Late May 2022 Update: South East & East Asia reopening
As key destinations in Asia begin opening up, I’ve decided to note give individual updates on how countries are progressing and instead provide a more broad update on the status of borders in South East and East Asia. Hopefully this will be helpful in you making decisions on your Asia visits. Note I’ve given every country a Red, Amber or Green rating with the relevant explanation at the end. Please, as always, refer to the latest restrictions on Government websites before making final decisions due to the fast changing nature of the world today!
Last updated: 03 April 2022 at 16h30.
Singapore 🟢
Vaccination status for entry: 🟢 Fully vaccinated (2 dose; 1 dose for Janssen) with a WHO approved vaccine in Singapore, VTL country, EU member state or a country that is connected to the EU Digital Covid Certificate system (e.g. UK, Thailand, Turkey). Note that although you will be able to enter the country, to gain admission to some venues e.g. restaurants you must have your booster within 270 days of the second dose to be deemed Fully Vaccinated. Unvaccinated are not allowed to enter unless a special exemption from the Singaporean Government is granted.
Pre-departure test: 🟢Test no longer required.
Pre-departure application: 🟢 Covid travel pass no longer in force.
Booking flights: 🟢 Any flight eligible to Singapore including connections.
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🟢 No post-arrival test or quarantine.
Further testing: 🟢 No further testing.
Other considerations: 🟢Masks are still required in most indoor settings. Outdoors it is not required but it is reported that Singapore residents are still often wearing their masks outside.
Callum’s view: Like pre-Covid times? Almost. While the borders are completely open for the vaccinated, you should still not some restrictions are in place - particularly for nightlife venues - but in general you should have a great time in the city state.
For the latest from Singapore and Singapore Airlines, I recommend heading across to the Mainly Miles blog.
Thailand 🟢
Vaccination status for entry: 🟢 Fully vaccinated (2 dose; 1 dose for Janssen) with a WHO approved vaccine. Unvaccinated can enter with a pre-departure test within 72 hours of first departure point.
Pre-departure test: 🟢 No pre-departure test required.
Pre-departure application: 🟠 Travellers must apply for a Thailand Pass prior to arrival. You are recommended to apply at least 7 days prior to your departure. Find out more on how to apply for Thailand Pass here. Thailand Pass will be scrapped from 1st June 2022.
Booking flights: 🟢 Any flight is allowed from any country, connecting or direct, providing you meet the requirements for entry.
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🟢 No post-arrival test or quarantine.
Further testing: 🟢No further testing required.
Health insurance requirements: Health insurance with Covid-19 coverage up to USD 10,000 (was USD 20,000).
Callum’s view: With the roadmap to the end of Thailand Pass in sight, the most popular country for tourism in South East Asia is normalising post-Covid travel. The Thailand Pass system with it’s silly upload issues, such as no PDFs, will be a great time saver for travellers - things can only get better. Masks are still in common use and nightlife has an early closing time by law - but note some establishments may openly flout these rules.
The Philippines 🟠 (was🟢)
Vaccination status for entry: 🟢Fully vaccinated (2 dose; 1 dose for Janssen) with a WHO approved vaccine. The country has reopened to all countries, not just those with visa free privileges.
Pre-departure test: 🟠(was 🟢) RT-PCR test within 48 hours of departure or professionally administered Rapid Antigen/Lateral Flow Test within 24 hours of departure.
Pre-departure application: 🟠 You must apply for a Bureau of Quarantine One Health Pass showing your unique QR code prior to departure.
Booking flights: 🟢 Any flight is allowed from any country, connecting or direct, providing you meet the requirements for entry. Capacity limits imposed on inbound flights to the Philippines appear to have been lifted as there is now plentiful availability - including award space on Singapore Airlines.
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🟢No testing or quarantine after arrival.
Further testing: 🟢No additional testing but you are advised to self-monitor for symptoms for the 5 days after arrival - but you should be doing that anyway.
Health insurance requirements: 🟢Travel insurance for Covid-19 treatment costs with a minimum coverage of USD 35,000 for the duration of the stay.
Other considerations: 🟢 Most domestic Covid test requirements appear to have been eliminated for Fully Vaccinated travellers. Philippine Airlines has a useful resource here.
Callum’s view: While The Philippines still have a light touch approach to post-Covid travel, they are now being leapfrogged by other regional competitors. I suspect that in due course, the archipelago will follow Singapore and others to maintain attractiveness to prospective tourists looking to not have the stress of testing.
Vietnam 🟢
Vaccination status for entry: 🟢 All vaccination requirements are lifted - unvaccinated are also welcome.
Pre-departure test: 🟢No Covid-19 test required
Pre-departure application: 🟢 No pre-departure application required
Booking flights: 🟢 Any flight is allowed from any country, connecting or direct, providing you meet the requirements for entry.
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🟢No testing or quarantine after arrival.
Further testing: 🟢No additional testing or quarantine.
Health insurance requirements: 🟢Travel insurance for Covid-19 treatment costs with a minimum coverage of USD 10,000 for the duration of the stay.
Callum’s view: Vietnam is now Asia’s most open country for border regulations - even dropping them for unvaccinated people. This should be applauded because it is a very open approach to post-Covid border regulations -with it likely enabling the country to capitalise on pent up travel demand.
Cambodia 🟢
Vaccination status for entry: 🟢Fully vaccinated (2 dose; 1 dose for Janssen) with a WHO approved vaccine. You are advised to produce a printed version of the vaccination record by the UK Government.
Pre-departure test: 🟢 No test required
Pre-departure application: 🟢 No covid-specific application required but you do need to make a tourist visa application online.
Booking flights: 🟢 Take any flight to the country,
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🟢 No test required.
Further testing: 🟢No additional testing.
Health insurance requirements: 🟢 No Covid-specific insurance is required but you are strongly advised to take out travel health insurance regardless.
Other considerations: 🟢 Very few other restrictions for people visiting Cambodia.
Callum’s view: A decent showing from Cambodia - although no changes since my last update, the country is open and ready for vaccinated tourists.
Laos 🟢(was 🔴)
Vaccination status for entry: 🟢 Fully vaccinated with 2 x doses. Unvaccinated are allowed entry with conditions
Pre-departure test: 🟢 No test required for fully vaccinated and only 1 x rapid antigen test for unvaccinated 48 hours before departure
Pre-departure application: 🟢 No application besides standard eVisa processes.
Booking flights: 🟢 Any flights are permissible.
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🟢 No quarantine or post-arrival test.
Health insurance requirements: 🟢No apparent requirements.
Callum’s view: Laos is certainly not the most popular destination in South East Asia but it could now be one of the most flexible and easy to enter. Those seeking good value and excellent scenery should consider.
Indonesia 🔴
Vaccination status for entry: 🟢Fully vaccinated (2 dose; 1 dose for Janssen) with a WHO approved vaccine. You are advised to produce a printed version of the vaccination record by the UK Government.
Pre-departure test: 🟢 No test required.
Pre-departure application: 🟠 Download the PeduliLindungi app, registering your PCR test alongside e-Hac (vaccination), eCD (customs declaration) and proof of hotel quarantine booking
Booking flights: 🟢 Any flight to one of Indonesia’s key international airports appears to be valid.
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🟢 No test required.
Health insurance requirements: 🟢 Proof of travel health insurance required but does not appear to have a minimum coverage amount.
Callum’s view: The rules for Indonesia have drastically simplified since my last update. This is excellent news and while it may still require some document filling - they have now lifted most of the testing requirements for fully vaccinated individuals.
Malaysia 🟢
Vaccination status for entry: 🟠Fully vaccinated (2 dose; 1 dose for Janssen) with a WHO approved vaccine. You are advised to produce a printed version of the vaccination record by the UK Government. Note that strangely, the Malaysia Government has different definitions for ‘Fully Vaccinated’ depending on your age group.
Pre-departure test: 🟢 No pre-departure test
Pre-departure application: 🟠 Download MySejahtera app and complete the pre-departure travel form. Separately, go to mysafetravel.gov.my to verify overseas issued Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
Booking flights: 🟢 Take any flight to the country,
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🟢No post-arrival test or quarantine.
Health insurance requirements: 🟢 Travel and health insurance requirements appear to have been lifted.
Callum’s view: Malaysia is almost becoming as simple as other SEA countries in their reopening. While the vaccination rule is a little odd, it is good to see the country are making the process of entry just a bit simpler.
South Korea 🟠
Vaccination status for entry: 🟠Fully vaccinated (2 dose; 1 dose for Janssen) with a WHO approved vaccine within 180 days. No time limit once you have a booster shot.
Pre-departure test: 🟠 Pre-departure rapid antigen test taken within one day of departure that has been conducted by a medical professional (testing site - in person). Or PCR test within two days of departure.
Pre-departure application: 🟠 Submit home country vaccination records into the Korean Q-CODE system enabling a South Korean Covid QR Code.
Booking flights: 🟢 Take any flight to the country,
Post-arrival test & quarantine: 🔴 Fully vaccinated visitors are exempt from quarantine but still are required to do a post-arrival PCR test.
Further testing: 🟢 Day 6/7 test has now been scrapped.
Health insurance requirements: 🟢 Unclear if you are required to have Covid-specific insurance but you are advised to have travel insurance regardless.
Callum’s view: Some moves from South Korea in regards to pre-departure testing but I think for most travellers they will be hoping that nervous wait for the post-arrival test will be scrapped. That is super stressful and even more so if you test positive in a foreign country. Let’s hope this changes soon.
The rest of the region
Unfortunately countries, regions and territories in this category show almost no progress towards reopening - either due to extensive quarantine periods making tourism impossible or barring foreign nationals.
