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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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