that Croatia now meets all the criteria to join the borderless Schengen Area. The Schengen Zone now counts 26 members, 22 of which also EU Member Countries. Croatia is one of the last four EU countries that are still not part of the Schengen Area, alongside Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
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IRELAND / UNITED KINGDOM: Ireland expands restrictions for Great Britain

People who travel to Ireland from Great Britain will be required to take daily lateral flow tests for five consecutive days after arrival was announced last night 9 December. The tests will be in addition to the recently announced requirement that travellers to the republic have a negative PCR or lateral flow test before boarding a ferry or plane.
Ireland
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NIGERIA: Nigeria added to UK red list

Nigeria has been added to the UK’s travel red list following 21 cases of Omicron reported in England that are linked to travel from Nigeria, with 134 UK cases now reported in total. UK and Irish citizens and residents arriving from Nigeria must isolate in a government-approved managed quarantine facility for 10 days, and receive two negative PCR tests.
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FRANCE / JORDAN / CYPRUS / PORTUGAL: CDC warns against travel to France, Portugal

The US CDC issued a Level 4 recommendation yesterday (December 6) against travel to France, Portugal, Jordan, Cyprus, Andorra, Liechtenstein and Tanzania, adding to a long list of destinations, including Germany and Denmark. The State Department issued an aligning warning against travel to the above countries and added Fiji to its ‘Do Not Travel’ list.
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FRANCE / MAURITIUS: France removes Mauritius from its scarlet list

France removed Mauritius from its list of ‘scarlet’ destinations last night (December 7), just days after it was added. All visitors to Mauritius are required to be vaccinated and to undergo PCR testing within 72 hours prior to travel.
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UNITED KINGDOM: UK reintroduces pre-departure testing

Starting tomorrow (December 7), the UK will further tighten its entry requirements for foreign travellers, including those coming from non-red-listed countries. All international travellers aged 12 and over, regardless of vaccination status, will need to provide proof of a negative pre-departure test – either PCR or lateral flow – taken no more than 48 hours prior to departure. Airlines will be responsible for checking that travellers have their negative pre-departure tests, along with their completed passenger locator forms, and no one will be permitted to board a UK-bound flight without one.
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FRANCE: France further restricts all nations

France has increased COVID-19 entry restrictions. Arrivals from outside the EU must now provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival and show proof of vaccination. France will also require a negative test from all travellers inside the EU. EU travellers will need to provide a negative PCR or antigen test within 24 hours of arrival in France instead of 48 hours. Additionally, from December 15, anyone who received a shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine must prove they’ve received a booster jab.
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UK tightens travel rules amid continued Omicron spread

Passengers will not be allowed to board a flight to the UK without producing evidence of a negative PCR or lateral flow test result. The UK will require all travellers to take a pre-flight Covid-19 test within 48 hours prior to their flight – regardless of their vaccine status. The amended rules come into force from 4am on Tuesday this week and come in light of the continued spread of the Omicron variant. They will apply to vaccinated passengers and children aged 12 and above.
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