will become commonplace in the “brave new world”, turned out to be zilch. Most tourist powers have already understood everything about the “pandemic” and vaccinations and have returned to the dock-like entry rules. Where are the restrictions and what are they?
The “Covid” agenda receded into the tenth plan with the onset of the geopolitical crisis in the world, but in 2022, a number of significant changes occurred in terms of restrictions. Many of the countries that support the toughest approaches to COVID-19 have already lifted all restrictions by now. There are practically no quarantines or entry bans for tourism purposes left anywhere in the world, vaccines have not become the norm for travel, and even tests as a mandatory requirement are rapidly disappearing.
There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, it is already obvious to everyone that both the course of the pandemic itself and a number of egregious incidents proved the absolute ineffectiveness of both “vaccine” and “test” entry barriers – all such restrictions did not, in any case, help to contain the waves of morbidity . And quarantines and lockdowns also didn’t help anyone, moreover, they caused great damage.
And secondly, with the decline in media hysteria, many finally came to the realization that covid in the omicron variant already, in general, does not pose such a serious danger compared to other causes of death and has become a common seasonal disease. The question of the “effectiveness” of all existing vaccines in terms of non-proliferation and “protection” against covid is not even very decent to raise: everything is already clear to everyone, everyone has already seen everything.
Almost all major tourist countries have already canceled all covid restrictions, the normalization in 2022 was especially active in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Another part of the states (mainly in Africa and Latin America) have weakened and retain some restrictions, such as the requirement for tests, but often formally, on paper. They are predicted to be canceled soon (within six months).
Only a small part of the countries of the world, despite the obvious transition of covid into the category of seasonal SARS, continue to maintain some (sometimes severe) restrictions in practice – or for the sake of bureaucratic “we take action” principle, or for financial, internal ideological or geopolitical reasons. The most difficult with China and the United States.
You can always see the detailed situation by country in our updated table for 100 countries of the world. But let's summarize (as of October 10, 2022) how the situation with covid restrictions for Russians in different macro-regions of the world looks now.
AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA
From countries that matter as tourist destinations, all covid entry bans have been lifted in Australia and New Zealand (in the latter, however, all sanitary requirements have been canceled, but restrictions on types of visit and visa issues remain).
Covid bans have been lifted even by many small island destinations in this macro-region – Vanuatu in September, New Caledonia in August, and Papua New Guinea ( 6 October). Of the significant areas, only Fiji retains the requirements for vaccination and testing.
NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN
Here, severe covid restrictions from large states still remain USA onlyrequiring compulsory vaccination (Russian vaccines are not recognized). Obviously, this is being done in the interests of pharmaceutical corporations, which have significantly enriched themselves during the pandemic.
Even Canada, which introduced truly draconian measures against covid, has already lifted all entry restrictions, and Mexico never used them for tourists at all (it was always possible to fly there without tests and certificates, and the country was by no means “died out”).
All covid restrictions have been canceled and almost all the states of Central America – you do not need to provide anything when traveling to Panama, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica.
In the Caribbean, almost all island states also removed all covid restrictions, no need for certificates and tests for Cuba, for Dominican Republic. The Bahamas lifted all bans on September 22, 2022. You don't need anything when traveling to other Caribbean microstates like Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines etc.
Only in Honduras, Haiti and Nicaraguathere is still a requirement for a 72-hour PCR test, but in Nicaragua, those who are vaccinated (including Sputnik V and Sputnik Light) can do without a test.
EUROPE
Throughout 2022, the states of Europe continued to remove all “covid” barriers for the entry of tourists one after another. And they filmed almost everything – both for foreigners and (even more so) for their own citizens. No references or tests are needed. The Netherlands was the last to surrender in Western Europe on September 17, 2022, and everything is canceled here. In Germany, too, all restrictions have been lifted, but only a somewhat strange ban on entry to citizens of the PRC (with many exceptions). entrance.
The first one is Spain. Formally, in order to enter Spain now, Russians need a negative covid test result made no earlier than 72 hours before departure to Spain on a direct flight, or an express test (no earlier than 24 hours before departure). Without a test, it is possible for holders of European certificates of recovery or fresh (not earlier than 270 days) vaccination, but this does not concern Russians – Russian certificates and vaccine certificates are not recognized. However, in practice, when entering from other EU countries, Russians are not asked for tests either.
Second – Russiawhich still requires foreigners to enter a PCR test 48 hours prior to entry. And even for its own citizens, it retains the requirement of either a fresh vaccination (only Russian), or a certificate of recovery, or passing a test upon arrival within 3 days and uploading it to the State Services within 4 days from the moment of arrival. Against the global background, this now looks like an outright anachronism (taking into account the fact that during the pandemic, most countries have always had their own citizens as an exception to the general rules).
The third is Ukraine, which continues to formally require tests and vaccination certificates at the entrance. There are even quite strange quarantine requirements for certain categories of foreigners.
WESTERN, CENTRAL ASIA, MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
The most massive tourist destinations, such as Turkey and Egypt, have long ago completely canceled all sanitary restrictions on entry and returned to pre-Covid standards.
There are also no restrictions in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon (everything was canceled here on September 27), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Morocco. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,MongoliaandAfghanistan.
Qatar recently removed the requirement for vaccinations and antibodies, only a test is needed. UAE still requires a PCR test for entry, but has already canceled the mask regime and stopped publishing covid statistics. Probably, tests will also be canceled soon.
The principle of “either test or vaccination” for entry is retained from the countries of this macroregion that are significant for tourism, so far only Tunisia, Iran, Tajikistan. Everywhere they accept “Sputnik V” instead of the test.
The principle of “vaccination + test” is in Pakistanand Turkmenistan. Azerbaijan has the toughest position, which is surprising, it only allows vaccinated adults or those with a certificate of illness. Those who are not vaccinated according to the test cannot enter at all, and this hinders the development of tourism from the Russian Federation.
EASTERN, SOUTH, SOUTH-EASTERN ASIA
Of the significant tourist destinations, absolutely all covid restrictions have been lifted in Thailand , Vietnam, Maldives, Cambodia, Malaysia, Bhutan, South Korea(in the latest – from October 1). No vaccinations or tests required. In South Korea, Russians only need a K-ETA.
With a negative PCR test, Russians can enter Japan, India, Bangladesh,Nepal,Laos,toSingapore,to the Philippinesand toSri -Lanka. You can go to the last country on the list with the Sputnik V certificate, the rest also apply the principle of “either vaccination or test”, but Russian vaccines are not recognized there.
In Myanmar until I still need a vaccination (Sputnik V and Sputnik Light are recognized) plus a test. Of the large tourist countries, only Indonesia does not yet accept unvaccinated tourists, only with vaccination (“Sputnik V” is allowed).
In Chinatotal restrictions on the reception of foreign tourists and a 10-day quarantine continue to apply, but quarantine restrictions in Hong Kong have been relaxed. North Korea.
SOUTH AMERICA
All covid restrictions have been completely lifted here Argentina and French Guiana – no vaccinations, no tests required.
Principle “either test or vaccination” for entry retains Peru, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia,Uruguay, Paraguay, Suriname. You can go to a number of these countries without a test with Sputnik V.
In Venezuela, you also need either a test or a vaccination (“Sputnik V” is suitable, then a test before departure is not needed), but a paid test upon arrival is also obligatory (for organized tourists from the Russian Federation it is free).
Only in Guyana formally it is still impossible for unvaccinated people (only vaccination is needed, but “Sputnik V” accepted).
EQUATORIAL AND SOUTH AFRICA
No tests or vaccination certificates are needed in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Benin, Gabon, Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, Madagascar and Mauritius.
Tests on arrival are done in Burundi, Chad > and Ghana (in the latter country, those who are vaccinated with Sputnik V can not take it).
The principle of “either a test or a vaccination” is retained from the areas that are significant for Russians only < strong>Seychelles, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria. In fact, Russians can only enter the first three countries with a test, since Russian vaccines are not recognized there. You can go to Tanzania and Nigeria with Sputnik V (and to Nigeria with Sputnik Light). In Ethiopia, through which Russian tourists fly to other countries, transit passengers do not need tests at all.
Besides, with just a test (48-72 hours), Russians can almost all other African countries< /strong>, except for some exceptions.
So, for example, the “test + vaccination” principle (not Russian) is used to enter Equatorial Guinea. In Liberia and, oddly enough, in Libya you can only get vaccinated (again, not Russian vaccines).
Note, however, that in practice The requirements for tests and vaccinations in African countries have never been systematic, and now even more so it is more of a formality and everything will depend on the tourist and the border guard.