Border Closure List - Coronavirus COVID-19

It seems as if every day there’s a new country imposing travel restrictions in light of the ongoing coronavirus spread. I personally have a substantial amount of travel planned at the end of the month and with so many countries imposing restrictions on who’s coming in I figured I would use this post to keep an updated list of current border closures you should be aware of.

If you see anything here that’s not up to date or you have anything else to add, feel free to shoot me a quick email or drop a comment on the post

USA

The US has imposed a ban on 26 European countries from entering the country.

The 26 European countries in the Schengen zone are —Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Update: UK & Ireland nationals are now also prohibited from entering the US. Starting Monday, March 16

This rule does not affect American citizens, it could affect Australians who first travel through Europe/UK/Ireland in the 14 days preceding their entry.

Singapore

Singapore has just banned entry form anyone (except Singaporeans and those with PR) who has been in France, Spain, Germany or Italy in the 14 days preceding entry or transit.

It’s important to note here that you will also be stopped from transiting through Singapore if you have visited one of the countries listed. All port calls by cruise vessels are also suspended.

Update: from March 23, All short-term visitors will no longer be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore from 11.59pm

New Zealand

NZ has effectively closed its border by forcing anyone who enters to go into home quarantine for 14 days. This includes NZ citizens and permanent residents returning to New Zealand. Port calls by cruise ships are also prohibited until further notice.

Italy

The entire country is in lockdown. If you’re arriving into Italy as a tourist, you are not allowed to enter via airports in the following areas: Alessandria, Asti, Lombardy, Modena, Novara, Padova, Parma, Pesaro and Urbino, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Treviso-Venice, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Vercelli.

Guatemala

Guatemala is banning entries from the USA and Canada, and cruise ships are also denied port calls.

Denmark

Denmark is taking extreme measures to protect the country for the COVID-19 coronavirus by closing the borders to anyone except their own citizens until at least April 13.

Cambodia

Cambodia is refusing entry to anyone with an Italian, Spanish, French or US passport.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, visas will no longer be issued to residents of Europe’s Schengen area and the UK. Vietnam will also temporarily suspend entry for tourists who come from the Schengen countries and/or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or have visited or transited through these areas within 14 days preceding their expected entry into Viet Nam.

Philippines

Manila has gone into complete lockdown, and a travel ban for up to 60 countries is in place.

Canada

So far only cruise ships with more than 500 passengers will be banned from port calls.

Update: Passengers who have been outside of Canada or USA in the past 14 days, are not allowed to enter Canada.
This does not apply to nationals of Canada and their immediate family members.
• This does not apply to permanent residents of Canada.
• This does not apply to diplomats.
• This does not apply to airline crew.

Austria

Austria is banning all arrivals from China’s Hubei Province, Iran and South Korea. Borders to Europe, however, are still open.

Australia

At the moment the only travel ban in place is for those coming from China, South Korea, Iran and Italy (up to 14 days before entry in Australia). This doesn’t apply to airline crew, Australian nationals (including their family) and New Zealand citizens residing in Australia.

Update: 14 days mandatory self-quarantine is now in place for everyone coming into the country.

Croatia

Everyone except Croatian nationals and airline crew who have been in China’s Hubei Province, Germany’s Heinsberg County, Iran, Italy, or South Korea’s Daegu City and Cheongdo province in the past 14 days will be placed in quarantine for 14 days.

Czech Republic
The country will ban all visitors coming from China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, UK, Norway, Denmark and France.

Hong Kong

Those who have been through South Korea or China’s Hubei Province in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Hong Kong, and the same applies for those Chinese nationals with a passport issued in Hubei.

The ban has now also been extended to people who have visited France (Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est), Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia), Italy, Japan (Hokkaido) or Spain (La Rioja, Madrid and Pais Vasco). Travellers who have been in China, Iran or Italy’s Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions are not allowed to enter if their permitted stay in Hong Kong is less than 14 days.

Update: a mandatory self quarantine of 14 days is now in place.

Macau

Macau will impose the quarantine on all people arriving from the Schengen area (including Portugal). The measure, which enters into force on Tuesday (March 17), also includes the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Brazil and Australia.

Japan

Japan is banning everyone except Japanese nationals who have been in China, South Korea and Italy in the last 14 days before entry.

Malaysia

Malaysia has introduced bans for travellers from China, Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy and Denmark.

Update: Malaysia has gone into lockdown as of today (March 18) for one full month. This will prevent people from entering and leaving the country.

Peru

Peru has taken the drastic step to temporarily suspend all flights from Europe and Asia for a 30 day period from March 16.

Russia

Nationals of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran and Italy are banned from entering Russia with the exception of airline crew.

Saudi Arabia

Those who have been in or have transmitted through Bahrain, China, Taiwan, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey or the United Arab Emirates in the past 14 days are banned from entering the country.

Thailand

In Thailand, visa exemption policies for travellers from Hong Kong, South Korea and Italy, have been suspended.

Visa on arrival has been stopped for 18 countries: Bulgaria, Bhutan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and China.

Travellers will now need to apply for a visa before arriving and also present a medical certificate clearing them of coronavirus.

Turkey

Turkey has banned travel from 9 Eurozone countries which are: France, Austria, Germany, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands. Those who have transited through or been in Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, South Korea or Sweden in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter or transit through Turkey. This rule does except Turkish nationals.

China

I doubt there are many people actually going or planning to go to China since it will impact your travel to pretty much any country. However, those that do go, will be faced with a 14-day mandatory quarantine if you arrive in Beijing. Compulsory screening is also in place, and you will not be allowed to leave until test results come back negative.

China-wide, passengers arriving from Iran, Italy, Japan or Korea and travelling to Beijing, Guangzhou, or Shanghai are subject to quarantine for 14 days.

Slovakia

International travel, too and from Slovakia has been suspended.

UAE – United Arab Emirates

The UAE temporarily suspended the issuance of all entry visas except for those holders of diplomatic passports. This will be effective as of March 17.

Update: from March 19, all visa on arrival will be banned with the exception of diplomatic passports.

Latvia

Latvia will close its borders to all foreigners from Tuesday (March 17) to stop the spread of the virus.

Poland

Poland has completely closed its border to non-citizens.

Polish citizens returning from abroad will be placed under a 14-day quarantine.

Ukraine

Starting March 15, Ukraine will close its border for foreigners for 14 days. Returning Ukrainian citizens will be required to submit to health observation procedures.

India

Has suspended all regular and e-visas issued on, or before March 3 2020 and banned travellers from South Korea from entering India through all ports of entry. People who need to travel to India need to apply for a new visa.

South Africa

Visas will be refused to anyone who has visited a high-risk country in the last 20 days, and 35 of the country’s 53 land ports will also be shut as of Monday (March16).

Chile

Travellers who have been to France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Spain or China in the 14 days prior to arrival will be isolated for 14 days.

Taipei

Chinese nationals are not allowed to enter or transit through Taipei. Macau and Hong Kong passport holders are not allowed to enter the country.

Travellers who have been in China, Hong Kong or Macao in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Chinese Taipei.

Passengers arriving from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Korea (Rep.), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or United Arab Emirates must be in home quarantine for 14 days.

Passengers arriving from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (Dem. People’s Rep.), Kosovo (Rep.), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Dem. Rep., Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Moldova (Rep.), Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territory, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Fed., Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA (only for states California, New York and Washington), Uzbekistan, Viet Nam or Yemen must be in home quarantine for 14 days.

Colombia

Colombia has effectively closed its borders. No one is allowed to enter the country except for nationals and those residing in the country. Those arriving will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Cook Islands

Anyone that’s been to another country (within 14 days prior to arrival) with exception of the Cook Islands and New Zealand, is not allowed to enter.

Estonia

Estonia has closed its border to foreign nationals. No one is allowed to enter the country except for Estonian nationals and legal residents.

Germany

Incoming passengers are now required to present a completed Public Health Passenger Locator form to allow contact tracing.

Indonesia

Indonesia is suspending all visa on arrival from Friday, March 20. This policy is effective for 1 month and applies to all countries (including Australia).

There’s also a travel ban which will bar people who have travelled to Iran, Italy, the Vatican, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom in the last 14 days from entering or transiting in Indonesia.