Unlocking Asia Pacific travel. 
Which countries are open for tourism now?

Australia reopened its borders on February 21, 2022. In July, the last travel restrictions have been lifted — overseas arrivals no longer have to prove they have been vaccinated. A negative pre-departure test is no longer required. However, masks are still mandatory on planes flying to Australia.

Most passport holders need the right visa to come to Australia.

Visitors from all around the world can now enter Bangladesh, regardless of their vaccination status. Vaccination certificates are not mandatory to visit the country, however, fully vaccinated travelers are exempted from testing requirements. Non-fully vaccinated visitors are required to possess a negative PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to departing. Travel insurance is not required, but is recommended.

A visa is required for most nationals traveling to Bangladesh. VoA (Visa on Arrival) facilities may be available to specific categories of incoming passengers, but the process is time-consuming. Arrange it before you travel.

Most international flights to Bangladesh have been resumed. Transiting via Bangladesh airports is permitted, however, a transit visa may be required (cost: USD 20). It allows staying within the airport area for a maximum of 72 hours.

Cambodia reopened its borders to international tourism in November 2021. Currently, there are no requirements in place (such as health testing or quarantine) for all travelers entering the country, regardless of their vaccination status. All land borders between Cambodia and Vietnam, Thailand and Laos are now open.

The tourist visa program has been resumed: visa can either be obtained online in advance or on arrival.

International transit at Cambodian airports is currently not permitted. You should contact your airline for further information.

After three years of border restrictions, China has fully reopened to foreign visitors – including tourists. On 15 March 2023, the country resumed issuing all categories of visas for foreigners. Travelers entering China are still required to take a Covid test 48 hours before departure and to fill in the results in their customs health declaration forms.

Transiting through Chinese airports is permitted.

Please note that the official travel advisory for the People’s Republic of China issued by the US State Department recommends reconsidering any travel to the country, including Hong Kong and Macao due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws. There is a risk of exit bans and wrongful detention of foreign nationals by the Chinese government. Travelers may be detained without access to their country’s consular services and may be subjected to prolonged interrogations and extended detention without due process of law.

Fiji opened its borders to foreign tourists on December 1, 2021. Currently, only fully-vaccinated travelers and their accompanying minors can enter the country. There is no quarantine and pre-departure test requirement. However, all visitors need to book an in-country Covid RAT test before departure to Fiji (it must be completed within 72 hours of arrival) and hold proof of travel insurance with Covid coverage.

Transit through Fijian airports is permitted as long as you have a valid outward ticket within 72 hours of arrival, proof of vaccination, and you meet the requirements for entry into the country of your final destination. Transiting passengers are allowed to stay within the airport for up to 10 hours to connect to another flight or – in case of longer layovers – check into a hotel to stay overnight.

Hong Kong — The Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China — is open to fully vaccinated foreign travelers. In September 2022 the city removed most travel restrictions for international arrivals. Only a negative result from any over-the-counter RAT test conducted 24 hours before departure is required (you can voluntarily declare the result online prior to your arrival in Hong Kong).

Unvaccinated non-residents are still denied entry. Mask-wearing remains mandatory throughout the city.

Transiting through Hong Kong International Airport is permitted to all destinations except the Chinese Mainland.

India reopened for tourism on November 15, 2021. Leisure travelers from all countries are allowed to enter India quarantine-free. Fully vaccinated visitors are not required to provide a negative PCR test result, while unvaccinated passengers must present a PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure.

To enter India, you must have a valid passport, an Indian visa and a return/onward ticket. For tourism-related visits of 30 days or less, you can apply online for ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to arrival.

Transiting through Indian airports is allowed for a period no longer than 24 hours. You should have an onward ticket and stay inside the airport’s authorized Transit Area.

Indonesia (including the resort island of Bali) welcomes all foreign tourists, recently abolishing nearly all travel restrictions to enter the country. There is a no-quarantine and no tests pre- and post-arrival for fully vaccinated international travelers. Visa-on-arrival (VoA) has been resumed on 28th April 2022 for passport holders from 60 countries. Citizens of nine ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) are eligible for visa exemption.

When entering Indonesia, you must show a copy of a return ticket or ticket continuing the journey to another country.

Foreign passengers are allowed to transit through Indonesian airports as long as they remain airside, have proof of their vaccination status and onward flight tickets.

Visitors from all around the world can now enter Israel, regardless of their vaccination status. Foreign travelers are not required to quarantine, or present evidence of a negative Covid test result. However, health insurance with coverage for Covid treatment is necessary for the duration of the trip.

Most flights to Isreal have been resumed. Transiting via Israeli airports in order to travel on to other destinations is not currently permitted.

Japan continues its slow reopening. Students, business travelers, and relatives of long-term residents are now allowed to enter the country. Independent travelers are permitted if they visit Japan on a package tour booked via a travel agency. Fully vaccinated travelers don’t need to present a PCR test result on arrival. In all cases, visitors must apply for visas in advance.

Transiting through Japanese airports to another country is allowed, and you are not required to submit any documents.

The Government of Jordan lifted all travel restrictions in the country in March 2022 – there are no requirements in place, such as quarantine or health testing.

Apart from visitors from neighboring countries (including Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE), most travelers require a visa to enter Jordan. Eligible passport holders will be granted a visa on arrival that allows staying within the country for 30 days.

Transit through Jordanian airports is permitted, provided you have an onward ticket for the flight that departs in less than 48 hours, and you do not leave the international airport area.

Laos is open to international travelers, quarantine-free. Border crossings with neighboring countries have been opened, and transit through Laotian airports is permitted. Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to present Covid test results, while unvaccinated travelers are required to show the results upon arrival.

Most foreign visitors are required to obtain a visa in order to enter Laos. Many nationals are eligible for a VoA (Visa on Arrival) that allows a stay of up to 30 days in the country. It can be obtained directly at the airport upon arrival, or in advance – through an online application form.

In April 2022 Malaysia reopened its borders to international visitors, regardless of their vaccination status. Starting 1 August 2022 pre-departure and on-arrival tests are not required for all visitors. There is also no need to obtain travel insurance or undergo quarantine upon arrival.

Travelers may transit via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for up to 24 hours as long as they remain airside.

To protect tourism Maldives pursued one of the most liberal opening policies in the world and allowed quarantine-free entry for all vaccinated travelers in June 2020. Foreign visitors are no longer required to present proof of vaccination or other Covid-related documents before traveling. Unvaccinated visitors entering Maldives under specific visa categories may still be required to undergo health testing and mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

All travelers must complete an online Traveller Declaration, submit it within 96 hours before departure, and present the document on arrival to the Maldives.

All nationalities are eligible for a 30-day tourist visa on arrival. However, a pre-paid hotel/accommodation booking and an onward/return ticket to another country are required.

… but the travel advice from most governments is “do not travel to Myanmar”. The junta opened up Myanmar and resumed international flights in April 2022 – despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis and widespread violence by the military. Foreign tourists are urged to avoid visiting Myanmar which is experiencing food shortages, regular blackouts, and disruptions to the transportation networks and banking system. You should only travel to Burma if you’re going with a tour operator that is taking the risk seriously.

Responsible travel: As the tourism dollars will primarily benefit the illegitimate junta, avoid companies with ties to the regime. This includes Myanmar Travel & Tour, a tourism company controlled by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, as well as four main Burmese airlines: Myanmar National Airlines, Myanmar Airways, Air KBZ, and Golden Myanmar Airlines.

Nepal is open to foreign travelers, under certain conditions. Many trekking routes have been opened, and trekking and mountaineering permit issuances have been resumed.

Vaccinated visitors arriving in Nepal by air or land must present a vaccination certificate, a hotel booking, and travel insurance; quarantine is no longer required. They can acquire a visa before or upon arrival.

Unvaccinated visitors and not fully vaccinated travelers must present a negative Covid test report and will have to quarantine for 10 days in the government-approved hotel. They have to obtain visas from Nepal’s embassies in their home countries, visa on arrival is not available.

Commercial flights to and from Nepal are gradually being resumed. Transit at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is permitted.

New Zealand is open to vaccinated visitors from anywhere in the world. Unvaccinated travelers are not allowed to enter the country unless they are New Zealand citizens or residents.

Before traveling to New Zealand by air, all visitors must complete a declaration, and receive a Traveller Pass by email. If you are not a New Zealand or Australian citizen, you may need to apply for a visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

Transit is only allowed through Auckland Airport as long as you stay in the transit area and your next flight is within 24 hours. Some travelers may need to apply for a transit visa.

The Government of Oman lifted all travel restrictions in the country in May 2022 – there are no requirements in place, such as quarantine or health testing.

Apart from visitors from GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE), all travelers require a visa to enter Oman if their stay is longer than 14 days. It is recommended to apply for a visa before traveling through the Royal Oman Police website.

Transit through Omani airports is permitted.

Most countries in the Pacific Islands region (Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia) are open to general tourism. The governments resumed the issuance of tourist visas, and airlines reopened their international routes to such popular destinations as Bora Bora, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.

Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, and Vanuatu have lifted all travel restrictions for arrivals. There is no mandatory quarantine or health testing for all visitors – regardless of their vaccination status. French Polynesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Solomon Islands, and Tonga may still require proof of vaccination and/or a negative Covid test result to be presented on arrival.

However, the regulations may change at short notice, depending on the situation – always check the official websites before booking a flight to Pacific Islands.

Visitors from all around the world can now enter Pakistan, regardless of their vaccination status. Foreign travelers are not required to quarantine. Non-fully vaccinated visitors are required to possess a negative PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to departing. Travel insurance is not required, however, it is recommended.

To travel to Pakistan, everyone needs a visa or electronic authorization. Most visitors can receive a visa entirely online and a large number of nationalities are also eligible for a visa on arrival (to be obtained at the port of entry before reaching immigration).

Most international flights to Pakistan have been resumed. Transiting via Pakistani airports is permitted for vaccinated travelers.

From February 2022, Papua New Guinea permits vaccinated international travelers to visit the country – without pre-departure tests or quarantine on arrival. Proof of being fully vaccinated is required.

Most nationals need a visa to enter Papua New Guinea that should be arranged prior to the travel date (you can apply online via ica.gov.pg/visa). The visa on arrival is currently suspended.

The Philippines are open to all foreign nationals. Fully vaccinated foreign visitors are allowed to enter the Philippines quarantine-free, while unvaccinated visitors have to quarantine for 14 days. A pre-departure PCR/RAT test is only required for unvaccinated arrivals.

Transit through Philippine airports is allowed, although some restrictions may still be in place.

Visitors from all around the world can now enter Qatar either visa-free, or by filling out simple online applications, depending on their nationality.  Arrivals to Qatar are not required to quarantine, or present evidence of a negative Covid test result.

Transit through Hamad International Airport in Doha is permitted without acquiring a visa, as long as you are not leaving the airport.

Samoa has lifted all travel restrictions — all passport holders can now enter the country, regardless of their vaccination status. Foreign travelers are not required to quarantine or to present a negative PCR test result on arrival. Travel insurance is not required, however, it is recommended.

Visa to Samoa is not required if you intend to stay for up to 60 days (90 days for EU citizens). Visitors should have a confirmed return or onward ticket, a copy of a bank statement, and hold a passport valid for at least 6 months.

Saudi Arabia allows foreign travelers to enter the country, as long as they are fully vaccinated (with a booster). Arrivals to Saudi Arabia are not required to quarantine, or present evidence of a negative Covid test result. Some places may still require proof of vaccination.

Transit through Saudi airports is permitted, although you may need a transit visa if the connecting time between your flights is more than 12 hours.

From 29 August 2022, all travelers can enter Singapore regardless of their vaccination status. There are no on-arrival tests or quarantine required. However, unvaccinated visitors still must test negative on a pre-departure test (taken within two days before departing for Singapore) and purchase travel insurance that Covid coverage. On arrival, you should either present proof via a hardcopy certificate, a digital vaccination application, or an acceptance letter from the Vaccination Check Portal.

Before landing in Singapore, all travelers must submit the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) declaration – this can be done up to three days before arrival.

Most foreign visitors need a valid visa to enter Singapore (see the visa requirements)

Transit through Changi International Airport is permitted as long as you (1) have all flights booked in the same booking itinerary and (2) have the main luggage checked-through to the final destination. Transit passengers do not have to be vaccinated or present a pre-departure Covid test.

South Korea is open to all travelers, quarantine-free. However, all travelers are required to take a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival and isolate in their accommodation until they receive a negative test result. Quarantine may be required for passengers who test positive.

Visa-free and visa-waiver programs are temporarily suspended and replaced by the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) system. You can check your visa requirement based on the nationality of your passport.

Transiting Korea is possible if the connecting flight is within 24 hours and you remain in the transit area of the airport.