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. 

READ THE WHITE HOUSE'S PROCLAMATION HERE

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. 

READ MORE HERE 

READ MORE ABOUT THE VACCINATION CONDITION DETAILS HERE

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.  

READ MORE HERE

Singapore - The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) had introduced travel restrictions for affected countries/regions and enhanced our testing regime for travellers, including those arriving via the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs)

In response to the emergence of the Omicron variant globally, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) had introduced travel restrictions for affected countries/regions and enhanced our testing regime for travellers, including those arriving via the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs). 

READ MORE HERE

UK - Some of the temporary Customs and VAT easements introduced on 1 January 2021 for goods moving between Great Britain and the EU will be removed on 1 January 2022

Businesses trading with the European Union (EU) have less than a month to get ready for new import and exports customs controls which come into force from 1 January 2022.

READ MORE HERE

Taiwan ROC - Foreign Profit-seeking Business Entities With Any Fixed Places of Business Within Our Territory Selling Services Shall File and Pay Business Tax

The National Taxation Bureau of Taipei, Ministry of Finance (NTBT) expressed that, for any foreign profit-seeking business entities with any fixed places of business in the territory selling services to their domestic business entities, the fixed places of business shall issue uniform invoices, and file and pay business tax in accordance with the law.

READ MORE HERE

New Zealand - Phased border re-opening pushed out to the end of February 2022

• The interval between the second dose and the booster shot reduced from 6 months to 4 months
• Over 82 per cent of vaccinated New Zealanders eligible for a booster by end of Feb 2022
• Eligible border and health workers required to get booster dos
• Pre-departure test requirement to enter NZ reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours before travel
• Phased border re-opening pushed out to the end of February
• Temporary change to MIQ – length of stay increased to 10 days for all travellers, with no self-isolation component
• Everyone on an international flight with a positive case to be treated as a close contact
• All countries removed from Very High Risk country list
• Cabinet confirms decision to roll out paediatric doses of Pfizer for 5-11s. Rollout to start from 17 January prior to school returning in 2022
• Cabinet confirms use of traffic light system to manage outbreak and in the event of Omicron outbreaks areas will move into the red traffic light setting 

READ MORE HERE

Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it would be implementing the updated policy on the country’s green, yellow, and red lists

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it would be implementing the updated policy on the country’s green, yellow, and red lists. 

In an advisory, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente shared that 41 countries have been included in the Philippine’s green list, as set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases 

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Italy - Singapore in list E of third countries from December 16 to January 31, 2022. Entry only allowed for specific reasons

According to the attached Ordinance of the Ministry of Health dated December 14, 2021, valid from December 16, 2021 to January 31, 2022, Singapore and Brunei are in the list E of third countries.

Entry into Italy from these countries does not require any authorization from the Ministry of Health but is allowed only for specific reasons:

a) work

b) health reasons

c) study reasons

d) absolute urgency

e) return to one's domicile, home, or residence. 

READ MORE HERE

UK - 11 countries removed from the UK’s red list from 4am Wednesday 15 December

Government announces all 11 countries on the UK red list will be removed from 4am Wednesday 15 December as Omicron spreads in countries around the world.

• Pre-departure tests and PCR testing measures on or before day 2 remain in place, with a review of all travel measures in the new year

• Change comes as the government calls on all adults to come forward and Get Boosted Now

As the Health Secretary set out earlier today, Ministers have agreed to remove all 11 remaining countries from the UK’s red list from 4am 15 December, following review of the latest risk assessment from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). 

READ MORE HERE