Last update: 16 Oct 2020
Countries are starting to open up to international travellers again — yay! But we’re not back to normal just yet. To help curb the spread of the virus, most countries require travellers to submit test results and forms to prove that they’re not infected with COVID-19 before entering.
If you’re planning to travel in the near future, here’s a handy checklist of what to prepare and expect before departing for these countries.
Read also: Countries With Travel Discounts for when COVID-19 Gets Better
CROATIA (from 1 Jul 2020)
Photo credit: Lonely Planet
Pre-entry: Travellers should complete the EnterCroatia online form before travelling to ease immigration procedure. You should also test negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours of arrival.
Upon arrival: Present negative test, as well as proof of tourism activities such as a confirmation of paid accommodation or reservation in one of Croatia’s accommodation facilities.
Travellers whose tests have expired will be allowed to enter the country. However, they must self-isolate and re-test themselves at their own expense. Persons without a negative PCR result must serve the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
While Travelling: Travellers are obliged to follow recommendations set by the Institute of Public Health. Hotels, restaurants, parks and public recreational facilities are open for business, however social distancing measures apply. Bars and nightclubs are also open, but will close at midnight.
Official website: https://croatia.hr/
Dominican Republic (from 1 Jul 2020)
Photo credit: Businessinsider.com
Pre-entry: All travellers must submit a Traveller’s Health Affidavit. They must declare they’ve not experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the last 72 hours, and provide contact details. Tests are not required.
Upon arrival: Random testing will be done at the airport. If you receive a positive test or show symptoms of the virus, you’ll be isolated and moved to a separate authorised location. There, you’ll receive medical attention.
While Travelling: Masks must be worn in all public areas such as banks, restaurants, and supermarkets. Public transportation has reduced operating hours, and are capped at 60% capacity. Public pools and lakes are temporarily closed, however, beaches remain open with social distancing rules in place.
The Dominican Republic has also implemented a curfew from 7PM – 5AM during weekdays, and 5PM – 5AM on weekends at certain areas. The arrangement will last until 17 Oct 2020 (TBC).
Official website: https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/
DUBAI (from 7 Jul 2020)
Pre-entry: Travellers must complete the health declaration form provided by airlines. You should also test negative for COVID-19 within 96 hours of departure.
Travellers also need to verify that they have valid health insurance, and download Dubai’s COVID-19 DXB app to register their details on arrival — this will be used to communicate with health authorities if you experience COVID-19 symptoms.
Upon arrival: Travellers who do not have proof of a negative COVID-19 test will be charged for one at the airport. Travellers who test positive will serve a 14-day quarantine at a government-registered institutional facility at their own expense.
While Travelling: Wear face masks at all times in public. Social distancing rules will also be enforced.
Official website: https://www.visitdubai.com/
HAWAII (from 1 Oct 2020)
Pre-entry: Travellers must register for a Safe Travels account and fill up a Travel Health Questionnaire.
They can also take a COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAA) and upload their results, if available. The test should be taken 72 hours before arrival.
Upon arrival: All passengers (including visitors and returning residents) arriving in Hawaii must serve the mandatory 14-day quarantine at a designated hotel or motel.
However, from 15 Oct, travellers do not need to self-quarantine if they can produce a negative COVID-19 NAAT. If results are not available upon arrival, they will be quarantined until they receive the result.
While Travelling: Wear face masks at all times in public. Social distancing rules will also be enforced.
Official websites: https://www.gohawaii.com, https://hawaiicovid19.com/
ICELAND (from 1 Jul 2020)
Pre-entry: Travellers must fill out a pre-registration form, which requires personal details, contact information, flight information, travel dates and address(es) during your stay.
The form also includes a health declaration, as well as information on countries you’ve visited before arrival. You must also disclose if you’ve had any symptoms of COVID-19, whether you have been diagnosed, or if you’ve been in close contact with an infected individual.
Upon arrival: Travellers can choose to (a) serve a 14-day quarantine, or (b) be tested twice and undergo a shorter quarantine of five or six days. Children born in 2005 or later do not need to be tested nor serve the quarantine.
For option (b), travellers must pay ISK9,000 – ISK11,000 (~S$90–~S$110) for the initial COVID-19 test. The second test is free. They’ll serve then serve their shortened quarantine in their accommodation, and are not allowed to take public transport or visit recreational spaces.
Those who test positive must immediately self-isolate.
While travelling: Travellers are strongly recommended to download Rakning C-19, a contact tracing app. You must also follow social distancing rules, and stay 1m from each other.
Official website: https://www.covid.is/english
JAMAICA (from 15 Jun 2020)
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Pre-entry: Travellers must complete an online travel authorisation form five days before their departure. If you’re from a “designated high-risk area” (e.g. Mexico, US), you must submit a COVID-19 PCR test result in your application. The test should be taken within 10 days of the intended travel date.
Upon arrival: At the airport, travellers may be tested based on Jamaican authorities’ health screening and risk assessment. They’ll then wait for their result in a hotel room (~48 hours).
If the test is negative, you’ll be allowed to remain in your hotel in the “resilient corridor“. However, if the test is positive, the health authorities will decide whether you’ll be isolated at a hotel/resort or in a government facility.
If you’re not staying in an approved “resilient corridor” accommodation, you must serve the mandatory 14-day quarantine at your intended address. During this time, you’re not allowed to leave the house. Once the 14 days are up, you’re free to move around the community.
While travelling: Travellers are expected to follow physical distancing rules, and wear a mask in public places.
Official website: https://www.visitjamaica.com/
MALDIVES (from 15 Jul 2020)
Pre-entry: Travellers must take a COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours before departure. They must also complete a Health Declaration form.
Upon arrival: Travellers must present their negative test result on arrival. They must also wear masks, and keep a distance of at least 1m between one another at all times.
Random testing may be conducted on arriving passengers at no cost. However, those who display COVID-19 symptoms have to take a PCR test at their own expense. This may be done at a designated facility for isolation, or at their designated resort (depending on the resort’s policy).
While travelling: Travellers must book their entire stay in one registered facility, unless they are transiting. They should also inform the resort if they test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of departing the resort.
Tourist resorts, liveaboards, guesthouses and hotels on inhabited and uninhabited islands are slowly being reopened. Tourist guesthouses will reopen on 15 Oct 2020.
Official website: https://www.tourism.gov.mv/
PORTUGAL (from 1 Jul 2020)
Pre-entry: Travellers must complete the Regional Health Authority’s (IASAÚDE) form 12–48 hours before boarding. You can also submit your negative COVID-19 PCR test in the form, provided they meet the requirements stated below.
Upon arrival: Travellers who present a negative COVID-19 PCR test, carried out within 72 hours prior to departure in laboratories certified by national or international authorities, can proceed to their destination.
Those who have not done so will take a free test upon arrival at the airport. Afterwards, travellers can proceed to their destination. However, they must wait in confinement until they receive a negative test result (~12 hours).
Travellers who test positive will be subject to mandatory confinement for 14 days before taking a new COVID-19 test. Costs of treatment, accommodation and meals will be covered by the government.
While travelling: It’s highly recommended for travellers to download the Madeira Safe to Discover app while travelling in the region. Masks have to be worn indoors and within confined spaces at all times.
Official website: http://www.visitportosanto.pt
TURKEY (from 18 June 2020)
Pre-entry: Currently, travellers do not need any specific health documentation to enter or exit Turkey, unless they are arriving for medical treatment.
Upon arrival: Travellers who display COVID-19 symptoms will be transported to a hospital for examination. If found to have the disease, passengers identified to have been in contact will also be subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
While travelling: Masks must be worn at all public areas — including outdoor spaces, shops and restaurants. Those caught without a mask will face strict fines of ₺900 (~S$175).
Official website: https://tr.usembassy.gov/
US VIRGIN ISLANDS (from 1 June 2020)
Pre-entry: All travellers must take a COVID-19 antigen test within five days of travel.
Upon arrival: Travellers must wear masks upon disembarking the aircraft or vessel. They must also complete health screening checks and have their temperature taken.
Travellers with temperature readings below 38°C, and have answered “NO” to all questions on the COVID-19 Traveler Screening Tool, will be given a Health Alert Card. They are then free to enter the country.
Travellers who answer “YES” to any of the questions, or have a temperature reading over 38°C, must go directly to their accommodation to self-quarantine. Within 24 hours, they will be tested for COVID-19 by the Virgin Islands Department of Health.
While travelling: Masks are compulsory as the US Virgin Islands has a “no mask, no service” guideline.
It’s highly recommended to make reservations in advance at restaurants and bars, as they are capped at 50% capacity and require each table to be six feet apart. Vans and Safaris also cap their seating capacity at 50%.
Gatherings are limited to no more than 50 individuals. This includes retail stores (with the exception of grocery stores), “big-box” stores, pharmacies and petrol stations. All businesses are open except for bars, nightclubs and cabarets. Public beaches are also open, but social distancing rules apply.
Official website: https://usviupdate.com/
Read also: Air Travel After COVID-19 — What to Expect When Travelling Out Of Singapore