January 2023 Worldwide Travel Restrictions Geoff Whitmore

Can you believe it’s 2023 already? The world is open for travel, and inclement weather is the greatest threat to most travelers, although new Covid-19 strains also pose a risk. Here are some travel restrictions to be aware of for domestic and international trips.LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 03: A view of billboard, which announced strike and showed …

United States Travel Restrictions
Travel policies remain mostly the same from 2022, as foreign visitors must be fully vaccinated to enter the United States. However, travelers from select locations must obtain a negative pre-arrival test result again.

Mandatory Testing From China, Hong Kong And Macau
Beginning January 5, 2023, all travelers age two or older must have a negative Covid-19 test result to enter the United States from select locations. This requirement applies to all travelers regardless of vaccination status or citizenship unless you can show documentation of recovery from Covid-19 within the past 90 days.

You must obtain a test when returning from China, Hong Kong or Macau. A test is also necessary if you travel from the international airports in Seoul, Toronto or Vancouver and have been in China, Hong Kong or Macau within the last ten days.

Travelers must take the test no more than two days before the flight time.

No other travel corridors have testing requirements at this time, but this could change if the latest strain sweeps around the world similar to previous outbreaks such as the Delta variant in the summer of 2021.

Many western nations, including Canada and the United Kingdom, are adopting similar testing requirements.

China Travel Restrictions
One of the most exciting travel developments to start in 2023 is the ability to fly to China again for the first time in three years. Beginning on January 8, 2023, visitors no longer need to quarantine when arriving on the mainland.

The country is reducing many other Covid-19 tracking protocols, such as applying for a health code.

Instead of waiving the current five-day quarantine, travelers must obtain a negative pre-arrival test no sooner than 48 hours before departure. Additionally, all airplane passengers must wear a mask during the flight.

Being fully vaccinated can also be an entry requirement for age-eligible travelers.

The relaxation of these rules can make business travel and repatriation easier to achieve, although it will still take time for travel volumes to increase to pre-pandemic levels. However, unrestricted tourism travel remains infeasible as the reopening is gradual.

China is striving to move away from the strict lockdowns and other aggressive zero-Covid measures they have been practicing. However, fears of new virus strains and rising infection counts can delay the reopening phases, similar to what other countries experienced after opening their borders again.

Canada Travel Restrictions
The air, land and sea border crossings remain open for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. There are no pre-arrival testing requirements unless you’re coming from China, Hong Kong or Macau or have been in one of these locations within the past ten days.

Latin America Travel Restrictions
The Central American and South American nations are fully open for vaccinated guests, but several countries have testing requirements for unvaccinated visitors:
 Bolivia
 Brazil
 Chile
 Colombia
 Honduras
 Nicaragua
 Suriname
 Uruguay
 Venezuela

Public masking requirements differ by country.

Caribbean Travel Restrictions
Whether you’re planning on flying or cruising to a Caribbean island for your winter getaway, nearly every destination is “back to normal.” However, there can be minor differences between entry policies.

A notable exception remains Turks and Caicos, which requires all visitors 18 years or older to be fully vaccinated. There are zero testing or travel insurance requirements.

United Kingdom Travel Restrictions
If you’re flying to the United Kingdom, you may want to pay attention to the intermittent UK travel strikes that can result in significant delays and cancellations. For instance, the UK Border Force struck during some of the busiest days of the 2022 Christmas Week.

Rail strikes will be occurring throughout January across various transport networks. Abellio bus strikes in London are also scheduled on several days this month.

Europe Travel Restrictions
Traveling to continental Europe remains easy for all travelers, regardless of vaccination status. Like the United Kingdom, various airline and ground transport groups have been instituting rolling strikes during December and January.

Africa Travel Restrictions
Reaching Africa’s most popular destinations like Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Tanzania are open to vaccinated travelers.

Depending on the country, unvaccinated travelers may need a negative pre-arrival test and potentially quarantine upon arrival. These policies are more common in countries in the central part of the continent.

Libya is the only country that remains closed to all visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

Asia Travel Restrictions
Excluding China, as it is covered earlier, Asia is mainly open to vaccinated travelers. The entry requirements remain tough in several situations for a handful of nations for unvaccinated guests, including:
 Fiji
 Indonesia
 Japan
 Laos
 Philippines

From the above countries, Japan, Laos and the Philippines allow unvaccinated guests to enter after obtaining a negative pre-arrival test. Unfortunately, other countries prohibit entry to this travel group.

Oceania
Australia and New Zealand don’t have any active travel restrictions for most international visitors. While it’s a long-distance trip, it’s summertime in the Southern Hemisphere. Now can be an excellent time to visit to enjoy warmer temperatures.

Summary
With the holiday travel rush over, traveling during January is an excellent opportunity to take a winter trip or enjoy cheaper travel costs. Traveling domestically or within the Americas is the easiest, with minimal restrictions and distance. Planned European and British labor strikes can also damper a trip to the Old World and may require advanced planning.