Covid-19 restrictions by countries

Many Countries Now Require Negative Covid-19 Test Results

As countries start to reopen for international travel, many countries require a negative Covid-19 test result from travelers.

We first informed about the UAE’s decision of holding a Covid-19 negative certificate from all inbound and transit passengers.

Greece: Passengers of flights from Bulgaria, Romania, U.A.E. and Malta (as of August 11, 2020 until 31 August 2020) and passengers of flights from Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia (as of August 17, 2020 until 31 August 2020) to Greece will be required to have a negative molecular test result (PCR) for COVID-19, performed up to 72 hours before their entry to Greece. This does also applies to Greek citizens, permanent residents of Greece, and travelers for essential professional reasons. Only travelers who carry a certificate of a negative RT-PCR test result will be allowed by the border authorities to enter the country. The certificates should be written in English and bear the name and passport/national ID number of the traveler. Children under 10 years old are not subject to the obligation to a PCR test.

Twenty four hours before entering Greece, visitors will have to fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) where they will provide their contact details in the country. Targeted and random testing will take place to aid the epidemiological research.

China-bound flights will now have to provide proof of a negative coronavirus test result before being allowed to board the plane. Foreign travelers to China will be required to apply for a health certificate from the Chinese embassy in their country of origin and Chinese passengers must present a QR code proving their eligibility to board the flight, CNN reported.

All passengers coming to Seychelles from August 1 when the airport opens for scheduled passenger flights must have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test not more than 72 hours old before boarding their flight to the island nation.

All passengers, including those in transit through Rwanda, will be required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test from a certified laboratory, taken within 72 hours of arriving in Rwanda.

Czech Republic publishes a list of countries that are allowed to enter the country due to their low risk of COVID-19. The list includes EU member states as well as Australia, UK, and Thailand.

Effective July 15, passengers traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands originating from areas designated as high risk are required to take a COVID PCR test within 5 days of departure and present negative test results upon arrival, or be subject to a 14 day self-quarantine when they arrive in the territory.

Passengers traveling to Mexico are required to present a completed Questionnaire for Identification of Risk Factors in Travelers to immigration upon arrival. Travelers may be subject to health screening, including temperature checks, upon arrival. Also read our articleTraveling Mexico During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Turkey announced that there is no requirement to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test. The country that is getting ready to welcome Russian tourists from the beginning of August, will only check the temperature of travelers arriving in the country. Turkish Airlines said, “If our passengers show symptoms such as fever, runny nose, cough and respiratory distress above 38°C, they will not be admitted to our flights and will be directed to the relevant health institution,”. All passengers aboard Turkish Airlines are required to wear masks at the airport and during the flights. Where to Travel and Stay in Turkey in 2020?

As of July 18, customers traveling to French territories from certain countries must show a negative PCR (COVID-19) test. These territories include: Cayenne (CAY), Pointe a Pitre (PTP), Fort de France (FDF), St. Denis (RUN), St. Maarten (SXM), Tahiti (PPT) or Noumea (NOU) must have a mandatory PCR test. The requirement does not apply to continental France.  The test must be completed less than 72 hours before departure. If a test cannot be shown upon arrival, customers risk an imposed quarantine for 14 days.

Passengers traveling to Germany are required to quarantine for 14 days and can source additional information from Germany’s Travel Restrictions FAQs.

Passengers traveling to the United Kingdom must complete the online contact detail form 48 hoursprior to departure. Travelers are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival (exemptions for those traveling for elite sports or the film and television industry). Travelers will be subject to health screening, including temperature testing, upon departure.

All passengers traveling to Israel are subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine and (2) must complete a Quarantine Declaration Form.

Passengers traveling to Australia are required to undergo 14-day quarantine at a government-designated facility upon arrival (limited exceptions apply); quarantine will be completed at a nearby hotel at passengers’ expense. Flights within Australia are not permitted until the mandatory quarantine has been completed. Passengers may be subject to a health screening upon arrival. Passengers traveling to Australia who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents must complete the exemption request form to obtain permission to enter Australia.

For any international flight departing Australia, all Australian citizens, including dual nationals, and all permanent residents must obtain permission to depart Australia. Sydney Airport has stopped bus service between international and domestic terminals, passengers connecting from domestic to international flights will need to take the Airport Link train, 400/420 bus, or taxi/ride-share between terminals. Passengers must complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival from international locations and cannot connect from international to domestic flights at this time.

Passengers traveling from the United States, Canada, and most other international origins are subject to 14-day quarantine upon arrival to Japan. Details for entry restriction can be found from the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exceptions to entry restrictions can be found from the Japan Ministry of Justice.

Passengers traveling to or through South Korea are required to download and install a COVID-19 self-diagnosis mobile app and complete the requested information prior to travel. If traveling from the US, passengers are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. A temperature check and documentation are required prior to boarding. All long-term visitors, including those who are asymptomatic, will be directed to undergo testing within three days of their arrival while also carrying out a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine period.  These individuals will receive notification regarding when and where to be tested.  For more information, visit the South Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare.

All passengers traveling to Antigua and Barbuda are required to complete the Electronic Passenger Registration Form and Health Screening Form prior to departure. Starting July 5, passengers must complete a COVID RT-PCR test within 7 days prior to departure for and provide negative test results upon arrival.  This includes transiting passengers.

Effective July 10, all passengers traveling to Aruba are required to complete online the mandatory Health Assessment, within 72 hours prior to departure to Aruba.  Based on the answers to the questions, a passenger will receive an email (typically within 15 minutes) stating either that he/she has qualified to travel. Travelers approved for travel will receive an ED card and must present the approval card during check-in and/or boarding. Travelers may either provide a negative COVID PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure (uploaded as part of the Health Assessment) or must undergo COVID testing at the airport upon arrival (with a one day mandatory quarantine at the traveler’s expense while awaiting results).  Test results must be uploaded within the Health Assessment at least 12 hours and at most 72 hours prior to departure.  Travelers will not be able to upload test results after the 12 hour pre-flight departure deadline. Travelers arriving from the following US states must obtain a COVID PCR test and upload negative test results in the Health Assessment at least 12 hours before departure (they are not allowed to take the test on arrival.)

All passengers traveling to the Bahamas are required to complete a 14-day mandatory quarantine in a Government facility at their own expense.  At the end of the 14-day quarantine, visitors are required to undergo a RT-PCR COVID 19 molecular diagnostic test, at their own expense. Visitors of the Bahamas are required to apply for a Bahamas Health Visa and provide a negative COVID RT-PCR test result issued less than 10 days prior to arrival.  Passengers must present the approved Bahamas Health Visa and negative COVID test result at check-in and upon arrival.  Passengers who are 10 years old and younger are not required to take a test.  Health Visa applications can take up to 72 hours so please allow adequate lead time.  Travelers will be subject to health screening, including COVID testing, upon arrival.

Effective July 1, all passengers traveling to the Dominican Republic will be subject to health screening, including temperature checks and may include COVID PCR test, upon arrival.  Additional health declarations and customs forms may be required and will be made available prior to departure.

Passengers traveling to Jamaica are required to complete and submit a travel declaration form for Jamaica within 72 hours of departure to confirm permission to travel to Jamaica and must provide the travel approval before boarding. Effective July 15, for visitors traveling to Jamaica from areas designated as high risk, passengers are required to take a COVID PCR test within 10 days of departure.

The government of Barbados has officially reopened its borders to international travel on July 12th, 2020. Travelers are required to complete the online Immigration and Customs Form. All travelers are strongly encouraged to take a PCR COVID -19 test within 72 hours of travel and bring the negative PCR COVID-19 test result with them from an accredited or certified facility/laboratory. Persons travelling from Very Low-Risk Countries, who have not travelled to or transited through any country designated as High, Medium or Low-Risk within 21 days prior to travel to Barbados, are not required to take a COVID-19 PCR test prior to or on arrival. Read this article for more details.

Mexico has already welcomed thousands of travelers in the post-COVID. You are not required to have a negative COVID-19 Test result. While entering the country at a Mexican airport, they may check your temperature. Find more details in our article for Mexico.

Colombia reopened its borders and the first flight was Spirit coming from Fort Lauderdale landed on September 19. Travelers arriving in Colombia must present a negative result of a PCR test for Covid-19 taken no longer than 96 hours before the stipulated time of travel and whoever has symptoms associated with Covid-19 will not be allowed to get on board. More details are here

Dominica is welcoming international travelers since August 7. The country created four risk classifications by country and has travel protocols for each classification.

And in the United States, all passengers may be subject to health screening and temperature checks upon entry and all nonresident travelers to Alaska will be required to have a negative test for the coronavirus before they arrive in the state.

Effective August 11, all non-residents must arrive with a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure or proof of a pending test result from a test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Non-residents should test 72 hours before departure and upload negative result into the Alaska Travel Portal. If tested 72 hours before departure and awaiting results, travelers will need to upload proof of test taken into the Alaska Travel Portal and quarantine while waiting. If a non-resident arrives without a pre-test, testing is available for $250 per test. The traveler will be required to quarantine while waiting on results which could be 3-5 days.

For residents of Alaska, testing remains available at no cost and a 14-day quarantine option is available in lieu of testing. All passengers are required to complete a Travel Declaration Form in the Alaska Travel Portal. Paper forms will not be accepted. For more information, visit the State of Alaska COVID-19 Traveler Information.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Alabama.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Arizona. Check the Arizona Department of Public Health Services for the most recent updates.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Arkansas. Check the Arkansas Department of Health for the most recent updates.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for California. Check the California Department of Public Health for the most recent updates.

Customers traveling to the District of Columbia from a high-risk state who are traveling for non-essential activities will be required to self-quarantine, opens in a new window for 14 days. Individuals traveling from high-risk states after concluding essential travel or arriving in the District for essential travel are required to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days and, if they show signs or experience symptoms of COVID-19, they are to self-quarantine and seek medical advice or testing. The list of high-risk states is currently Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Colorado. Check the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for the most recent updates.

Customers traveling to Connecticut from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the Virgin Islands are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. If you are traveling to Connecticut from the designated locations listed above, you are required to complete a mandatory online Travel Health form upon arrival. Failure to comply with requirements could result in fines. Passengers traveling to Connecticut from the above locations who are unable to quarantine for 14 days may, in lieu of quarantine, provide a negative COVID test taken in the 72 hours prior to travel.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Delaware. Check the Delaware Department of Public Health for the most recent updates.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Florida. Check the Florida Department of Health for the most recent updates.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Georgia. Check the Georgia Department of Public Health for the most recent updates.

Passengers traveling to Hawaii are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. Violation of the quarantine can result in legal action. Additional restrictions may apply to intra-state travel. All travelers are required to complete a mandatory online travel and health questionnaire via the Hawaii Safe Travels App effective September 1. The online forms should be completed no sooner than 24 hours before departure. Customers will also have their temperature checked.

Effective October 1,  travelers to Hawaii who have a valid negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to boarding their flight to Hawaii will not be subject to the 14-day quarantine. This test must be done prior to arrival and the traveler must present evidence of the test. Travelers will be responsible for the cost of the pre-travel test. No testing will be provided upon arrival at the airport. For more information, visit the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions Idaho. Check the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for the most recent updates.

If you would like to travel to Illinois: Traveling to the City of Chicago from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. For more information, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Indiana. Check the Indiana State Department of Health for the most recent updates.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Iowa. Check the Iowa Department of Public Health for the most recent updates.

People traveling to Kansas who have been on a cruise, are coming from an international country with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice with Restrictions, or who traveled to/from Florida between June 29 and August 11 are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. For more information, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Kentucky. Check the Kentucky Department for Public Health for the most recent updates.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Louisiana. Check the Louisiana Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Travelers entering Maine are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Travelers may elect to take a COVID PCR test less than 72 hours prior to departure and provide negative test results, in lieu of a 14-day quarantine. Residents traveling from Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont are exempt from quarantine and COVID testing. For more information, visit the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Maryland. Check the Maryland Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Travelers entering Massachusetts are required to quarantine for 14 days or provide a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to arrival in Massachusetts. Travelers arriving from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont are exempt. For other exemptions please review the Massachusetts COVID-19 Travel Order. All visitors will also be required to complete the online Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health. Failure to comply with these policies may result in a fine.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Michigan. Check the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services­­­ for the most recent updates.

There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions for Minnesota. Check Minnesota Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Mississippi: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check Mississippi State Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Missouri: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for the most recent updates.

Montana: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for the most recent updates.

Nebraska: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for the most recent updates.

Nevada: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health for the most recent updates.

New Hampshire: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services for the most recent updates.

People traveling to New Jersey from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the Virgin Islands are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. For more information, visit the New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub.

New Mexico: People traveling to New Mexico for leisure are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. This self-quarantine order does not apply to certain essential travel, as defined by the state, and persons traveling into New Mexico to conduct business activities.  For more information, visit the New Mexico Department of Health.

People traveling to New York from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the Virgin Islands are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. For more information, visit the  New York State COVID-19 Information Page. If you are traveling to New York from the designated locations listed above, you are required to complete a mandatory Traveler Health Form online. Failure to complete the form may result in fines.

North Carolina: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for the most recent updates.

North Dakota: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the North Dakota Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Travelers arriving in from Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, and Nevada are recommended to self-quarantine for 14 days in a home or hotel room. The recommendation applies to both visitors and Ohioans returning from these states. For more information, check the Ohio Department of Health.

Oklahoma: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Oklahoma State Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Oregon: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division for the most recent updates.

Pennsylvania: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Pennsylvania Department of Health for the most recent updates.

People traveling to Rhode Island from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. For more information, visit the Rhode Island Department of Health. Passengers traveling to Rhode Island from the above states will not be required to quarantine for 14 days if they can provide a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Rhode Island.

South Carolina: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for the most recent updates.

South Dakota: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the South Dakota Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Tennessee: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Tennessee Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Texas: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Texas Department of State Health Services for the most recent updates.

Utah: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Utah.gov page for the most recent updates.

People traveling to Vermont are subject to a 14-day quarantine, or a or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative COVID test when you arrive in Vermont and stay at either a lodging establishment or with friends or family. Travelers from counties throughout the Northeast with a low incidence of active COVID cases are eligible for quarantine-free leisure travel. For more information, visit the Vermont State Website.

Virginia: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Virginia Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Washington: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Washington State Department of Health for the most recent updates.

West Virginia: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Public Health for the most recent updates.

Wisconsin: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the most recent updates.

Wyoming: There are no known mandatory travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the Wyoming Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Newsletter subscription

Sign up to receive FTNnews Newsletter

Subscribe to get the latest travel news by email

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Scroll to Top