SOUTH AFRICA: Countries applying travel bans and restrictions continues to grow

Due to the Omicron Covid-19 variant, new restrictions on travel between South Africa and further Southern African countries, have been put in place. The newly added countries applying either additional testing requirements, quarantine on arrival, travel for restricted exempt travellers or complete bans on travel for the affected countries include; Kuwait, Norway, Fiji, South Korea, Indonesia, Slovenia, Finland, the Bahamas, Mongolia, Macau, Brunei, Lithuania, Peru, the Ukraine, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Iceland, Chile, St Vincent and The Grenadine, Aruba, and Uzbekistan.
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Chile
Cuba
Fiji
Finland
Grenada
Iceland
Kazakhstan
Lithuania
Moldova
Norway
Peru
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Ukraine
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AUSTRALIA: Switzerland border update

Switzerland has tightened COVID-19 restrictions. If you're entering Switzerland from a country with a COVID-19 variant of concern (including Australia), you must present a negative PCR test result and quarantine for 10 days. When entering Switzerland you must complete a Public Health Entry form prior to arrival (unless exempt).
Australia
Switzerland
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SOUTH AFRICA: Travel restrictions and bans continue for travellers from South Africa

In addition to country bans and restrictions in place in reaction to the emergence of the Omicron variant, as on 29 November, further countries have applied regulations of their own. The countries newly included are Zimbabwe, Gabon, Bangladesh, Panama, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Poland, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Reunion, Russia, Rwanda and Switzerland. Some of the restrictions would have immediate effect on travel from South Africa and other risk-designated countries, with complete bans or stricter entry regulations which may include mandatory quarantine. Travel regulations remain extremely fluid as government and airline regulations continue to be adjusted in response to the Omicron variant.
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Bangladesh
Brazil
Colombia
Gabon
Indonesia
Ireland
Jamaica
Panama
Russia
Rwanda
Switzerland
Zimbabwe
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SOUTH AFRICA: Countries further restrict SA travellers

Various countries, as listed below, have issued new travel restrictions on traffic originating from Southern African countries, including South Africa, due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 (these may include but are not limited to quarantine upon arrival, additional testing, vaccination requirements or a complete travel ban). The affected countries currently are listed as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Singapore, the Czech Republic, Mauritius, Seychelles, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Croatia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Belgium, France, Spain, Malta, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Guatemala, Cyprus, Canada, the US, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Denmark, Egypt, India, Japan, the Maldives, Morocco, Qatar, Thailand, Pakistan, Israel, New Zealand, Angola. The situation is extremely fluid and changing constantly. Travel into a great number of the countries that imposed a travel ban or travel halt, is restricted to travel being allowed for citizens and permanent residents, with limited exemptions being allowed.
Angola
Belgium
Canada
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Egypt
France
Germany
Guatemala
Hong Kong
India
Japan
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Middle East
Morocco
New Zealand
Pakistan
Philippines
Seychelles
Spain
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States of America
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ITALY: Italy to introduce ‘super green pass’

Italy is to bar unvaccinated people from popular social and sports activities, with a 'super green pass' effective December 6. People must prove they are vaccinated or recovered from COVID to access cinemas, theatres, gyms, nightclubs, ski lifts and stadiums, and to be served indoors at bars and restaurants.
Italy
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FRANCE: France announces new COVID measures

On 25 November, French Health Minister Olivier Véran announced that from 15 January, booster shots will become a requirement for a valid health pass, which is required in France to enter restaurants, cafés, cinemas and museums, among other public venues. The announcement came as France has been tackling a recent surge in infections. The country is wary of entering a lockdown at this point.
France
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SOUTH AFRICA / UNITED KINGDOM: SA back on UK red list

A new variant of COVID-19 discovered in South Africa, B.1.1.529, has prompted the UK to place South Africa back on its red list, along with Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia from midday 26 November. Direct flights to the UK from these countries, both commercial and private, will be banned until hotel quarantine is up and running at 04h00, November 28. This excludes cargo and freight without passengers. Non-UK and Irish residents who have been in these countries in the last 10 days will not be able to enter England, and possibly the rest of the UK. UK and Ireland residents arriving in the UK between midday 26 November and 04h00 on Sunday, 28 November, must isolate at home for 10 days and take PCR tests on days 2 and 8. Residents arriving from 04h00 on Sunday, 28 November, must isolate in a government-approved facility, also for 10 days and with tests on days 2 and 8.
United Kingdom
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MADEIRA: Madeira tightens restrictions but remains open

Madeira has tightened COVID-19 restrictions just as the island enters its peak winter season. The destination remains open to tourists but has returned to “a state of contingency”. Measures now in place include the requirement to show a vaccination certificate or negative antigen test, renewable weekly, to access shops, public transport, cinemas, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues. From Saturday, 27 November, a weekly negative antigen test will be required in addition to the vaccination certificate. Measures do not apply to children up to 12.
Portugal
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NORWAY: Norway tightens entry requirements

Norway has imposed stricter entry restrictions on travellers arriving from all EU countries. Starting Friday 26 November, EU travellers entering Norway must register their arrival into the country, regardless of vaccination status, residency status and nationality. Both unvaccinated travellers and those who can prove recovery with a health pass must be tested at the border. In the event of a traveller crossing a border without a place to test, such as a land border, they must submit a test result within 24 hours of arriving in Norway.
Norway
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AUSTRIA: Austria – No to non-EU tourists

Austria will implement the first full-scale lockdown imposed by any European government this winter, from 22 November 2021. These regulations were announced just days after the state imposed a lockdown on unvaccinated people aged 12 years and over, and policed it with officers on the streets asking for vaccination certificates. This new lockdown will last a maximum of 20 days, and during this time, travel to Austria from non-EU countries for touristic purposes will not be allowed. Austria will become the first European state to make vaccination mandatory from February 1, 2022.
Austria
Borders
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Leisure

FRANCE: France changes the vaccination passport application

Since France introduced its health passport, travellers entering the country from outside the EU had to convert their vaccine passports into a format compatible with the French system. The government will introduce another system whereby travellers must pay for their QR code. Anyone vaccinated outside the EU, Schengen zone, or the UK must use the new system to use the French health passport, or they will be unable to enter cafés, theatres, bars, restaurants and tourist attractions, or use long-distance train travel. Travellers can now only receive their codes through physically visiting and presenting their passport and vaccination certificate at French pharmacies. Previously, travellers had to apply online or by email in advance to obtain their code. The pharmacies will issue a QR code, which travellers can scan into the French TousAntiCovid app to create their health pass for up to 36 Euros.
France
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UNITED KINGDOM: South Africa is off the UK red list

UK Secretary of Transport, Grant Shapps, announced last night 7 October that only seven countries now remained on the red list, with Britons now able to travel to 47 more countries with no need to quarantine on their return to the UK. South Africa will be added to the list of countries and territories with approved proof of vaccination, effective 04h00 on 11 October, according to Tourism Update. The travel advisory states: “If you arrive in England before that date you must follow the rules for people who are not fully vaccinated. If you arrive after that, you can use a vaccine certificate to prove your vaccination status.”
South Africa
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UNITED KINGDOM: UK removes the traffic light system

The United Kingdom’s travel traffic light system was officially scrapped yesterday 4 October. According to a statement from the British Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, there will be no amber or green list to consult before travel. Only one red list and the rest of the World list. The new rules are: Red list: Pre-departure test, hotel quarantine for 10 days plus PCR test on days 2 and 8. Rest of the world: Day 2 test for fully vaccinated travellers. Pre-departure test, quarantine for 10 days, and test on days 2 and 8 for unvaccinated people.
United Kingdom
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SPAIN: Spain classifies South Africa ‘high risk’

The latest update for South African residents wanting to travel to Spain reveals that SA is on a list of high-risk countries. Although there are no more restrictions on flights from South Africa a 10-day quarantine will apply for anyone coming from South Africa to Spain. Quarantine could be finalised sooner if on the seventh day a negative result for an infection-diagnostic test can be shown. Travellers from South Africa are limited to those who are residents in Spain or Andorra and spouses of Spanish citizens, with few exceptions.
South Africa
Spain
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UNITED KINGDOM: US and EU travellers can avoid UK quarantine

People who were fully vaccinated in the EU or US will not need to isolate when coming to England, Scotland and Wales from an amber list country. After a meeting of senior UK government ministers yesterday 28 July, the go-ahead was given to treat fully inoculated travellers from the US and Europe the same as British residents, from Monday 2 August at 04:00 am. Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, confirmed the changes would apply to people who are fully inoculated with a vaccine approved by the US and EU medicines regulators. Travellers will still need to take either a lateral flow or PCR test pre-departure and a PCR test on the second day after they arrive.
United Kingdom
United States of America
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TURKEY: Turkey bans flights from several countries

Turkey recently deemed Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka high-risk, but allowed passengers from these to enter the country with a 72-hour PCR test and 14-day quarantine upon arrival. However, Turkey’s Interior Ministry issued a circular stating that the country had suspended direct flights from Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka as of July 1 and until further notice. Turkish authorities announced that the nation was suspending direct flights only from these six countries due to the spike of the new variants of the COVID-19 virus.
Brazil
India
Pakistan
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Turkey
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NIGERIA: Nigeria bans travelers from certain countries

Travellers who have visited Brazil, India, South Africa or Turkey within fourteen (14) days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be denied entry into Nigeria. This regulation does not apply to passengers who transited through these countries, citizens of Nigeria and resident permit holders.
Brazil
Nigeria
South Africa
Turkey
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HONG KONG: Hong Kong bans passenger flights from the United Kingdom

To curb the spread of new variants of COVID-19, the Hong Kong government announced yesterday 28 June that all passenger flights from the UK would be banned from flying to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, starting Thursday 1 July. Hong Kong authorities classified the UK as “extremely high risk” because of the “recent rebound of the epidemic situation in the UK and the widespread Delta variant virus strain there”. Under the new classification, people who have stayed in the UK for more than two hours will be restricted from boarding passenger flights to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong
United Kingdom
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NETHERLANDS: The Netherlands reopens to numerous countries

The Netherlands has removed restrictions for travellers from various countries and eased regulations for several more. Travellers do not need to show a negative COVID-19 test, provided they come from a country where the risk of contracting COVID-19 is low. They are also not required to self-quarantine. Travel to The Netherlands from the following countries was previously highly regulated, but is now restriction-free: Albania, Belgium, All of Croatia, Estonia, All of France, All of Greece (except Athens), Hong Kong, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macau, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Taiwan and the United States
Netherlands
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AUSTRIA: Austria reopens to Americans

Austria has lifted its travel restrictions and reopened its borders to US visitors. Since Thursday 24 June, American citizens and residents have been allowed to enter Austria without the need to quarantine, provided they meet the requirements of Austria’s COVID-19 travel protocols. Travellers must meet any of the following three criteria to enter Austria: Proof of vaccination (vaccination certificate), proof of recovery from COVID-19 (from a doctor or public authority in the past six months), and a negative COVID-19 test result (either a PCR or rapid antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before arrival).
Austria
United States of America
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