Asia Travel Restrictions: Reopening Status for Japan, China, Thailand and Other Popular Asian Countries

Latest Travel Restrictions for Popular Asian Countries
While many of the world’s most popular tourist destinations are doing their best to keep borders open and international travel flowing, adjusting their entry restrictions and incorporating vaccination or testing requirements, Asian countries have largely fallen behind the curve.

Some highly tourism-dependent destinations in Asia have come up with schemes that offer quarantine-free entry to foreign travelers only in select locations or under certain conditions, while others continue to mandate hotel quarantines or keep their borders closed altogether. But, generally, nations in this region are being very cautious in their approaches to reopening.

Some countries’ borders may remain closed or they might maintain prohibitive entry policies, but there’s no lack of international travel demand just waiting to be tapped into. Global travelers have waited two years for the chance to explore the Far East, Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific regions, but, depending upon their desired destination, they find themselves yet waiting indefinitely.

Has the Asia destination you’re hoping to visit reopened to international travelers yet? Here are some of those countries’ respective answers to that question.

Cambodia
Short answer: Yes, with restrictions.

Cambodia is accepting fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. without quarantine, provided they fulfill certain requirements. American visitors must provide their vaccination certificate, plus a “negative medical certificate” (i.e., test results) from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. They’ll also need to take a rapid test upon arrival and await their results at the airport.

The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia also notes: “All travelers must present a valid visa issued by a Cambodian Embassy or Consulate. The Government of Cambodia has suspended visa-on-arrival programs until further notice.”

China
Short answer: Nope.

China continues to stick firmly with its zero-COVID strategy, prolonging its isolation from the rest of the globe. For travel to China, you need a special invitation and approval from the government. South China Morning Post reported in January that President Xi Jinping had implemented a plan for fast-tracking the issuance of entry invitations to American executives (well, only those from certain companies), called the ‘U.S.-China Fast Track Travel Channel Program’, according to a statement made by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China). The outlet reported AmCham China also conveyed, “U.S. travelers under the fast-track program will still face quarantine in hotels designated by Chinese local authorities and will receive no special treatment.”

French Polynesia / Tahiti
Short answer: Yes, with restrictions.

Tahiti is granting entry only to fully vaccinated international visitors at this time, meaning that individuals will need to have completed the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna series at least 14 days ahead of travel, or 28 days if they received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Travelers over the age of 18 who’ve completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine protocol are considered “fully vaccinated”, but only if they’re entering the country within nine months of receiving the second dose in the series. After that, they must have received a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated.

To board their flight to French Polynesia, travelers 12 and older are required to present a negative PCR test taken within 24 hours of their departure time. Foreign visitors must also have completed their registration and a few other forms via the country’s ‘Electronic Travel Information System’ (ETIS) platform and present their receipt to the airline before boarding.

India
Short answer: Yes, with restrictions.

According to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India’s webpage, international travelers are being granted entry to India if their tourist/e-tourist visas were issued on or after October 6, 2021. Visas issued before that date will not be honored.

Foreign visitors ages five and older will need to submit a self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal at least 72 hours prior to departing for India. There, unvaccinated travelers can upload a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the first leg of their flight to India, while fully vaccinated travelers can upload proof that they’ve completed a full primary COVID-19 vaccine series.

Approximately two percent of passengers on each arriving flight will be randomly tested, regardless of their vaccination status, but aren’t required to wait for test results before leaving the airport.

Indonesia
Short answer: Yes, but only in two places.

Vaccinated U.S. travelers visiting Indonesia for leisure purposes are permitted to enter only via the airport in Bali or the port of Riau Islands. Travelers must hold a valid visa before heading to Indonesia, as Visa-free and visa-on-arrival (VoA) entry remain suspended until further notice.

Arrivals must provide multiple documents: proof that they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19; a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of their departure; a short-visit visa or other entry permit; proof of booking and payment for quarantine accommodations; and proof that they’ve purchased travel health insurance with a coverage minimum of $25,000, which includes COVID-related treatment and hospitalization during their trip.

According to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Indonesia, travelers are also subject to a PCR test at the airport upon arrival and another test one day prior to their release from quarantine. Quarantine requirements are five full, 24-hours days for individuals who have received both doses of a two-dose vaccine, and seven 24-hour days for those who haven’t received both doses.

Japan
Short answer: It’s a solid “No”.

Japan has given no indication as to if or when it plans on relaxing its strict border policies that exclude most foreign nationals from entry, including U.S. citizens. Any travelers who are granted an exemption are subject to a seven-day quarantine upon arrival (regardless of vaccination status) and must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departing on the first international leg of their flight. These test results must meet very strict documentation requirements and be presented in a very particular format. Any foreign national who received special permission to travel to Japan should visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website for the prescribed format.

Malaysia
Short answer: Not yet, but possibly soon.

Malaysia has kept its borders closed since March 2020, except to travelers from Singapore due to an existing bilateral agreement. But, Reuters reported in early February that Malaysia’s coronavirus recovery council was recommending that the country’s borders be fully reopened as early as March 1, with quarantine requirements waived for vaccinated tourists.

About 98 percent of the peninsular nation’s adult population has reportedly received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with more than half having received a booster jab. Roughly 89 percent of kids between the ages of 12 and 17 are already vaccinated, and the government just launched a mass vaccination campaign on February 3 to inoculate children ages five through 11.

Maldives
Short answer: Yes, with restrictions.

All inbound international travelers to the Maldives over one year of age (regardless of vaccination status) are required to provide a negative pre-departure PCR test taken within 96 hours of boarding their flight. Travelers who have recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 60 days and continue to get a positive PCR result must present a recovery certificate.

Foreign visitors must also take a post-arrival PCR test between the third and fifth day of their trip. According to the U.S. Mission to Maldives, they’ll also need to hold a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of checking out of their guesthouse on any inhabited island.

Maldives Immigration notes that the archipelagic nation also requires travelers to have a pre-paid hotel or accommodations booking and hold an airline ticket for return to their home country or for onward travel elsewhere.

All international travelers, including children, must complete a Traveler Health Declaration form within 48 hours of their departure for the Maldives.

A 30-day tourist visa is granted to foreign tourists upon arrival, making that part of the process easy.

Nepal
Short answer: Yes, but it’s a bit complicated.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated foreign nationals arriving in Nepal will need to provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding their flight. All international arrivals are also required to take a COVID-19 antigen test at the point of entry.

Fully vaccinated travelers must present proof of a COVID-19 vaccine series completed at least 14 days prior to arrival, plus their pre-travel test results. The U.S. Embassy in Nepal states that fully vaccinated travelers will be issued on-arrival visas by immigration offices at the airport.

Unvaccinated foreign visitors, however, must hold a visa obtained in advance from a Nepali diplomatic mission abroad. Unvaccinated travelers whose tests come back negative are transferred to a quarantine hotel for at least five days. If a PCR test performed on the sixth day yields negative results, they’re released from isolation.

Fully vaccinated visitors who test negative don’t need to quarantine, but those who do test positive will be placed in government-mandated isolation at their own cost.

Children under the age of five are exempt from testing and vaccine requirements, and vaccinations are not mandated for kids between the ages of five and 17.

Other documents needed to enter Nepal include a printed copy of their completed International Traveler Online Arrival Form, proof of hotel reservations in Nepal and any mountaineering or trekking permits, if applicable.

Lastly, all travelers departing Nepal, regardless of vaccination status, must produce negative results on a PCR test taken within 48 hours of travel.

Philippines
Short answer: Yes, with restrictions.

As of February 10, the Philippines is accepting fully vaccinated visitors from 150 countries that have visa-free entry permissions, including the U.S. Such foreign travelers are no longer required to quarantine at government-run facilities but must present proof of full vaccination, as well as a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure from their country of origin.

Travelers who don’t require visas for entry must hold a valid airline ticket for a departure from the Philippines occurring within 30 days of their arrival date.

Lastly, international visitors must supply proof that they’ve purchased travel insurance with a minimum coverage amount of $35,000 that will cover care and treatment, should they contract COVID-19 during their trip.

Singapore
Short answer: Yes, with restrictions.

The U.S. qualifies as an approved country under Singapore’s ‘Vaccinated Travel Lanes’ (VTL) program, so travelers from the 50 states and U.S. territories are eligible for entry if they meet certain criteria and conditions.

Prospective visitors will need to provide proof of full vaccination (except for kids 12 and under) or certified proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the past 90 days. Foreign travelers must apply for a ‘Vaccinated Travel Pass’ (VTP) anywhere between three and 60 days prior to departure and ensure they obtain an appropriate visa.

They’ll also need to provide a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test taken within two days of their departure for Singapore, take a PCR test upon arrival at their own cost, and submit self-administered antigen tests from day two through day seven of their trip, if they plan on leaving their accommodations. Travelers must also install the TraceTogether mobile app (kids age six and under are exempt from this rule).

South Korea
Short answer: Yes, with a few conditions.

South Korea is allowing visitors from the U.S., with certain conditions attached. Airline passengers must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of their departure. Upon arrival, travelers, “will experience some combination of temperature screening, health questionnaires, quarantines, and/or COVID-tests, depending on points of departure, visa status, and nationality,” according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Republic of Korea. Foreign visitors are also required to download the Self-Check Mobile App, where they’ll need to answer health-related questions every day for seven days.

Sri Lanka
Short answer: Yes, but it’s a bit complicated.

Fully vaccinated foreign travelers ages 12 and older can enter Sri Lanka with either a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours or a rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of their departure for the destination. Vaccinated visitors are exempted from secondary on-arrival PCR testing, as are unvaccinated kids under the age of 12, but children between 12 and 18 years old who aren’t vaccinated are required to take an on-arrival PCR test at the airport, even when accompanied by fully vaccinated adults.

To gain entry, unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated travelers must likewise provide a negative pre-travel PCR test taken within 72 hours or an antigen test taken within 48 hours. Unvaccinated foreign visitors are also required to take a PCR test upon arrival at the airport; and must spend the first week of their trip in a ‘Tourism Bio Bubble’, meaning that they’ll be able to enjoy all of their approved hotel’s facilities and possibly visit select tourist sites. This type of visitor must have a pre-confirmed reservation at a Level 1 ‘Safe & Secure Certified’ hotel, booked for up to eight days, in order to qualify for a visa.

All travelers also need to fill out an Online Health Declaration Form and upload the relevant documents to obtain a QR code in advance of travel. And, regardless of vaccination status, foreign visitors must also purchase COVID-19 insurance with a minimum coverage amount of $75,000, which costs just $12 per month.

Taiwan
Short answer: Not so much.

Foreign nationals are not currently allowed to enter or transit through Taiwan without receiving special permission from the government if, for example, they’re traveling for humanitarian or emergency reasons. U.S. citizens who do qualify for an entry exception must provide a negative PCR test taken within two days of departing for Taiwan and are required to quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival.

Thailand
Short answer: Yes, with restrictions.

At the start of February, Thailand resumed registration for its ‘Test & Go’ program, which grants quarantine-free entry to fully vaccinated travelers from any country, but other requirements must also be fulfilled.

Foreign visitors will need to provide proof that they’ve booked and paid for accommodations at government-approved hotels on the first and fifth days of their stay and that they’ve paid for two PCR tests, plus a prearranged airport transfer on day one. The first PCR test is administered upon arrival in the country, and travelers must await their results at their approved hotel, then take their second PCR test on day five at a pre-arranged testing center. The MorChana app, which visitors should download upon arrival, even issues a reminder.

Additionally, Thailand requires tourists to purchase an insurance policy with minimum coverage of $50,000 to cover any COVID-related health issues that might arise during their trip.

Vietnam
Short answer: Yes, but it’s a bit complicated.

As of February 15, Vietnam is welcoming back international leisure travelers and returning residents, provided they’re fully vaccinated and have proof of booking an approved packaged tour through a travel agency.

Foreign arrivals are required to present proof of full vaccination, with their final dose having been administered at least 14 days and no more than one year prior to the date of entry. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 can alternatively provide their recovery certificate but should note that their hospital discharge date cannot be more than six months prior to their date of entry into Vietnam.

Travelers must also provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding their flight, as well as prove they’ve purchased a travel insurance policy with a coverage minimum of VND$50,000. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s website directs prospective visitors to consult their travel advisor about how coverage amounts translate when purchasing a policy in the U.S.

Lastly, fully vaccinated foreign arrivals are required to self-isolate at their accommodations for the first three days of their trip, taking additional PCR tests on days one and three before being allowed to leave their hotel, provided that the results come back negative. During their stay, visitors must also download two apps, PC-COVID and IGOVN, which Vietnamese residents also use.