Asia Travel Entry Requirements: A Country by Country Guide

Plenty has changed around the world in the past few months, especially when it comes to relaxing entry requirements or reopening. Japan recently announced it would begin offering travelers to enter the country with select tour operators! Thailand might end all its pandemic-era entry requirements and restrictions, too, making it easier to enter the scenic country.

Check out this slideshow below to get the most up-to-date entry requirement information for the countries in Asia, and make sure to check out our interactive COVID-19 entry requirement guide. If you're planning a vacation to one of these destinations, make sure to visit the U.S. Department of State's country-by-country guides.

Travelers can enter Bangladesh, but they need a visa to do so. Visas can be acquired upon entry, or ahead of time prior to entry; the State Department recommends getting a traveler visa prior to heading to Bangladesh. Travelers must also complete a Passenger Health Delcaration Form at most 3 days prior to entry. They must also provide proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. Children under 12 are exempt from these rules. Bangladesh is currently classified as a Level 2 risk by the State Department due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping in certain areas.

Travelers to Bhutan are required to apply for a visa through their travel advisor or through the online visa registration portal. They're only allowed to stay in the kingdom through a certified tour operator; no traveler can enter Bhutan without booking a tour. The U.S. State Department does not publish COVID-19 information for Bhutan, but currently rates it as a Level 1 risk level.

Travelers can enter Brunei Darussalam provided they are fully vaccinated (booster shots necessary after three months of completion of two-dose regimen) along with a recent negative RT-PCR or ART test. Once in Brunei, travelers are required to take an ART test each day for the first three days of their trip. All travelers must also purchase travel insurance covering COVID-19 with a minimum of BND $50,000 in coverage. Travelers aged 12-17 must also be fully vaccinated to enter. Unvaccinated travelers must have a medical exemption and are required to testing and self-isolation upon arrival. The country is considered a Level 1 risk.

Travelers can enter Cambodia provided they are fully vaccinated; unvaccinated travelers are required to self-isolate for seven days upon arrival, and depending on the visa acquired, the traveler may be required to pay for their quarantine period at a chosen facility. Travelers are also highly encouraged to purchase travel insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage. Visas are also required for traveling to Cambodia. The country is currently listed as a Level 1 risk by the U.S. Department of State.

Travelers heading to mainland China are subject to some of the strictest pandemic-related entry requirements in the world. Entry requirements change depending on vaccination status and even what type of vaccine they have. 14-day quarantine periods, testing through blood and nasal tests are only some of the requirements that travelers must undergo. The U.S. State Department classifies China as a Level 3 risk due to its "arbitrary enforcement of local laws and COVID-19-related restrictions. Do not travel to the PRC's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Jilin province, and Shanghai municipality due to COVID-19-related restrictions, including the risk of parents and children being separated. Reconsider travel to the PRC's Hong Kong SAR due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws."

Travelers will also find it difficult getting to Hong Kong and Macau. Travelers entering Hong Kong are required to be fully vaccinated and test prior to arrival and upon arrival; quarantine might be enforced unless travelers visit through the Come2hk or Return2hk programs. Currently, Hong Kong is designated as a Level 4 risk due to the same issues that mainland China has. Travelers to Macau must have spent the last 21 days in mainland China and have a valid visa in order to enter Macau, or they must apply for an exemption stating their entry into Macau would be in the region's best interest. Testing and proof of vaccination is also required. Macau is designated a Level 3 risk due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Travelers can enter India using a tourist or e-tourist visa. All travelers five and older must upload a recent negative RT-PCR test or vaccine certificate showing full vaccination on the Air Suvidha portal. Travelers should also submit a self-declaration form. The U.S. State Department currently classifies India as a Level 2 risk, due to a risk of crime and terrorism in certain regions.

Travelers entering Indonesia can do so provided they use the PeduliLindungi application and apply for a visa for their stay, which can be given upon arrival. All travelers are required to provide proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers are required to quarantine for five days upon arrival. All travelers are also required to have purchased a travel insurance policy that covers pandemic-related expenses with a minimum of USD$25,000, as well as proof of return ticket or air ticket to another country. Indonesia is currently considered a Level 2 risk due to civil unrest in Papua and Central Sulawesi, as well as natural disasters.

Entry into Japan is still very limited due to the country's COVID-19 pandemic measures. That being said, Japan announced that it would begin welcoming a select few tour operators and triple-vaccinated travelers to enter the country this summer! Entry requirements for these travelers include full vaccination, pre-travel testing and more. Japan is classified as a Level 3 risk due to its entry restrictions.

Travelers can enter Kyrgyzstan without needing to satisfy any pandemic-era entry requirements or restrictions, though the State Department does warn that entry requirements could change with little to no forewarning, so it recommends bringing your vaccine card and a recent PCR test, just in case. Land borders are all open, excepting those that border China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Kyrgyzstan is considered a Level 1 risk.

Travelers can enter Laos provided they show proof of vaccination and apply for a visa, though there are no testing requirements to enter. Laos is considered a Level 3 risk level due to numerous factors, including crime and civil unrest.

Travelers can enter Malaysia, though they must comply with a few requirements. They are required to download the MySejahtera app and provide vaccination information if available. If unvaccinated, travelers must take pre- and post-arrival tests and quarantine for 5 days. Vaccination information can be uploaded with the MySafeTravel portal. Malaysia is considered a Level 1 risk level, though there is increased risk in eastern Sabah State due to kidnapping.

All travelers over the age of one year must present a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter the Maldives. They're also required to fill out the country's Traveler Health Declaration form within 48 hours prior to arriving in the country. When checking out of any guesthouse, the travelers are also required to test negative. Those who test positive will be removed from the traveler's group and quarantined at the positive traveler's expense. The Maldives provides a 30-day traveler visa for all successful arrivals. The country is currently classified as a Level 2 risk due to an increased risk of terrorism.

Travelers can enter Mongolia, provided they fill out the country's medical declaration form upon arrival at border checkpoints; otherwise, they are not required to satisfy any pandemic-related protocols. Travelers can stay in Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days, but travelers staying for longer need to register with Mongolian immigration authorities within seven days of arrival. Mongolia is classified as a Level 1 risk level.

As of March 19, 2020, travelers cannot enter Myanmar (also known as Burma) through land borders following the country's military takeover. Travelers can still enter the country via commercial flights as long as they provide proof of vaccination, a recent negative test result and purchase the country's health insurance, though the U.S. Department of State classifies the country as a Level 4 risk and strongly encourages Americans avoid traveling to the country due to its military takeover, civil unrest and COVID-19-related restrictions.

Travelers can now receive visas to Nepal without proof of vaccination, though they need to either provide proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter. Mask requirements are still required throughout the country, even outdoors, while some indoor venues may require proof of vaccination to enter. The State Department classifies Nepal as a Level 2 risk country.

Vaccinated travelers can enter Pakistan without a PCR test, though all unvaccinated travelers over 12 must provide a recent negative PCR test to enter. All travelers should download the PassTrack app or complete the form online to receive a printed copy to show upon boarding, both which require travelers to provide their contact information prior to arrival. Health screenings such as temperature checks may be necessary upon arrival at the airport. Pakistan is currently classified as a Level 3 risk due to "terrorism and sectarian violence."

Travelers can enter the Philippines provided they are fully vaccinated and test negative prior to arrival, unless they have had at least one booster shot. Children under 12 are exempt. All travelers must also complete the BOQ e-Health Declaration Card up to three days prior to arrival. Philippines is currently under a mandatory mask mandate in public spaces. The Philippines is categorized as a Level 2 risk due to safety concerns in the Sulu Archipelago and Mindanao.

Fully vaccinated travelers can enter Singapore without taking a COVID-19 test prior to entry. Children 12 and under are also not required to test prior to arrival. Travelers who aren't fully vaccinated and are over 13 years old must obtain approval to enter Singapore, test negative prior to arrival and quarantine upon arrival. Singapore is under the Level 1 risk category.

As of June 8, travelers to South Korea no longer need to quarantine if they are unvaccinated. They'll still need to submit their information in the Q-Code system, and if they are over six years old, they also have to present a pre-departure test and one post-arrival test within three days of arrival. Arriving travelers may also be subject to temperature checks or other health screenings at the airport. South Korea is categorized as a Level 1 risk by the State Department.

Travelers to Sri Lanka don't have to show proof of vaccination or test to enter, but a traveler visa may be necessary. They also must purchase the country's COVID-19 travel insurance. The U.S. State Department classifies Sri Lanka as a Level 3 risk due to fuel and medicine shortages and encourages travelers to the country to exercise increased caution due to terrorism.

Currently, only travelers on essential business are allowed into Taiwan, as long as they have a special entry permit and test negative prior to arrival. They are required to quarantine for three days upon arrival and purchase a local SIM card to use for location tracking during their quarantine period. The State Department classifies Taiwan as a Level 3 risk level due to COVID-19-related restrictions.

Travelers three years and up are required to provide proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter Tajikistan. The State Department does admit that the country frequently changes it entry requirements with little notice to travelers, so it's best to research thoroughly prior to arrival and during a stay in Tajikistan. The country is classified as a Level 2 risk due a risk in terrorism.

Fully vaccinated travelers can enter Thailand quarantine-free provided they register with Thailand Pass and include their vaccine card and passport information, including proof of insurance with medical coverage of at least USD$10,000. Unvaccinated travelers must do the same, but must also either test negative prior to arrival or quarantine for 4-5 days upon arrival. Thailand is classified as a Level 1 risk, though the State Department advises increased caution in the country's provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla due to civil unrest

Travelers entering Timor-Leste can do so provided they are fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated travelers will find it difficult to enter, as they are required to undergo a ten-day quarantine period upon arrival, at least through June 17. While the country itself doesn't require any COVID-19 tests for entry, some airlines or transit points may, so research your flight plane fully prior to traveling. Timor-Leste is classified as a Level 2 risk due to crime and civil unrest, including gender-based violence.

Travelers to Turkmenistan will be required to test negative prior to arrival and take a serology test. Post-arrival tests upon entry are also required. Quarantines may also be mandatory for travelers. Quarantine periods may also be enforced with little prior notice. Turkmenistan is classified as a Level 3 risk due to COVID-19 restrictions and the U.S. embassy in Ashgabat's "limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens."

Travelers can enter Uzbekistan with a proper visa, but no longer have to provide a recent COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination. Travelers must still complete a health screening form upon arrival and may be subject to temperature checks. Uzbekistan is classified by the State Department as a Level 1 risk.

Travelers can now enter Vietnam without any COVID-19 testing requirements. While Vietnam specifically doesn't require you to test, an airline or transit country might, so do your research prior to departure. Vietnam's official tourism website posts current information on entry requirements: so far, only a traveler visa and proof of travel insurance covering COVID-19 treatment for a minimum of USD$10,000 are required for entry, along with downloading the PC-Covid mobile app. Travelers are also encouraged to monitor themselves for symptoms during the first ten days after arrival. Vietnam is classified as a Level 1 risk country.