Global Courant 2023-04-18 19:22:26
After years of limited travel due to the pandemic and with summer days ahead, millions of Canadians are probably suffering from itchy feet right now.
Assuming successive bouts of inflation haven’t depleted your travel savings, you may be wondering what kind of COVID-19 restrictions and entry requirements could be the final hurdle to a trip abroad.
Here are the pandemic-related entry requirements and public COVID-19 protocols for 10 of the most popular travel destinations around the world, as well as guidance on what to do if you get sick with COVID-19 abroad.
While some countries may have waived traveller’s vaccination or masking requirements, you should still be aware of any mandates imposed by the individual states, provinces, regions or cities you plan to visit.
UNITED STATES
What are the entry requirements?
Travelers visiting the United States must present full proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before entering the country by air. A booster dose is not necessary to meet this requirement.
Travelers visiting the US through land ports of entry and ferry terminals on the border between the US and Mexico and between the US and Canada required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and provide proof of vaccination upon request.
Travelers do not have to quarantine upon arrival in the US
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
Public transport passengers are no longer required to wear masks. Individual states, municipalities and companies may mandate masks in some institutions.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
Travelers who test positive for COVID-19 while in the United States, regardless of their vaccination status, must self-quarantine for travelers with symptoms for five days from the day after symptoms begin. Travelers who show no symptoms but test positive for COVID-19 will have to self-isolate for five days from the day after they are tested.
UNITED KINGDOM
What are the entry requirements?
Travelers visiting the UK will no longer be required to complete a UK passenger search form prior to travel, provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or self-quarantine on arrival. This applies regardless of whether travelers are vaccinated or not.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place in the UK., but your travel provider or the transport hub you are traveling through may have one COVID-19 rules in effect. For example, they may require or advise you to wear a face covering.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
Travelers who test positive for COVID-19 while in the UK must self-quarantine for five days after a positive test result and pending the results of a COVID-19 test.
FRANCE
What are the entry requirements?
Travelers do not need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter mainland France or its overseas territories, regardless of their country of origin.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
Face coverings are no longer mandatory in public places or on public transport. However, officials still recommend it masking in closed and small spaces and at large gatherings.
Masks are also strongly recommended in hospitals and retirement homes.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
People who test positive for COVID-19 in France are not required to self-isolate, but are encouraged to wear a mask around others and avoid contact with medically vulnerable persons and inform contacts who may also have been exposed to COVID-19.
MEXICO
What are the entry requirements?
There are no COVID-19 related entry restrictions for travelers visiting Mexico, including proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
The Mexican government encourages people to continue to respect local physical distancing measures, including good hand hygiene and coughing or sneezing into the inner part of the elbow, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
The government of Mexico does not appear to be providing guidance online for travelers who test positive for COVID-19 while visiting the country.
ITALY
What are the entry requirements?
There are currently no COVID-19 related ones entry restrictions in Italy.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
It is no longer obliged to wear a face mask on public transport, but masks are highly recommended in all indoor environments and at busy outdoor events.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
Travelers who test positive for COVID-19 in Italy will have to self-isolate for one to 14 days at their own expense, depending on the specifics of the case.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
What are the entry requirements?
Travelers do not need proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country, and officials have largely stopped conducting random COVID-19 testing for visitors arriving in the Dominican Republic. However, the government warns that “arbitrary test operations can be carried out if necessary.” Passengers who can present proof of vaccination are exempt from spot checks.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
From February 16 the government of the Dominican Republic has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions, saying it is now “up to each individual to take his or her own measures to protect his or her health, responsibly but without restrictions.”
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
Travelers who test positive while visiting the Dominican Republic are encouraged to self-isolate while sick, avoid contact with other people and animals, wear a mask, cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, and take other COVID-19 safety precautions.
CUBA
What are the entry requirements?
Travelers visiting Cuba are not required to provide proof of vaccination, but must have health insurance. They also need to complete Cubas customs and health declaration 48 hours before entering the country.
Travelers are required to wear masks at ports of entry, where Cuban authorities can also conduct random COVID-19 testing.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
Face masks are no longer mandatory in most indoor and outdoor public areas, excluding public transportation, such as airplanes, trains, buses, ferries; and transport hubs, such as airports, stations and seaports. The government of Cuba is urging travelers to practice good hand hygiene to minimize the risk of infection or transmission of COVID-19.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
Travelers testing positive for COVID-19 while visiting Cuba are required to self-isolate in the hotel where they have booked, in an isolation room designated by the hotel. Tourists self-isolating in Cuba must abide by all hotel rules and restrictions.
JAMAICA
What are the entry requirements?
Travelers are not required to provide a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country, although anyone traveling to Jamaica must submit the immigration/customs declaration C5 form onlineor in person, by completing the paper card issued by the airline during the flight.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
Jamaica no longer requires people to wear masks in enclosed public areas.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
Travelers who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate in the house or hotel where they stay. If the Jamaican Ministry of Health is not satisfied with a traveller’s isolation arrangements, they may move that person to a government facility. In case of COVID-19 complications, patients are taken to a public hospital or a private medical facility based on insurance coverage.
INDIA
What are the entry requirements?
Travelers to India are not required to show proof of vaccination, but the government of India says they should “preferably be fully vaccinated according to their country’s approved primary vaccination schedule against COVID-19”. Mask use is also encouraged, but not required.
Authorities are conducting random COVID-19 symptom screening on about two percent of passengers arriving by air.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
The government of India says all travelers should self-check their health upon arrival and “report to the nearest health facility or call the state or national helpline number if they develop COVID-19 symptoms.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
Travelers found to have symptoms during screening will be immediately isolated and taken to a designated medical facility.
JAPAN
What are the entry requirements?
All border measures, including interim measures, to contain the spread of COVID-19 will be canceled on May 8.
In the meantime, travelers are required to present either a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing they have received three doses of vaccines on the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use List or a certificate of negative result from a pre-departure COVID-19 test performed within 72 hours prior to departing from the original country/region.
What COVID-19 protocols are there?
On March 13, 2023, the government dropped its recommendation to wear a mask for most situations and now leaves it to the individual to decide whether or not to wear a mask. The government continues to recommend wearing masks in places such as medical facilities and on busy public transport.
Even without a mandate, many people in Japan wear masks indoors, on public transportation, and on city streets.
What if I test positive for COVID-19 during my visit?
Travelers entering Japan with symptoms of suspected COVID-19 infection will be tested upon arrival. Those who test positive must quarantine in a designated facility. Travelers who develop symptoms of COVID-19 after entering Japan should check the website of the local government where they are staying and follow local guidelines.
