Six
months have passed since countries around the world enacted the first COVID-19
related travel restrictions. Since then, countries across the globe have
created and revised entry and exit requirements numerous times in an effort to
control the spread of the coronavirus. Although many countries have made
progress in quelling case numbers, others are still struggling, and countries
in both categories are hesitant to allow international travelers from the
United States, the country with the most active cases in the world.
Most
countries in East Asia and the Pacific still maintain entry bans for U.S.
citizens even as they open up business travel to some neighboring countries.
- Countries with bans generally have
exemptions for permanent residents, family members of a citizen or permanent
resident, flight crews, and diplomates. Notable exceptions are China and Japan,
which do not allow U.S. citizens who are permanent residents to enter at this
time. (Countries with bans – blue)
- Countries that allow U.S. citizens to
enter require special visas, exemptions, tests, and quarantine – this category
includes South Korea, Singapore, and Cambodia. (Countries with exemptions for
essential workers and/or students – green, countries that allow access to
healthy people - purple)
- Some countries that don’t allow entry
do allow transit (e.g. Japan and Malaysia) while others that do allow entry do
not allow transit (e.g. Singapore). This is especially important to note for travel
to/from locations without many direct flight destinations.
OSAC has created an interactive map
with the latest entry restrictions for U.S. travelers compiled from the U.S.
Embassy website COVID-19 info pages. Click here to view it.
