Snapshot of border control measures implemented in six Asian countries
| Indonesia | Singapore | South Korea | Thailand | The Philippines | Vietnam | |
| Border closures | Started with a ban on travellers from China followed by a ban of travellers from high-risk countries and eventually to all countries. Into the second year, borders reopened slightly, with the need for all inbound travellers to have a vaccination certificate. Travel measures also applied for domestic travel with the need for a negative test result before departure. Domestic travel was suspended during peak season such as Ramadan to prevent surges. | In March 2020, all short-term visitors were barred from entering. In a bid to reopen to countries with close business and family ties, Reciprocal Green Lanes (RGLs) were opened towards the end of 2020 as the situation stabilised in selected countries. But as the Delta wave spread, RGLs cased. Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) started end of 2021 with over 20 countries but halted temporarily as Omicron caused surges locally and in other VTL countries. | Borders were shut since March 2020 to prevent entry of new infections. As vaccination rates increased, the country started its VTL with Singapore at the end of 2021 but had to temporarily suspend it due to growing numbers attributed to Omicron surfacing in both countries. South Korea continues to allow entry of residents, including long term pass holders but visa-free travel from most countries into South Korea remain suspended. | The country closed its borders in April 2020. However, many migrants had entered the country via relatively porous land borders. Domestic travel restriction during peaks of the pandemic. As the economy which relied heavily on tourism slumped, sandbox pilots such as the one in Phuket took off. Borders opened to fully vaccinated tourists in end 2021. But as the omicron circulated, the country banded flights from high-risk countries. | In late January 2020, borders started closing for travellers from Hubei, China, followed by the rest of the world as numbers skyrocketed and hospitals became overstretched. Border measures were relaxed slightly in 2021 but were tightened again after the Delta variant caused immense spikes in the community. Foreign travellers have been allowed entry to the country since the third quarter of 2020, although they must have a pre-existing visa. It was projected that borders and visa applications would be open to fully vaccinated foreign tourists in February 2022. | From March 2020 to July 2021, Vietnam closed its borders to international travellers while preparing its health system to absorb the spike in domestic numbers. In November 2021, Vietnam had sandbox pilots such as the Phu Quoc Island for inoculated travellers to visit without the need for quarantining. Since July 2021, Vietnam has been gradually reopening international routes to a number of countries in Asia, Europe and Australia. |
| Quarantine of inbound travellers | In early 2021, travellers needed to quarantine for 5 days and as the health system got overwhelmed, coupled with low vaccination rates and Delta surges, the period increased to 8 days. In early January 2022, 10-days quarantine period was implemented to prevent Omicron surges. This has been reduced to 3 days in March 2022. More recently in March, Bali, Bintan and Batam islands could receive international visitors without any quarantine period. Indonesian migrant workers, students and government personnel on official business will have their quarantine fees covered while foreign nationals bear full costs. | Those that left the country in March 2020 despite travel warnings will face the full cost of quarantine of 14 days. From September 2020, the duration was reduced to 7 days for travellers entering from low-risk countries. Delta strain outbreaks caused Singapore to increase quarantine periods to 21 days for travellers entering from high-risk countries regardless of RGLs. As numbers stabilised in 2021 and with higher vaccination rates, home quarantine was permitted for those who had conducive residential environments for quarantine. Those entering via VTLs need not quarantine but need proof of negative test results and vaccination status. | From the early phases of the pandemic, inbound travellers had to quarantine at designated facilities for 14 days and a GPS tracking function was used to ensure compliance. South Korea also permitted home quarantine in 2021 with daily monitoring using a self-diagnosis application. For travellers entering the country via VTLs, only proof of negative test results is needed before and on arrival. | All inbound travellers had to quarantine for 14 days at state facilities or select hotels during first half of 2021; shortening quarantine days gradually introduced. The government provided free testing for all nationals and non-nationals and full subsidised the cost of quarantine at government facilities. As the country opened up to low-risk countries in Q4 of 2021, full vaccinated travellers only need to wait in their hotels until negative RT-PCR on Day one. | In 2020, all travellers had to quarantine in appropriate facilities depending on symptom severity and test results. Returning residents need to quarantine at points of entry and after testing negative continue that remaining quarantine at home. In early 2022, all fully vaccinated travellers only need to show a negative test result before entering and self-monitoring for 7 days on arrival. | Vietnam cut its 14-day quarantine at centralised quarantine facilities for foreign travellers entering the country from 14 days to 7 days in August 2021 if they are fully vaccinated. The travellers will also be tested on the first and seventh day of quarantine. The Bluezone mobile application is required to be downloaded for the remaining 7 days of observation. |
GPS, global positioning system.