Thursday, January 06, 2022

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. 


Wednesday, January 05, 2022

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. 

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. 

Tuesday, January 04, 2022

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. 


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. 

Monday, January 03, 2022

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. 

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 

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

United States - The travel restrictions imposed by Proclamation 10315 are no longer necessary

It is in the interests of the United States to revoke Proclamation 10315.  The travel restrictions imposed by that proclamation are no longer necessary to protect the public health.

Section 1.  Revocation.  Proclamation 10315 is revoked.

Sec. 3.  Effective Date.  This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2021. 

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Singapore - Resumption of Travel from Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe / Vaccination as a Condition for New Applications for and Renewal of Long-Term Passes, Work Passes and Permanent Residence From 1 February 2022

Singapore had previously announced that long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore or transit through Singapore for a period of four weeks following initial reports on Omicron cases in these countries/regions. 

The Omicron variant has since spread widely around the world. We will therefore lift the travel ban for these countries, and place them under the Category IV classification.  This means that all passengers with 14-day travel history to Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe prior to departure to Singapore will be allowed to enter and transit through Singapore from 26 December 2021, 2359 hours, and will be subjected to border measures for Category IV countries/regions. 

To sustain our high vaccination rates, we had earlier introduced the requirement for long-term pass holders to be vaccinated as an entry requirement to Singapore. This has been in place since 1 November 2021. 

From 1 February 2022, COVID-19 vaccination will be a condition for the approval or grant of new long-term passes, work passes, as well as permanent residence. Vaccination will also be required when renewing existing work passes. 


Thursday, December 23, 2021

Singapore - The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to Manage Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) Inflow to Mitigate Omicron Risk

Given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant overseas, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will take proactive and preemptive steps to manage the inflow of Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) travellers and mitigate the risk to the Singapore community, while observing and assessing the emerging situation. 

Additional safeguards will also be implemented to protect frontline airport workers and air crew.  

New Zealand: New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa launching on 16 November 2026

Eligible international graduates who have completed study or are currently studying in New Zealand will be able to apply for the new Short-T...