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COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

Many countries/territories have announced travel restrictions and quarantine measures under COVID-19. Please check for the latest update before making any travel decisions.

On 17th March, HKSAR government issued a Red Travel Warning for all overseas countries / territories.

Latest Updates on Travel Bubble

The Hong Kong and Singapore governments announced the Travel Bubble Scheme between the 2 cities to begin on November 22, 2020. There will be a daily direct flight between Singapore and Hong Kong during the first 15 days of the scheme with daily quotas of 200 passengers, operated by Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Afterwards, the capacity will increase to two direct flights daily.

Before departing to Singapore, travellers from Hong Kong must undergo a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the designated ATB flight from Hong Kong to Singapore at one of the testing institutions recognised by the Hong Kong Government.

Before returning to Hong Kong, travellers must obtain a negative pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test in Singapore. Upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, travellers are subject to a COVID-19 PCR test. Travellers are only exempted from the quarantine requirement and may leave the airport when test result is negative.

*For the latest details, please refer to the HKSAR website or the Singapore government website.  

Travel Restrictions Map

This map shows which countries have entry restrictions by air for travel into the country.

  • Completely closed: only citizens, residents returning home, or people in other special circumstances may enter the country.
  • Partially closed: entrance into the country may depend on the traveler’s citizenship, point of origin, or other specific regulations.
  • No restrictions: the country has no formal entry restrictions in place, but is still monitoring the situation and may have other travel advisories in place.

On 17 March, the HKSAR government issued a Red Travel Warning for all overseas countries / territories. The following countries/territories have also announced entry retsrictions and quarantine measures, and has stopped visa-free arrangement or issuing new visa. Please note that since the development of COVID-19 changes constantly, the following restrictions may be revised very often. Please check with the local government for the latest information before making any travel decisions.

Travel restrictions of different countries/territories

Japan

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: Travellers who have been to the 152 specified countries or regions in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter Japan. On October 30, the Government of Japan decided to remove Hong Kong from the list of countries and regions which entry ban is applied to.
2. Visas: As visa exemption measures with HKSAR passport holders are temporarily suspended, those who fall under the measures are required to obtain visas before visiting Japan.
3. Quarantine Requirements: All travelers entering Japan must be in self-quarantine for 14 days and subject to conducting PCR tests.

Korea

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: Foreign nationals who have visited Hubei in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Korea. Any passenger transiting in Korea must have a confirmed connecting ticket and transit within 24 hours.
2. Visas: All visa exemption entry into South Korea for 90 countries will be suspended as of 13 April 2020, passport holders of those countries/regions should obtain visas from the embassies in order to enter Korea. Holders of diplomat or official passport holders, personnel of vessels, flight attendants on board for flights to Korea and businessmen holding ABTC are to be exempted from the requirement of visas.
3. Quarantine Requirements: As of 1 April 2020, all travellers entering Korea must be in self-quarantine either in their own residence or in government specified facilities for 14 days, all travellers must install the “Self-Diagnosis Mobile app” upon entering Korea and must get COVID-19 test within 3 days upon arrival.

Taiwan

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: As of June 29, 2020, foreign nationals who wish to travel to Taiwan for reasons other than tourism and regular social visits may apply for a special entry permit with an R.O.C. overseas mission by submitting relevant documents and forms. Applications by students and people wishing to study in Taiwan will be handled by the Ministry of Education in line with its related measures. From 25 June 2020, customers can transit at Taiwan Taoyuan (TPE) International Airport if the connecting flights are within 8 hours and with the same airline.
2. Visas: Taiwan has also stopped offering visa on arrival or online visa services to HKSAR and Macau SAR passport holders.
3. Quarantine Requirements: Upon entering Taiwan, all foreign nationals must present an English-language certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of boarding the flight to Taiwan and undergo a 14-day home quarantine period.

Vietnam

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: All foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Vietnam.
2. Visas: Vietnam has also stopped offering visa on arrival services to all foreign nationals.

Thailand

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: All international flights are banned until 30 June 2020, travelers are not allowed with some exceptions (eg. Thai nationals, people with valid working visas, crew members etc). For passengers transit in Thailand from some cities (including Hong Kong), a health certificate must be stated safe or free from COVID-19 with Lab test result (with medical stamp), and it must be valid for not more than 72 hours prior to departure.

Singapore

1. Due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong and Singapore governments have postponed the launch of the Air Travel Bubble.​
2. Starting 22 November 2020, the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble allows for quarantine-free travel between the two cities. To be eligible to fly within the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble, you must: – Have no travel history to anywhere other than Hong Kong or Singapore in the last 14 days – Have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test from a recognised laboratory or health care institution collected within 72 hours before your scheduled flight departure time.

USA

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: Non-US citizens or residents who have visited affected areas (constantly updating) in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter USA. Passengers who are exempted will only be permitted to arrive into one of the following 15 airports.

UK

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: There are currently no nationality or travel history related travel restrictions for entry into the United Kingdom.
2. Quarantine Requirements: No self-isolation on arrival if you are from or stopped in these countries or areas (including Hong Kong) during the previous 14 days. If you are from other countries or areas not listed, self-isolation is required on arrival for 14 days.

EU

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: A temporary travel restriction is in place for travel from any country outside the EU to the following countries:
EU/Schengen: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
Associated countries: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland

Australia

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: All foreign nationals are not allowed to enter or pass through Australia. From 1 July 2020 until further notice, all international flight arrivals into Melbourne airport have been suspended by the Australian Government.

Canada

1. Entry & Transit Restrictions: Except premanent residents of Canada, Canadian citizens or US citizens and their families, all foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Canada by flight (not including transit).
2. Quarantine Requirements: All passengers entering Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days

For the entry restrictions of other countries/territories, please refer to the following links for the most updated information:


Hong Kong Security Bureau
Centre for Health Protection

Cathay Pacific COVID-19 travel restrictions page