Despite many people worrying about a fourth (or fifth) wave of COVID-19 infections, many Asian countries continue to manage their infection figures efficiently and are starting to open for tourism.
Which Asian Countries are open to tourism?
Brunei
The Travel Green Lane classification was lifted on May 6th 2022, meaning visitors no longer need to apply for entry or exit permits.
All visitors entering Brunei must be fully vaccinated and have received a booster injection.
Arrivals who are fully vaccinated must present three negative Antigen Rapid Tests (ART) tests – on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of your visit, but quarantine is no longer required.
Unvaccinated travellers must present proof of medical exemption from vaccination and be prepared to be tested on arrival. They must also take an RTR-PCR test on the third day after arrival and quarantine until they receive a negative result.
Cambodia
Cambodia reopened to fully vaccinated travellers on November 20th 2021.
Travellers to Cambodia must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. They must also prove that they have health insurance of at least $50,000USD.
China
China’s travel restrictions have been pretty tight throughout the COVID pandemic. Still, there are rumours that they are considering resuming the visa/entry request process for travellers who have received two vaccine doses.
Visitors to China will still require a negative COVID-19 test result and a 14 to 21-day quarantine on arrival.
Most restrictions on local travel have been lifted, and life has almost gotten back to normal for residents. Still, visitors must go through a strict process of
- Obtaining a visa
- Completing the online Health Declaration for Departure/Arrival
- Presenting a negative PCR test result no older than 72 hours
- Getting tested for COVID-19 on arrival in China
- Undergoing a mandatory quarantine at a centralized facility for 14 to 21 days
Hong Kong
Flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States to Hong Kong resumed on April 1st 2022.
All travellers must:
- Submit a Health & Quarantine Information Declaration form
- Undergo a PCR test for Coronavirus at Hong Kong International Airport and remain at the airport while awaiting their test results. If you test positive, you will be admitted to either a public hospital or an isolation facility for seven days.
- Have a passport that is valid for at least one month after the date of your departure from Hong Kong
India
All COVID-related travel restrictions were lifted as of April 2nd 2022.
However, travellers must still.
- Apply for a visa
- Fill out a self-declaration form 72 hours before departure
- Upload a negative RT-PCR test result to the Air Suvidha portal within 72 hours of arrival.
Indonesia
The visa-on-arrival programme in Indonesia has recently been expanded to include people from 42 countries.
Current entry requirements include:
- Having a tourist visa
- Providing proof of a negative PCR test
- Health insurance with coverage of at least $100,000USD
Japan
Japan has recently eased entry restrictions for business travellers, students and other non-tourist visitors who have a sponsor.
However, this does not mean that Japan has reopened to tourists. It continues to suspend the validity of visas issued before December 2nd, except for diplomats, spouses of Japanese nationals and permanent residents.
Visas will not be issued unless individuals seek to enter Japan under “extraordinary circumstances”, such as attending funerals or visiting the terminally ill.
Malaysia
Malaysia reopened for international tourism on April 1st 2022.
This means international tourists no longer need to quarantine, but they do need to:
- must apply for permission to enter through the My Travel Pass portal
- take a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test two hours before travel
- take a professional Rapid Test Kit Antigen (RTK-Ag) test within 24 hours of arriving in Malaysia
Pakistan
If you want to travel to Pakistan, you need:
- a visa from the High Commission for Pakistan
- complete vaccination against COVID-19 if you are aged 12 and above
- a passport which is valid for six months from the date of your visa application
Philippines
The Philippines reopened for fully vaccinated visitors to counties permitted visa-free travel on February 10th 2022.
Travellers must:
- show confirmation of vaccination
- show negative RT-PCR results from a test taken within 48 hours after leaving their home country
- self-monitor for symptoms for seven days after arrival
Singapore
Singapore has expanded its quarantine-free travel scheme to include fully vaccinated visitors from ten additional countries.
At the moment, the entry requirements for Singapore are:
- Negative COVID-19 test results (or a test on arrival for Air Travel Pass visitors)
- Agree to a 14-day quarantine
- Show proof of vaccination against COVID-19
- Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP)
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has reopened for Tourism.
Entry requirements:
- Apply for a visa or travel permit online
- Show a negative COVID-19 test result taken 72 hours before departure
- Pay for on-site COVID testing and health insurance
- Undergo a 14-day quarantine at a government-designated facility – regardless of vaccination status
Thailand
Fully vaccinated foreign tourists to Thailand need to show:
- confirmation of vaccination status
- health insurance coverage of at least $10,000USD
Tourists who are not vaccinated need to:
- apply for a Thailand visa
- Stay in a hotel for five days
- Take an RT-PCR test on Day 5
- Show proof of medical insurance
Vietnam
The Vietnamese government has resumed pre-pandemic visa insurance policies and reopened to all tourists from March 15th 2022.
Travellers must present either a negative PCR test taken within the 72 hours before travel or a rapid test taken within 24 hours.
Travellers must self-monitor their health for 10 days after arrival.
PCR Fit to Fly Test (digital certificate included)
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Further Reading
- FCDO – Foreign travel advice
- Travelbans – Asia Travel Restrictions
