When people go traveling, the coronavirus is also happy to be there: global wanderlust is an important factor in the spread of “Sars-CoV-2”. Many countries are therefore relying on entry restrictions in the fight against the pandemic – also now again in view of the virus variant Omikron. Test and quarantine regulations are tightened and some borders are closed completely, sometimes overnight. Vacationers can find out what is currently valid in the travel advice of the Federal Foreign Officethat too via the “Travel safely” app can be accessed.
Great Britain
In the country itself, apart from the mask requirement in public transport and shops, there are still hardly any corona restrictions, but the rules have been significantly tightened for travelers: a PCR test must be carried out no later than the second day after arrival, regardless of the Vaccination status, and that is the only occasion for which the accommodation is allowed to be vacated. The quarantine can only be ended if the result is negative. The test must be booked and paid for in advance; this is proven in the Online entry registration “Passenger Locator Form”. For those who have not been vaccinated, the already stricter requirements remain: You have to do a Covid test before departure and a PCR test on the second and eighth day of your stay. The actually ten-day quarantine can be shortened with a test on the fifth day.
Portugal
The mild Atlantic climate also makes the country interesting for a holiday in winter – but this is only possible with a test. So far it was only mandatory for unvaccinated people, since December vaccinated and convalescent people have also been obliged to do so. PCR tests that have been completed a maximum of 72 hours before departure, as well as antigen tests that are no longer than 48 hours old, are accepted. The certificates must be presented to the airline. Only children under the age of twelve are excluded. After the holidays at the end of the year, Portugal is also planning a “week of restraint” during which not only schools and universities will be closed, but bars and discos as well.
Israel
Christmas in Bethlehem – this may not turn out to be anything for travelers from abroad. To curb the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, Israel has closed its borders to foreigners, initially for two weeks. Exemption permits can be applied for, but they are generally not granted for tourist stays. The country had only just opened again to vaccinated travelers after 20 months of corona isolation, including holidaymakers from Germany. The guests came back hesitantly, the badly hit tourism industry breathed a sigh of relief – that’s over for now.
Morocco
As at the beginning of the pandemic, the country is closing completely again: All flights to and from Morocco are suspended, initially until December 13, but the Federal Foreign Office is expecting an extension. The ferries to and from France and Italy also no longer operate.
Japan
For a few weeks at least business people were allowed back into the country, now the borders are closed again: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that he had decided to reinstate the entry ban for foreigners from all over the world “as an emergency measure”. They want to seal themselves off for at least a month until more detailed information about the new corona mutant is available.
Hong Kong
From December 2nd, Germany will be a “High Risk” country for the Chinese Special Administrative Region. This entails an entry ban, you can only come with a visa or a residence permit for the financial metropolis and a full vaccination – but even then three weeks of quarantine in a hotel are compulsory.
Australia
Finally, easing was in prospect, but now Australia is postponing the planned openings again. The popular “Working Holidays” should actually be possible again from December 1st, and students could also have come back – a first step out of the long corona isolation. Now you want to wait two weeks to collect information about the dangers of the Omikron variant and the effectiveness of the vaccinations. Australia had always tried to counter the pandemic with maximum isolation. Strict quarantine regulations also applied to Australians returning from abroad, which were only relaxed in November – the passengers on the first flights were greeted with enthusiasm and emotion.
Philippines
The planned opening of the border from December 1 is suspended: Tourist visas that have already been issued have been declared invalid, new visas will no longer be issued. Air traffic has also been suspended with some European countries, but Germany has not yet been included.
India
Anyone wishing to fly to India has to present a negative PCR test for a long time, as well as proof of full vaccination. Now travelers from Germany are also required to take another Covid test after arriving at the airport. They are only allowed to leave the terminal when the result is available – this can take a few hours and also applies to transit passengers. If the result is positive, according to the Federal Foreign Office, “it cannot be ruled out that admission to a state institution will be made compulsory”. If the result is negative, you still have to be quarantined for seven days. The actual journey can only begin after another test.