Whose Borders Are Open and Whose Are Closed

The coronavirus is spreading at alarming rates, and in an effort to slow the crisis, many countries worldwide have closed their borders to foreigners or imposed strict travel restrictions. Below is a running list of country travel restrictions and border closures.

Note: Most countries around the world that are still allowing travelers are requiring self-quarantining, or quarantining in public hospitals, for at least 14 days.

AFRICA

Angola: Land, sea, and air borders closed.

Cameroon: Land, air, and sea borders closed indefinitely.

Congo Republic: Borders closed.

Djibouti: The country has suspended all international flights.

Egypt: On March 19, the country will close its borders to all foreigners.

Ethiopia: Land borders shut to most foreigners.

Gambia: Border with Senegal closed.

Ghana: Foreign travelers entering Ghana from any country with more than 200 coronavirus cases will be turned away.

Kenya: No foreign traveler coming from any country with a case of coronavirus is allowed to enter Kenya.

Libya: Borders closed for foreigners.

Nigeria: No entry allowed for travelers coming from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, the US, Norway, the UK, Switzerland, or the Netherlands.

Madagascar: Beginning March 20, all flights from Europe have been suspended for 30 days.

Mali: All flights coming from affected countries are suspended indefinitely.

Morocco: All international travel in and out of the country has been suspended.

Republic of Congo: The country has banned travelers who have visited China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea.

Seychelles: Ban on travelers who have visited China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea.

Somalia: All international flights suspended.

South Africa: The country has banned travelers from the United States, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and China from entering.

Sudan: All borders closed to foreigners.

Tunisia: All land borders closed as of March 16.

Uganda: All flights into and out of the country are suspended.

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ASIA

Cambodia: Travelers from the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain are barred from entering the country for 30 days.

Hong Kong: All travelers entering the city will be required to self-quarantine for two weeks.

India: Travelers from the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Philippines, and Malaysia are banned from entering the country.

Indonesia: Foreign travelers who have visited China, Italy, South Korea, and Iran will be barred from entering the country.

Japan: Anyone with a passport issued by the Hubei or the Zhejiang provinces in China, as well as travelers who have visited Iran, Italy, San Marino, or South Korea within the past two weeks, cannot enter the country.

Kazakhstan: Borders closed to all foreigners, citizens not allowed to leave the country.

Kyrgyzstan: Borders closed to foreigners.

Lebanon: All travelers that have been in the UK, France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany, or Spain are barred from entry.

Malaysia: The country has banned the entry of any foreign national, with very few exceptions. Foreigners can leave, but flights are limited.

Maldives: All foreign travelers who have been to Bangladesh, China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea are banned.

Myanmar: Foreign travelers from France, Italy, Iran, Spain, and Germany are banned.

Nepal: All land borders are closed, and all travelers must have a health certificate stating they have no symptoms of COVID-19.

Pakistan: Land borders closed and international flights limited.

Philippines: The Island of Luzon has been put on lockdown, and all flights have been canceled.

Singapore: Travelers who have been to France, Germany, Italy, and Spain in the last two weeks are barred from entering the country.

Sri Lanka: Travelers from Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, United Kingdom, Belgium, and Norway are banned from the country.

South Korea: Strict border checks for all overseas arrivals.

Tajikistan: All flights into and out of the country are suspended.

Thailand: Foreign travelers who have been in countries affected by COVID-19 require a medical certificate stating that they do not have the virus.

Turkey: Nationals from Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, or the Netherlands, or anyone who has visited Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, South Korea, or Sweden in the past two weeks, cannot enter the country. Greek and Bulgarian borders closed.

Turkmenistan: All international flights suspended.

Uzbekistan: Foreigners banned from the country, citizens barred from leaving.

Vietnam: Travelers from the EU and Britain are barred from entering the country.

Central America/Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda: Travelers who have visited China, Italy, Iran, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore in the past month are barred from entering the country.

Bahamas: Ban on travelers who have visited China, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, or Singapore.

Costa Rica: All foreign travelers are barred from entering the country beginning March 18.

Dominican Republic: On March 17th, the President of the DR announced that he was “closing the borders effective 6 am on Thursday, 19 March. After then, no flights would be allowed with the exception of ferry planes which will be allowed for the departure of foreign citizens that want to return to their country”.

El Salvador: Aside from citizens, legal residents, and diplomats, no foreigners may enter the country.

Grenada: Ban on travelers who have visited China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, or Spain.

Guatemala: The country has closed its borders to foreigners for 15 days.

Haiti: Border closed as of March 19, curfew imposed on citizens.

Honduras: All borders closed.

Jamaica: Travel restrictions imposed on anyone arriving from Iran, China, South Korea, Italy, Singapore, Germany, Spain, France, and the UK.

Panama: Borders closed to foreigners.

St. Lucia: Country closed to those who traveling from France, Germany, Spain, the UK, China, Japan, South Korea, Italy, and Singapore.

Trinidad and Tobago: All borders closed to foreigners as of March 17.

Image Source: Dominika Gregušová/Pexels

 

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EUROPE

European Union: Leaders from the EU announced on March 17 that the borders of 26 countries would be closed to nearly all foreigners for 30 days. The countries included in the closure are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Albania: All commercial flights canceled, only humanitarian flights to Turkey allowed to operate.

Algeria: Air and sea travel suspended as of March 19.

Bulgaria: Turkish border closed, all flights from Italy and Spain banned.

Cyprus: Borders closed to everyone except residents and European workers.

Georgia: All air traffic has been halted as of March 20.

North Macedonia: Foreign nationals who have traveled to “high-risk” or “medium-risk” countries listed by the Ministry of Health will be denied entry into the country.

Moldova: Borders closed as of March 17.

Russia: Land borders with Poland and Norway are closed.

Serbia: The country is under a state of emergency and will not allow and foreigners, aside from legal residents and diplomats, from entering the country.

Ukraine: All foreigners are barred from entering the country by any method of transportation.

United Kingdom: Prime Minister recommends avoiding “all non-essential travel worldwide.”

Middle East

Israel: All foreigners are banned from entering the country unless they can prove they have a place they can quarantine for 14 days. This exception excludes travelers from China, South Korea, Thailand, Italy, Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Egypt.

Jordan: All flights into and out of the country have been suspended, and the country’s borders have been closed to all travelers.

Oman: Borders closed to foreigners and expatriates with residency visas.

Kuwait: The country has closed its airports indefinitely.

Saudi Arabia: All international flights into and out of the country have been suspended for two weeks. Foreign travelers who have been to Bahrain, China, Taiwan, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey or the United Arab Emirates are banned from the country.

Qatar: Entry of foreigners banned.

Yemen: All flights to and from the country have been suspended for 14 days.

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North America

United States: The US has banned the entry of foreign nationals from China, Iran, 26 European countries, the UK, and Ireland for 30 days. Any US citizen or legal resident trying to enter the country from high-risk areas must enter via one of the 13 transit airports:

• Boston
• Chicago O’Hare
• Dallas-Forth Worth
• Detroit
• Honolulu
• Atlanta
• New York-JFK
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Newark
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Washington-Dulles.

Canada: The Prime Minister has barred any individual, aside from Canadian citizens, permanent residents, diplomats, immediate relatives of Canadian citizens, airline crews, and United States citizens (for now), from entering the country. Beginning March 18, four Canadian airports will remain open to international flights – Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary.

Oceania

Australia: Borders closed to all visitors (except citizens and residents) beginning March 19. No cruise ships will be allowed to dock in Australia for 30 days.

New Zealand: All travelers, including citizens, are required to self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina: The country has closed its borders to all foreigners for 14 days.

Bolivia: All flights into the country have been suspended, and any travelers trying to enter will undergo advanced medical screening.

Brazil: Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Suriname, and French Guiana borders closed for all foreigners for 15 days.

Chile: The country has closed its borders to all foreigners. An end date has yet to be announced.

Ecuador: No traveler, including foreigners and citizens, will be allowed the enter the country for three weeks.

Paraguay: Flights from Europe banned and the Brazilian border has been closed.

Peru: The country has closed its borders for at least 15 days, barring all foreigners from entering the country.

Suriname: All borders closed as of March 14.

Uruguay: All travelers from China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Iran, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany will be forced to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

Venezuela: Nationwide quarantine in effect.

What to do if Your Flight is Canceled

As countries close their borders, airlines are being forced to cancel dozens of flights. However, some airlines, such as Norwegian and WestJet, are launching rescue flights to get citizens and residents back to their home country. If your flight is canceled or you have questions about your reservation, refrain from contacting the airline via phone until your flight is 72 hours out. This will alleviate the congestion on the phone lines and allow those with immediate concerns to get the help they need.

We Contacted US Airlines: Here’s the Best Way to Handle Coronavirus Changes

If your flight is not canceled, but you no longer wish to travel, many carriers are offering refunds in the form of credit (if you purchased directly through the airline). In many cases, you can apply for these credits online, while some carriers, such as Delta, will automatically apply the credit for any flight not taken.

This list will be updated as more information becomes available.

 

[Image Source: Shutterstock/Guitar Photagrapher]