Travel To These 17 Countries Remains Restricted For Tourists

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As the Covid-19 crisis continues to be under control around the world, many countries have begun to relax travel restrictions and open up to all types of travel.

However, there are still several nations that are not fully open for travel and have tight entry restrictions in some places. Many of them still demand strict quarantine for international visitors, as well as multiple Covid-19 tests for entry.

We have compiled a list of 17 nations where international tourists are still prohibited from entering. Travel to these countries is only open for returning citizens and those meeting strict requirements.

Travel To These 17 Countries Remains Restricted

1. Afghanistan

Most travellers from India with proof of full COVID-19 vaccination are not able to enter Afghanistan yet. Travellers are not advised to enter Afghanistan. Limited international flights are operating. Please check the documentation, quarantine and/or testing requirements before travelling.

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Quarantine: Travelers may be required to quarantine on arrival.

Testing Requirements: Travelers may be required to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. Travellers are encouraged to check with their airline for further details.

2. American Samoa

Travellers are not allowed to enter American Samoa. Regularly scheduled traveller’s flights and entry permits are suspended until further notice.

Quarantine: Travelers are required to quarantine for up to 14 days on arrival.

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Testing Requirements: Travelers are required to take another 2 PCR tests in Honolulu, on days 5 and 48 hours before departure to American Samoa. The test results are automatically updated to the TALO PASS registration.

3. Cameroon

Most travellers are not allowed to enter Cameroon. Commercial flights to and from Cameroon are limited. However, Entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Cameroon citizens, residents, and those with valid visas.

Quarantine: Air passengers with a positive COVID-19 test result will be required to enter isolation at home or in a government facility at their own expense depending on their symptoms. Although quarantine is not required, travellers may have been exposed to COVID-19 during their travels and are encouraged to limit contact with others for 14 days after their trip.

Testing Requirements: Travelers must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. The test must be taken a maximum of 72 hours before arrival in Cameroon.

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4. China

Most travellers from India with proof of full COVID-19 vaccination are not able to enter mainland China yet.

Most international travellers are not allowed to enter or transit through mainland China. Travellers who transit through a third country on their way to China must receive a new health code in that country and repeat their pre-departure COVID-19 tests. Travellers should avoid travelling on indirect flights to China and must check with their local Chinese embassy or consulate if direct flights are not available.

Entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Chinese citizens;
  • Diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visas;
  • International travellers coming to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or out of emergency humanitarian needs may apply for visas at Chinese embassies or consulates.

Mandatory 14-day quarantine: Travelers are subject to health checks (likely involving nucleic acid or swab tests), including during transit, followed by a 14-day quarantine at a government-selected facility or hotel at the traveller’s expense. During this period follow-up COVID-19 tests are likely to take place. Those failing health checks or with positive COVID-19 test results may be sent to a designated hospital for treatment. Travellers entering Beijing will be subject to an additional 7-day quarantine and 7-day health surveillance.

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Testing Requirements: Travelers are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival.

5. Cook Islands

Travellers are not allowed to enter the Cook Islands. Access to the Cook Islands is via New Zealand only. All travellers outside of New Zealand will need to meet New Zealand entry travel requirements.

Quarantine: Vaccinated travellers are not required to quarantine on arrival in the Cook Islands.

Testing Requirements: All travellers are required to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. The test must be taken a maximum of 48 hours before departure to the Cook Islands.

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6. Japan

Travellers with a valid visa who do not have a travel history in 53 countries listed below in the last 14 days before arrival are allowed to enter Japan. Please check the documentation, quarantine, and/or testing requirements before travelling.

Currently, foreign nationals need to apply for a visa except for those with a re-entry permit. Short-term tourist visas are temporarily suspended for the majority of travellers. We recommend contacting the local Japanese embassies or consulates to verify eligibility prior to travel.

List of 53 Countries

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Moldova, Namibia, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, São Tomé and Príncipe, Ukraine, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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This restriction does not apply to:

  • Travellers with a re-entry permit;
  • Japanese nationals;
  • Holders of permanent or long-term residency permits (eijusha or teijusha) with a re-entry permit or re-entry confirmation letter;
  • Spouses or children of Japanese citizens or permanent residents with valid visas;
  • Direct relatives of Japanese nationals with valid visas.
  • Foreign nationals who are newly entering Japan for a short-term stay (less than 3 months) for purposes including business and employment with receiving organizations for supervision located in Japan;
  • Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a long-term stay with receiving organizations for supervision located in Japan.

Quarantine: Fully vaccinated travellers arriving from India who do not have a travel history in Egypt, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Vietnam (hide additional countries) in the past 14 days before travel are not required to quarantine on arrival in Japan.

Testing Requirements: Travelers must have a negative COVID-19 (RT-PCR, LAMP, TMA, TRC, Smart Amp, NEAR, Next-generation sequence, or CLEIA) test result. The test must be taken a maximum of 72 hours before departure.

The test must be conducted by either a nasopharyngeal swab, saliva sample, or a combination of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. Nasal swab tests are also accepted as valid specimens for the pre-departure test.

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This includes Japanese nationals, Business Track, and Residence Track travellers. Quantitative COVID-19 antigen tests are accepted.

7. Laos

Travellers from India are not allowed to enter Laos. Travellers must obtain permission for entry from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least 7 days before travel.

Experts, technicians, volunteers and foreign students must first request entry to the Task Force Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least 7 days before the proposed date of entry. Travellers must have a valid visa to be allowed entry.

Lao nationals who wish to return to Laos must contact their closest Laotian embassy or consulate before submitting an entry request to the Task Force Committee.

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Mandatory 7-day quarantine: All travellers are required to take an RT-PCR COVID-19 test and await the result within 48 hours at an approved quarantine location. Those who receive a negative result may complete five more days of quarantine at their own residence. A mandatory tracking device will be given on arrival (a rental fee applies) to be worn during quarantine. Travellers who test positive will be admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Testing Requirements: Travelers must have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result. The test must be issued a maximum of 72 hours before the first departure point to Laos.

8. Macau SAR

Travellers are not allowed to enter Macao. However, entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Fully vaccinated Macao residents;
  • Unvaccinated Macao residents under the age of 12.

Mandatory Quarantine: Travelers must undergo 14 days of medical observation and practice 7 days of strict self-health management.

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Testing Requirements: Travelers who have been in India in the past 28 days before arrival in Macao must have 3 negative nucleic acid tests. The tests must be taken a maximum of 5 days before departure (each test taken at least 24 hours apart).

Travellers infected with COVID-19 in the last 2 months are required to take 3 consecutive negative COVID-19 antigen or nucleic acid test results (each test at least 24 hours apart) at least 14 days before departure to Macao.

9. New Zealand

Most fully vaccinated international travellers are not allowed to enter New Zealand. Current entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Citizens of New Zealand;
  • Fully vaccinated residents of New Zealand;
  • Family members of citizens and residents with valid travel documents;
  • Fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents from Australia;
  • Fully vaccinated temporary work and student visa holders from anywhere in the world with a valid visa who can still meet their visa requirements (this includes both visa holders currently offshore, and those in New Zealand who choose to travel overseas and wish to return);
  • Fully vaccinated travellers from visa waiver countries and travellers from other countries who already hold a valid visitor visa will be eligible to enter New Zealand;
  • Fully vaccinated skilled workers with a border exception and travellers on a working holiday scheme;
  • Travellers with a visa under the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa Policy travelling to New Zealand for the first time, or who are or were residing in Ukraine on or after 1 January 2022;
  • Diplomats. Effective July 2022, fully vaccinated travellers arriving under the Accredited Employer Work Visa Categories will be eligible to enter New Zealand. Effective October 2022, fully vaccinated travellers under all visa categories, including visitor and student visas.

Quarantine: Fully vaccinated travellers are not required to quarantine on arrival in New Zealand.

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Testing Requirements: Travelers arriving from India must have a negative COVID-19 test result. The test must be either a PCR test taken a maximum of 48 hours before the first scheduled international flight, a supervised rapid antigen test (RAT) taken a maximum of 24 hours before the first scheduled international flight, or a supervised LAMP test taken a maximum of 24 hours before the first scheduled international flight.

This test requirement does not apply to:

  • Travellers under the age of 2;
  • Travellers with proof of recovery presented through a medical certificate from a medical practitioner accompanied by a positive COVID-19 test taken a maximum of 48 hours before the first scheduled international flight. The medical certificate must state the medical practitioner considers the traveller no longer infectious.
  • Travellers with a visa under the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa Policy travelling to New Zealand for the first time, or who are or were residing in Ukraine on or after 1 January 2022.

10. Samoa

Most travellers from India with proof of full COVID-19 vaccination are not able to enter Samoa yet. Travellers will be assessed on a case-by-case basis before being granted entry.

Travellers are advised to communicate with the Samoa Health Authorities, 21 days before their planned travel at [email protected] or [email protected].

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Entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Samoan citizens;
  • Permanent residents;
  • Essential workers;
  • Exceptional circumstances approved by Cabinet.

Mandatory 14-day quarantine: All travellers are required to quarantine at locations approved by the government for at least 14 days.

Testing Requirements: Travelers must have a printed negative Nucleic Acid COVID-19 test (NAAT, NEAR, TMA, LAMP, SDA, RT-PCR). The test must be taken a maximum of 48 hours before departure from the first embarkation point.

11. Solomon Islands

Travelers are not allowed to enter the Solomon Islands. However, the entry restrictions do not apply to:

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  • Solomon Islands citizens and residents;
  • Travelers who are not Solomon Islands citizens must apply for permission to enter from the Office of the Prime Minister. Travelers are encouraged to contact the Solomon Islands government for the most updated information. Applications for entry can take up to 6 weeks to process.

Quarantine: Travelers are required to quarantine in a government facility for at least 3 weeks on arrival in the Solomon Islands.

Testing Requirements: Travelers must take 3 negative COVID-19 PCR test results and send them to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services. The 1st test must be taken between 17 and 21 days before arrival, the 2nd test between 10 and 14 days before arrival, and a final test within 72 hours before arrival.

Travellers must contact the Solomon Islands government at [email protected] to submit proof of these tests and to obtain the most updated requirements.

12. Suriname

Travellers are not allowed to enter Suriname. Only travellers arriving on a direct flight from the Netherlands, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti are allowed to enter Suriname following the listed procedures. Please check the documentation, quarantine, and/or testing requirements before travelling.

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Entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Surinamese citizens;
  • Permanent residents.

Quarantine: Travelers are not required to quarantine on arrival in Suriname.

Testing Requirements: Travelers are required to have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result taken a maximum of 48 hours before departure to Suriname. Alternatively, travellers may provide a COVID-19 antigen test result taken a maximum of 24 hours before departure.

This requirement does not apply to Travelers under the age of 12.

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13. Syria

Most travellers are not allowed to enter Syria. Some international commercial flights to and from Damascus International Airport have resumed. Entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Nationals and residents of Syria;
  • Family members;
  • Business travellers.

Most land borders will also remain closed.

Quarantine: Travelers may be required to quarantine on arrival.

Testing Requirements: Travelers may be requested to take a negative COVID-19 test before boarding.

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14. Taiwan

Most international travellers are not allowed to enter Taiwan. Travellers can apply for a special entry permit at the Taipei Representative Office (TRO) in the country from which they plan to travel but travel for tourism and regular social visits will not be allowed.

Entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Residents of Taiwan;
  • Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) holders;
  • Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) holders;
  • For diplomatic or official business;
  • To fulfil contractual obligations;
  • For special humanitarian reasons;
  • The spouse, or the underage child of a R.O.C. (Taiwan) national;
  • Students, professors, and researchers;
  • Business travellers.

Quarantine: Travelers are required to quarantine for 7 days on arrival, followed by 7 days of self-health management. Travellers may quarantine at home or at a residence. If the rule of 1 person per residence cannot be followed, travellers are required to quarantine at a hotel.

Travellers are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival at the airport and a second test on day 7 using at-home COVID-19 rapid test kits. One additional rapid test kit will be provided and can be used if symptoms appear during quarantine. At-home rapid test kits will be provided to inbound travellers at the airport on arrival.

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Testing Requirements: All travellers, including those in transit, must have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result. The result must be issued a maximum of 2 days before boarding their flight. The certificate should be in English or Chinese. The 2-day period means 2 calendar days and is counted from the “specimen collection date”. Travellers who fail to comply will be fined NT$10,000 to NT$150,000.

Travellers may be exempt from the requirement if:

  • Travelling for emergency reasons;
  • Travelling from a country where testing is not available;
  • Travellers under the age of 7 may be eligible to take a self-paid COVID-19 test in Taiwan. They must also sign the entry quarantine affidavit and provide verifying documents.
  • Special permission from Taiwan government agencies is required.

15. Tonga

Most travellers are not allowed to enter Tonga. Most commercial flights are suspended. However, Entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Tongan citizens;
  • Tongan Permanent residents;
  • International travellers are approved by the Ministry of Health.

Mandatory 21-day quarantine: All travellers are required to quarantine for 21 days on arrival in Tonga in Tongatapu and comply with all directions issued by the Ministry of Health.

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Testing Requirements: Travelers must have a negative COVID-19 test and a medical report. The test must be taken a maximum of 3 days before arrival.

16. Ukraine

Travellers are not allowed to enter Ukraine. All flights are suspended until further notice.

Quarantine: Travelers arriving with valid vaccination certificates are not required to quarantine on arrival in Ukraine.

Testing Requirements: Fully vaccinated travellers, with valid proof of vaccination, are not required to present proof of negative COVID-19 test to enter Ukraine.

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17. Vanuatu

Most international travellers are not allowed to enter Vanuatu. International flights to and from Vanuatu have been suspended until further notice.

Entry restrictions do not apply to:

  • Vanuatu citizens and residents;
  • Diplomats;
  • Travellers on government priority projects;
  • Business owners.

Quarantine: Travelers, including citizens and residents, are required to quarantine at designated facilities for 14 days on arrival. Travellers will be required to undergo tests on days 5 and 11 of quarantine.

Testing Requirements: Travelers must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. The test must be taken a maximum of 72 hours before departure.

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Manish Khandelwal
Manish Khandelwal

Manish Khandelwal, a travel-tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the travel industry. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travelobiz.com, he's passionate about writing.

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