Coronavirus Travel Restrictions in Asia & Oceania

Coronavirus Travel Restrictions in Asia & Oceania: Here are the travel restrictions imposed by countries in the Asia Pacific in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Japan

The Japanese government has expanded the states for the entry ban of foreign passengers to a new total of 146 countries.  This ban has also been extended until the end of August.

Crew:

• The entry is allowed with a minimum stay of 1 or 2 nights in accommodation near the airport
• Crew must not use public transportation (train, bus, taxi)

The Japanese government is planning partially ease the entry ban in the coming weeks for passengers from: Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Cambodia, Singapore, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Laos, and Taiwan.

Bangladesh

• Visa on arrival suspended for all nationalities.
• All scheduled international commercial passenger flights from Bahrain, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and UK shall not be allowed to land.
• All helicopter and GA flights are prohibited.

• This does not apply to flight to/from China, however incoming passengers will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
• Exemptions: corporate, medevac, humanitarian or relief flights, technical stop with no crew rest, and repatriation flights.
• Standard disinfection, hygiene and sanitization procedure for passenger, crew, equipment, and aircraft (inflight or on ground) shall be respected.
• Foreign nationals with valid visas will be required to produce a medical certificate (with English translation) to be obtained within 72 hours of travel, indicating that they does not have any symptoms of COVID-19. The individual needs to submit these certificates on arrival at the entry point (airport/seaport/land port).
• Any Bangladesh nationals without required medical certificate will be institutionally quarantined in Dhaka for 14 days. Those with the medical certificate will be required to observe a 14-day self-quarantine.

Indonesia

Passengers are not allowed to transit or enter Indonesia with the following exemptions:

• Nationals
• Passengers with a Temporary Stay Permit (ITAS) or Permanent Stay Permit (ITAP)
• Diplomatic Visa or a Service Visas
• Diplomatic Stay Permit or Service Stay Permit
• Medical aid workers or food sustenance workers for humanitarian purposes
• Personnel working on strategic national projects

Passengers allowed to enter Indonesia (except nationals) and airline crew must:

• Have a valid health certificate in English issued by Health Authority from respective country. It must be valid within 7 days and state that the passenger is free from respiratory disease and fit to travel
• It must also contain the PCR test result
• Have no travel history in the last 14 days from China (People’s Rep.), France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Korea (Rep.), Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Vatican City (Holy See)
• The person must agree to self-quarantine for 14 days and fill in statement of compliance on arrival.

Passengers arriving from countries with COVID-19 confirmed cases must submit a health declaration form on arrival.

Deadhead crew that will be active on return flight will be given an entry stamp if they:

• Have a valid crew ID card or crew member certificate
• Provide written notification from airline to Immigration Officer at the entry point that the personnel will be on duty during return flight. This notification should be received by Immigration officer at entry point at latest 24 hours upon arrival.

Thailand

Remians closed to all inbound flights until September 30 with the following exemptions once a permit is approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand: 

• State or military aircraft
• Aircraft in states of emergency
• Technical landings without passenger disembarkation
• Relief, humanitarian, medevac flights
• Cargo flights

Vietnam

Flights entering Vietnam are not allowed to carry passengers, except those who enter for diplomatic or official duty, foreigners who attend important foreign affairs events, experts, business managers, highly-skilled workers and special cases with the approval of the national steering committee on prevention and control of COVID-19.

Flights from Vietnam are allowed to carry passengers and cargo.

All passengers shall be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days and comply with existing regulations on quarantine and epidemic prevention.

This information effective until further notice.

China

• No international arrivals at ZBAA
• No business flights at ZSSS

For all other airports, if you are flying internationally, one of following documents is required:

• Sponsor letter issued by the government of the province that indicates the flight details and the reason for the operation
• Confirmation letter issued by local epidemic prevention department that indicates the flight details and confirms they will accept this flight
• Guarantee letter issued by the operator (for ferry flights) to indicate the flight details and guarantee that there will be no passengers
• For all cargo flights picking up medical supplies, it is recommended to go via diplomatic channels

Latest requirements for private/business jet permit application from CAAC on March 31:

A Permit Application:

1. For flights arranged by the Chinese government, a sponsor letter issued by the provincial government is required to submit with the application.
2. For normal business/private flights,  landing permit application must be submitted no less than 2 working days ahead of time, accept a letter issued by the Epidemic Prevention office of the destination airport’s government.
3. For ferry flights, guarantee letter for non-passenger flights issued is required to submit together with application.

B Permit Revision:

1. For flights arranged by the Chinese government, a revision must be submitted no less than 6 hours ahead of time together with an updated sponsor letter.
2. For normal business/private flights, revisions must be submitted no less than 1 working day ahead of time together with an updated acceptance letter.
3. For ferry flights, revisions shall be submitted no less than 6 hours together with an updated guarantee letter.
4. For flights confirmed cancelled, cancellation must be submitted to CAAC immediately.

C Detailed Requirement:

1. Sponsor letter or accepting letter must indicate the exact flight schedule, aircraft registry, call sign, crew and passenger numbers (less than 15 passengers only); the guarantee letter must indicate the flight schedule and crew number.
2. All flights to Beijing and Hubei province has been suspended for now. International flights for normal business/private jets to other cites will be allowed a maximum 5 flights per day.
3. All units must provide accurate crew and passenger information, fully supporting the local Epidemic Prevention office’s work.
4. Applicant or operator won’t be allowed to apply for any permit if any falsification has been found with the application, the CAAC reserve the right to revoke the permit in case when destination governments or airport handling units issue temporary restrictions.

These requirements for business/private flight application apply immediately and till further notice.

Hong Kong

Business jet operations at Hong Kong International Airport (VHHH/HKG) is resumed on June 1. Non-Hong Kong residents will not be permitted entry so operators must only board transferring passengers who will be accepted for entry at their final destination. 

• All passengers shall undergo body temperature screening before boarding the flight and on arrival
• Passengers with a body temperature above normal will not be allowed to  board
• Passengers must undertake health declarations before boarding
• Passengers must wear face masks at all time throughout the journey and at the airport and sanitizers must be provided

Effective from July 29, travelers who were in Kazakhstan or the United States of America within 14 days prior to their trip to Hong Kong are required to provide additional documentation.

From July 25, travellers who have been in the following countries over the past 14 days before their arrival in Hong Kong are required to provide additional documentation:

• Bangladesh
• India
• Indonesia
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• The Philippines
• South Africa

From July 29, traveler who was in below two more specific countries for the past 14 days is required to provide additional documentation/ proofs before coming to Hong Kong:

• Kazakhstan
• United States

Also in effect from July 29: All air crew planning for a layover in Hong Kong must comply with the following :

1. Produce a negative result of nucleic acid test for COVID-19 done at an ISO 15189 accredited laboratory or a laboratory recognized by the Government where the laboratory is located. The specimen must be collected within 48 hours prior to boarding the flight to Hong Kong. If this cannot be provided, the air crew must take the same test for COVID-19 upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and must wait for the test result at the designated location.
2. Airlines must arrange Point-to-Point Transportation for their air crew traveling between HKIA and their place of accommodation and prohibit the use of public transportation.
3. Airlines must also ensure that their air crew will self-isolate at the designated location during their stay in Hong Kong.

Macau SAR

From July 14, all passengers departing from Macao must present a negative test result for the new coronavirus nucleic acid done within the past 7 days before boarding (operators must inform their passengers in advance that they must in possession of a negative test for the new coronavirus nucleic acid done during the last 7 days.)

Australia

Everyone entering the country is required to self isolate for 14 days.

New Zealand

Requiring all people entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days.

Fiji

• Anyone who have been in China, Europe, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Spain, or the US in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter
• Passengers will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days

Maldives 

Will reopen its border to visitors on July 15 lifting all travel restrictions. It will provide a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival for all nationalities.

Tourists will be allowed to visit without any quarantine on arrival.

Travelers are required to submit a health declaration card upon arrival.

Travelers with symptoms of COVID-19 will be subjected to a PCR test upon arrival.

Additionally, local health authorities will conduct random testing at the airport.

Singapore 

All visitors with recent travel history to France, Germany, Italy, and Spain within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into or transit.

Singapore residents and pass-holders who have been to those countries in the past 14 days are required to quarantine for two weeks.

Additional precautionary measures for all long-term pass holders who are entering or returning:

• All ICA issued Long-Term Pass (LTVP) holders, and those who have been grated IPA by ICA for LTVP, will require an approval letter of entry by ICA to gain entry.
• All Student Pass holders, and those who have been granted IPA by ICA for STP, will require an approval letter of entry by MOE to gain entry.
• The approval letter is valid for 2 weeks. LTVP and STP holders must produce such approval letter of entry at check-in at the point of departure and to the ICA officer at the checkpoint on their arrival.
• These passengers will still be required for self-quarantine at home for 14 days.
• Work Pass holders will still require Ministry of Manpower approval before departing to Singapore.

From April 9:

• Flight and cabin crew of foreign airlines, who are citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders entering Singapore will be issued with a SHN at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport until their next departure out of Singapore or for 14 days, whichever is earlier.
• Flight and cabin crew of foreign airlines, who are not citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders, will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore, except flights that require a layover due to flight time limitations or aircraft on AOG Situation in Singapore.

In these cases, approval will be required from CAAS. Crew will also have to serve SHN at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport until their next departure or for 14 days, whichever is earlier.

Cambodia

As of August 1, all inbound flights from Malaysia and Indonesia are banned until further notice.

Visas on arrival, Visa Exemption Policy, Tourist visa and eVisa facilities are suspended but this doesn’t apply to crew.

Foreign nationals from Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and USA are no longer banned from entering.

All passengers entering Cambodia (including crew) must:

• Hold a medical certificate indicating COVID-19 negative test results. This must be issued no more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel, by competent health authorities of the port of embarkation*
• Provide proof of insurance policy with a minimum medical coverage of not less than USD 50,000, during their intended duration of stay in Cambodia*

*This doesn’t apply to Cambodian nationals, crew and to any official of foreign missions and international organizations holding Cambodian diplomatic visa (Visa A) or official visa (Visa B).

All arriving passengers (doesn’t apply to crew) will undergo COVID-19 testing and if found to be positive, will be subject to 14-day quarantine at a designated government facility with any accompanying travelers.

Those who test negative are expected to self-quarantine for 14 days and will be required to repeat the test on the 13^th day of isolation.

India

Commercial international flights are expected to resume at the end of August.

Pakistan

• From August 9, all types of international passenger operations to/from all airports are allowed
• International scheduled flight operations to/from Pakistan will revert to authorizations as per summer-20 scheduling season
• International flight operations and cargo and special flights shall be conducted in accordance with established guidelines and applicable SOPS

Laos

As well as the usual documents and information, all landing application must include the additional documents:

• Application form detailing purpose of flight
• AOC
• CofR
• CofA
• Noise Certificate
• Radio Station Certificate
• Insurance
• Flight Crew License

Additional documents (applicable to all passengers and crew members):

• A certified letter stating negative test results for COVID-19 issued by an accredited governmental medical source from the country of embarkation.
• A declaration letter from Operator to Lao DCA, to be stamped and signed.
• A Letter stating that all necessary arrangements have been made to conduct COVID-19 testing on all passengers and crew members, by a medical team, at the port of disembarkation.

The following visa facilities are suspended for all nationalities (passengers and crew) until further notice:

• Visa on arrival
• Tourist Visa issued at Lao Diplomatic mission
• eVisas
• Visa Exemption Scheme (not applicable to holders of diplomatic and official passports)

Issuance for other purposes than tourism is still allowed but shall be processed at the Lao diplomatic mission of the country of residence.

Issuance of landing permits is suspended until August 31 with the exemption of ambulance and medical flights.

The following flights are also allowed, but they must request prior approval of Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

• Diplomatic/government/military (to be processed via Diplomatic channel)
• Cargo
• Humanitarian

Suspension of all international scheduled and non-scheduled flights until July 31 with the following exemptions:

• Cargo
• Emergency landings
• Technical stop with no disembarkation
• Humanitarian and relief (Landing permissions to be requested via diplomatic channel)
• Repatriation flights (Landing permissions to be requested via diplomatic channel)
• Diplomatic (Landing permissions to be requested via diplomatic channel)

Malaysia

A Conditional Movement Control Order is still underway in Malaysia. This means until August 31:

A full ban on overseas travel for citizens.

Returning citizens most undergo COVID-10 tests and mandatory 14-day quarantine at home.

A ban on foreigners and tourists entering with the following exemptions:

• Those with MM2H passes
• Those with eligible visas issued prior to March 18
• Permanent residents
• Spouses or children of citizens with long term social visit passes
• Diplomats and their dependents

These categories must undergo a COVID-19 swab test within 14 days prior to their arrival in Malaysia with a negative result and observe a 14-day quarantine at their own cost on arrival.

Any foreigner can leave the country.

Tech stops are allowed for crew and passengers and they have to stay on board for the whole duration of transit.

Myanmar

Visa on Arrival (VOA) and e-Visa facilities are suspended for all nationalities until September 30. This is also applicable to air crew.

Diplomats, UN Officials and any foreign national who intends to travel to Myanmar shall contact the nearest Myanmar missions for necessary entry visa or ease of quarantine procedures.

Nationals of China are not allowed to transit Myanmar without a visa.

Returning Myanmar nationals from any country will be subject to a 14-day facility quarantine on arrival.

All foreign nationals are required to present laboratory evidence of absence of COVID-19 infection issued no more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel before boarding any flight and will be subject to a 14-day facility quarantine on arrival.

All diplomats accredited to Myanmar and United Nations officials working in Myanmar are also required to present laboratory evidence of absence of COVID-19 infection issued no more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel before boarding any flight and will be subject to home quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

All passengers and Air Crew entering are required to fill in a Health Declaration Card.

Any foreign national with valid entry visa may enter and exit only at Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw International Airports.

All international commercial flights are prohibited to land until July 31.

All previously granted permits by MM DCA are suspended until July 31 with the exception of:

• Relief flights
• Cargo
• Ambulance
• Special flights approved by MM DCA

All crew may be subject to quarantine until departure.

A national curfew is in force from 00:00 LT (1530Z) to 04:00 LT (2130Z).

In order to enable airport workers to make their journeys to/from home before curfew time, operators must flight plan with respect to the following.

Arriving aircraft:

• Ground Handling operations shall be completed by 1530Z
  • Earliest Arrival shall not be earlier than 2300Z
  • Latest Arrival shall not be later than 1415Z

Departing aircraft:

• Handling operations cannot start before 2300Z
  • Earliest Departure shall not be earlier than 2330Z
  • Latest Departure shall not be later than 1530Z

South Korea

All foreign nationals who enter must remain in self-quarantine for 14 days.

Nepali nationals and residents must stay in home quarantine for 14 days from their arrival.

The country has stopped issuing on-arrival visas to foreign visitors.

Papua New Guinea

• International travelers are not allowed to enter the country, unless authorized by Ministry of Health. This is also applicable to crew, nationals and residents.
• All international and domestic flights are suspended until April 8, this includes ambulance flights.

Philippines

International repatriation flights can fly in and out of the Philippines.

International passenger flights can only land in Manila on specified days.

Mondays and Thursdays are reserved for charter flights, and scheduled passenger flights can land any other day of the week.

While the Information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the Information. The Information may change without notice and UAS is not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information printed and stored or in any way interpreted and used by a user.

For support with your flight operations, contact UAS 

Next, we’ll look at travel restrictions for Africa and the Middle East, and Russia/CIS.