More countries open to international visitors

Upstream of the United States to reopen on MondayNovember 1st marked the new destinations return to the concert of re-opened countries to travellers who have been duly vaccinated. Argentina, India, Israel, Thailand and Tunisia are among the most eagerly awaited destinations.

Latin America

Argentina welcomes back all travellers vaccinated since November 1st. Travellers must be fully vaccinated, with the last dose administered at least 14 days before arrival in the country. The country requires a negative PCR test to be carried out within 72 hours of entering the country, as well as health insurance against Covid. The antigen test on arrival has been abolished. Travellers must arrive at 20 designated border crossings, including Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Iguazu and Mendoza airports.

Chile has taken semi-measures to reopen the country. Foreign travellers can enter the country but must first register on a site by transferring a vaccination certificate. This is then validated by the Ministry of Health, but it seems that this formality can take several weeks... 48 hours before departure, visitors must also complete a declaration of honour their state of health. They must also have a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old before travelling and present medical insurance with a minimum cover of USD 30,000. When they enter the country, they still have to undergo a 5-day quarantine (7 days without prior registration) and a new PCR test. These are complicated measures, and therefore rather dissuasive...

Panama is also open to foreign travellers. A full vaccination certificate is required (last dose administered at least 14 days before entering Panama), as well as a "declaration of health for travellers" issued by the Panamanian Ministry of Health, which must be completed online. The vaccination certificate must be attached. Random tests may be requested on arrival in the country, and some regions are not open to international travellers. It is advisable to obtain information before departure.

Asia

Cambodia has again revised its rules, less than 10 days after announcing a relaxation of the rules. From October 30, travellers will be able to stay in the kingdom without quarantine. They will, however, have to spend a compulsory 5 days in Sihanoukville and its coastal environs. The destination of Siem Reap (where the Angkor temples are located) will be open from January 1.

India is once again opening its doors to individual travellers from 15 November. The country already accepted travellers arriving in groups on charter flights. Passengers can apply for a tourist e-visa. If the traveller comes from a country with which India has concluded reciprocal agreements for the mutual acceptance of WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines, he or she is exempt from quarantine and will only have to monitor his or her own state of health for 14 days after arrival if he or she is fully vaccinated. A PCR test less than 72 hours old and a prior declaration must be carried out before departure.

Thailand is accessible to vaccinated travellers with a minimum of formalities. All you need to do is follow a few rules including travel authorisation, covid insurance and a compulsory day's quarantine to confirm the result of a PCR test).

Middle East / Africa

Israel has been open to all vaccinated travellers since 1 November, for the first time since March 2020. According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, people who have not stayed in a country defined as "red" (i.e. with a high morbidity rate in the two weeks preceding their arrival are allowed to stay). They must be fully vaccinated. However, a PCR test is required. Travellers who have recovered from the virus are also authorised to enter Israel if they present a certificate that can be digitally verified by the Ministry's systems, together with the results of a PCR test.

Nigeria exempts business travellers vaccinated since 25 October from quarantine. A PCR test less than 72 hours old must be presented before the flight, but must also be carried out in the country on the second day after arrival.

Oman is also open to visitors, who must apply for a paid visa online on the https://evisa.rop.gov.om/For stays of less than 14 days, the vaccination certificate is issued free of charge on arrival in Oman. A vaccination certificate with a QR code attesting to the administration of two doses of anti-Covid vaccine recognised by the Omani authorities is required. The second dose of the vaccine must have been administered at least 14 days before the date of arrival. The following vaccines are currently approved in Oman: Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Sputnik V, Sinovac, Moderna, Covaxin, Janssen and Sinopharm; proof of medical insurance (also covering costs in the event of illness caused by the Coronavirus for a period of one month); a certificate with a QR code attesting to the negative result of a PCR test, which must be carried out 72 hours before arrival for flights of less than 8 hours including transit. Travellers must also register on the local tracking platform https://covid19.emushrif.om/ to record the QR code for the vaccination certificate and the negative PCR test.

Tunisia is open without quarantine to vaccinated visitors. However, a PCR test less than 72 hours old with a QR code is compulsory to enter the country. Random antigen tests are also carried out on arrival, with those who test positive then having to undergo compulsory quarantine. From December, the country will introduce a health pass for public places.