HKSAR - Arrivals to Hong Kong will face a shorter hotel quarantine period from 21 days to 14 days

Mrs Lam announced that arrivals to Hong Kong will face a shorter hotel quarantine period.

“The shortening of the hotel quarantine period from 21 days to 14 days plus seven days' self-monitoring is purely based on science because Omicron's incubation period is relatively short.

READ MORE HERE

Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) ready to welcome fully vaccinated international tourists

The Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City has planned to implement a two-phase trial tourism program to welcome fully vaccinated international tourists in 2022.

READ MORE HERE

UK / Scotland - UK open for travel with all restrictions removed for eligible vaccinated arrivals

• From 4am on 11 February all testing requirements will be removed for eligible fully vaccinated arrivals, with only a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) now required.
• Arrivals who are not recognised as fully vaccinated will only need to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after they arrive in the UK.
• Children aged 12-15 in England will be able to prove their vaccination status or proof of prior infection via a digital NHS COVID Pass from 3 February for outbound travel.
• Travel changes come in ahead of February half term, and follow the success of the booster programme.

All testing measures for eligible fully vaccinated travellers arriving in the UK will be removed from 4am on 11 February, as the government goes one step further to reopen the travel sector.

READ MORE HERE

READ THE SCOTLAND NEWS HERE

India - Guidelines for International Arrivals. This Standard Operating Procedure shall be valid w.e.f. 22 nd January 2022 (00.01 Hrs IST) till further orders

The global and Indian growth trajectory of COVID-19 pandemic continues with regional variations. 

The need to monitor the continuously changing nature of virus and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) thus, must still remain in focus. 

The extant guidelines for international arrivals in India continue being formulated taking a risk-based approach. 

In the meantime, in view of the changed scenario and new guidelines issued by MOHFW; including on Home Isolation, the existing guidelines necessitate a revision.

READ THE GUIDELINES HERE

UAE - Abu Dhabi creates comprehensive COVID-19 travel guidelines for inbound travellers

As cooler temperatures attract more visitors to Abu Dhabi this winter season, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has released a comprehensive guide for vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors to ensure streamlined and stress-free travel into the UAE capital.

When planning a trip to Abu Dhabi, all inbound tourists are reminded first to check DCT Abu Dhabi’s destination website VisitAbuDhabi.ae for the latest travel guidelines and necessary COVID-19 precautionary measures. The site will reiterate that a booster (third) dose for any COVID-19 vaccine is not a requirement for entry into the emirate.

READ MORE HERE

Thailand reinstates Test & Go entry, effective 1 February 2022

Thailand’s COVID-19 task force has approved the reinstatement of the quarantine-free Test & Go entry program for vaccinated travelers, with new arrivals and entry clearance applications to be accepted from 1 February.

READ THE NEWS HERE

China - Guangdong ready to set up global bank and futures exchange center

Guangdong province, an economic powerhouse in South China, is prepared to set up an international commercial bank this year to improve the modern financial system in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, according to a senior government official. 

READ MORE HERE

UK - New digital identity checking technology will make it quicker, safer and more convenient for landlords and employers to carry out right to rent, right to work and DBS identity checks

Landlords, letting agents and employers will be able to use certified new technology to digitally carry out vital right to work and right to rent checks aimed to crack down on abuse of the immigration system.

The government has announced that, from 6 April, certified identity service providers (IDSPs) will be able to use Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) to conduct right to work checks and right to rent checks on behalf of British and Irish citizens.

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Taiwan ROC - Taiwan expands on-arrival COVID testing rules to short-haul flights

COVID-19 airport testing rules requiring passengers arriving in Taiwan on long-haul flights to wait for the result of their COVID-19 PCR tests at the airport will be expanded to short-haul arrivals from India and eight Southeast Asian countries starting Thursday, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) announced 19 January Wednesday. 

READ THE NEWS HERE

Sweden - Amendments to the entry ban for people who travel to Sweden

The Government on 18 January decided to revert to the entry restrictions that applied prior to 28 December 2021. 

This means that the specific requirement for a negative COVID-19 result from a test conducted within 48 hours of arrival no longer applies. 

This decision is based on a request from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. The list of countries with approved vaccine certificates has also been expanded. 

The amendments will enter into force on 21 January. 

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Taiwan ROC - Taiwan to expand airport COVID testing scheme to more flights

Taiwan will expand its current COVID-19 testing scheme, which currently requires passengers arriving on long-haul flights to test negative before clearing immigration, to more flights in the coming days, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said 18 Jan Tuesday. 

READ THE NEWS HERE

Scotland - Help for EU citizens to prove immigration status online

The Stay in Scotland campaign has been relaunched with updated resources to help European Union (EU) citizens living in Scotland access and prove their immigration status online using the UK Government’s ‘view and prove’ service. 

Although the Scottish Government continues to push the UK Government to offer physical proof of immigration status, EU citizens currently have to use the Home Office’s digital-only system to prove their rights in the UK. 

READ THE NEWS HERE

HKSAR - Bhutan will be listed as a Group A specified place from January 19.

The Government announced that in view of the detection of Omicron cases, Bhutan will be listed as a Group A specified place from January 19. 

Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed there within 21 days will not be allowed to enter the city, it said. 

READ MORE HERE

Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it will be allowing the entry of qualified travelers from red list countries

The Bureau of Immigration announced that it will be allowing the entry of qualified travelers from red list countries.

 

In an advisory, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that following the updated guideline from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the travel ban from passengers coming from red list countries has been lifted. 

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

HKSAR - Kyrgyzstan will be listed as a Group A specified place from January 16

The Government announced that in view of the detection of Omicron cases, Kyrgyzstan will be listed as a Group A specified place from January 16.

Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed there within 21 days will not be allowed to enter the city, it said. 

READ MORE HERE

HKSAR - Uzbekistan and Solomon Islands will be listed as a Group A specified place

The Government today announced that in view of the detection of Omicron cases, Solomon Islands will be listed as a Group A specified place from January 12. 

The Government also announced that in view of the detection of Omicron cases, Uzbekistan will be listed as a Group A specified place from January 13. 

READ THE NEWS ON SOLOMON ISLANDS HERE 

READ THE NEWS ON UZBEKISTAN HERE

Taiwan ROC - New COVID-19 testing rules for long-haul flight arrivals set to begin

New COVID-19 testing rules for travelers arriving on long-haul flights to Taiwan will be carried out starting at midnight January 10 night, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC). 

READ MORE HERE

王菲 - 如愿

天籁天后真的要一直唱下去，这样的天使天籁嗓不知抚慰多少悲泣的寂莫心。

UK - Pre-departure testing removed for vaccinated travellers

• A lateral flow test can be used instead of PCR tests for eligible fully vaccinated travellers and over 5s to take on or before day 2

• Eligible fully vaccinated travellers and under 18s will no longer have to take a pre-departure test or self-isolate on arrival in England – returning to the travel rules that were in place before Omicron

• Omicron is the dominant variant in the UK and is spreading widely among the community

From 4am on Sunday 9 January, eligible fully vaccinated travellers and over 5s will be able to take a lateral flow test instead of a PCR on or before day 2 of their arrival in England. Lateral flow tests for travel can be booked from Friday 7 January and taken upon arrival, by the end of day 2. 

READ MORE HERE

HKSAR - Flights from eight countries will not be permitted to land in Hong Kong from January 8

The Government announced today that in view of the rapidly worsening global pandemic situation due to the Omicron variant, passenger flights from eight countries will not be permitted to land in Hong Kong from January 8.

It pointed out that the number of imported cases involving the Omicron variant has been continuously rising recently and there are signs of local community transmission and spreading. 

READ MORE HERE 

REFER TO THE UPDATED GROUP A SPECIFIED PLACES HERE

South Korea - With effect from 13 January 2022, 0000hrs, non-VTL travellers are required to undergo a pre-departure PCR test within 72 hours of departure

With effect from 13 January 2022, 0000hrs, non-VTL travellers are required to undergo a pre-departure PCR test within 72 hours of departure (old requirement: test result issued within 72 hours). Please scroll down for more details.

This page provides an overview of the entry requirements and quarantine measures of Korea. You are encouraged to refer to the individual links listed on this page for more details. 

READ MORE HERE

US - IRS revises Form 1024, used by most types of organizations to apply for exempt status, to allow electronic filing

As part of ongoing efforts to improve service for the tax-exempt community, the IRS has revised Form 1024, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(a) or Section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code, to allow electronic filing.

Beginning January 3, 2022, applications for recognition of exemption on Form 1024 must be submitted electronically online at Pay.gov. 

The IRS will provide a 90-day grace period during which it will continue to accept paper versions of Form 1024 (Rev. 01-2018) and letter applications. 

READ MORE HERE

Denmark - New Positive Lists for People with a Higher Education and for Skilled Work for the first half of 2022

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has, based on the Labour Market Balance from The Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment (STAR), developed new guiding Positive Lists for people with a higher education and for skilled work that will take effect on 1 January 2022. 

READ MORE HERE 

READ THE NEW POSITIVE LISTS HERE

UK and Taiwan sign MOU on exchange of driving licences

The UK and Taiwan have entered into an arrangement that will enable the exchange of driving licences issued by the respective Licensing Authorities. 

Holders of a valid UK driving licence who are currently resident in Taiwan will be able to exchange their licence for a Taiwan one, and vice versa for holders of Taiwan driving licences in the UK. 

The arrangement will come into effect from 1 January 2022, when applications will open. 

READ MORE HERE

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement enters into force on 1 January 2022

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement will enter into force on 1 January 2022, following the ratification by ten Parties – Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. 

READ THE PRESS RELEASE FROM MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY SINGAPORE HERE

Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the implementation of the updated country risk classification effective January 1

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the implementation of the updated country risk classification effective January 1. 

In an advisory, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente shared that they will be implementing the latest resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Manag 

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE