What is the situation like with COVID-19 in Southeast Asia? Like you, we are desperate to hitch on that backpack and set off for adventures – but is that possible right now?
We strive to regularly update this article with the latest travel restrictions across Southeast Asia to keep you up to date with where you can and can’t travel, and what entry requirements are in place (quarantine, PCR tests, mask-wearing etc.).
Where can you travel in Southeast Asia? – Quick Answers
Click the country to skip down for more details.
- Cambodia – Mandatory quarantine is no longer required regardless of vaccination status (unvaccinated travellers must take rapid antigen tests on arrival).
- Indonesia – Open to fully vaccinated tourists, quarantine-free. Unvaccinated travellers have to fulfil a mandatory quarantine for 5 days if entry is permitted. Unvaccinated travellers need to provide a negative test 48 hours before arrival and a letter from an approved Government hospital proving they are exempt from the vaccine.
- Laos – Fully reopened to international tourists, quarantine-free.
- Malaysia – Open to all travellers regardless of vaccination status from August 1, 2022.
- Maldives – Open to tourists regardless of vaccination status; quarantine free.
- Myanmar – Open to international fully vaccinated international travellers only.
- Philippines – Open to fully vaccinated international tourists with no quarantine. Unvaccinated travellers are required to apply for a visa and a travel exemption prior to entry.
- Singapore – Open to fully vaccinated international tourists. Unvaccinated tourists are allowed to enter from 29 August with a negative covid-19 test for short-term stays.
- Sri Lanka – Open to tourists, no quarantine for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers is required. Unvaccinated travellers will need to take a test on arrival.
- Thailand – Open to international travellers. Fully vaccinated tourists and unvaccinated tourists who present a negative COVID test do not have to quarantine. Unvaccinated travellers without a test can enter the Happy Quarantine Scheme.
- Vietnam – Reopened to international tourists (vaccinated and unvaccinated) without quarantine or testing.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Southeast Asia (Countries A-Z)
Disclaimer: COVID-19 travel restrictions are changing every day and the following information reflects South East Asia’s Backpacker’s understanding of the current rules for entry. While we update this article regularly to ensure the information is as current as it can be, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.
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Cambodia Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Cambodia is open to international travellers.
- Visa on arrival: Available.
- Requirements upon arrival: Unvaccinated travellers must take a rapid antigen test upon arrival at their own expense.
- Current internal travel restrictions: Many hotels, public businesses and tourist attractions have been forced to close due to a lack of custom. Extra restrictions could be introduced at short notice.
- Face coverings: Masks are not compulsory but are recommended in all public places.
- Border crossings: All land borders with Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are now open.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Cambodia Travel Restrictions.
Indonesia Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Indonesia is open to fully-vaccinated international travellers.
- Visa on arrival: Available.
- Requirements before departure: Provide proof of vaccination status. No PCR test is required unless requested on arrival at the airport (body temp over 37.5°C) at the health checkpoint.
- Quarantine: No quarantine is required for fully vaccinated international arrivals. However, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers will need to quarantine for 5 days if permission to enter is approved.
- Current internal travel restrictions: There may still be restrictions on travel and social activity in some regions.
- Face coverings: Masks are recommended in public places (indoor).
- Border crossings: The land border crossing into Borneo Malaysia is currently closed.
READ MORE: COVID-19 Indonesia Travel Restrictions.
Laos Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Laos reopened to international travellers on May 9th 2022.
- Visa on arrival: Available. E-visas are also available.
- Requirements before departure: If you are fully vaccinated you must show proof of your vaccination certificate. Partially and unvaccinated travellers (over the age of 12) will need to provide proof of a negative test result taken no earlier than 48 hours before their departure.
- Quarantine: There is no longer a quarantine requirement for travellers entering Laos.
- Current internal travel restrictions: Travel restrictions vary, however, they have been mostly scrapped.
- Face coverings: Masks are advisable in all public places.
- Border crossings: Land borders are now open. If you plan to cross into Thailand by land, you must apply for permission in advance.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Laos Travel Restrictions.
Malaysia Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Malaysia reopened to all international travellers regardless of vaccination status on 1st August 2022.
- Visa on arrival: Not available.
- Requirements before departure: Arrange visa, download the MySejahtera app and book a return flight.
- Quarantine: All previous Covid-19 travel restrictions have now been removed including mandatory vaccinations and quarantine.
- Current internal travel restrictions: Travel restrictions vary depending on the province.
- Face coverings: Masks are required for public transport and medical facilities only but are still recommended indoors.
- Border crossings: Crossing the border into Thailand (Peninsular Malaysia) at certain crossings is now allowed. Crossing into Indonesia (Borneo) is not permitted. The land border between Malaysia and Singapore is open without testing requirements.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Malaysia Travel Restrictions.
Maldives Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Yes.
- Visa on arrival: Yes. Travellers from most nations can receive a free 30-day entry pass on arrival.
- Requirements before departure: Must complete a Traveller Health Declaration Form 72 hours prior to arrival.
- Quarantine: Tourists do not need to quarantine when entering the Maldives.
- Current internal travel restrictions: Travel between the islands of the Maldives is not restricted.
- Face coverings: Face masks are advised to be worn in all busy public places in the Maldives, however, these are no longer compulsory.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Maldives Travel Restrictions.
Myanmar Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Open to fully vaccinated tourists.
- Visa on arrival: Not available. Apply for a visa online.
- Requirements before departure: You’ll need a valid visa, proof of vaccination status (printed certificate), negative pre-departure test result, insurance, health declaration form and COVID-19 Rapid Test Requisition form.
- Quarantine: Fully vaccinated business travellers no longer need to officially complete a quarantine, however, they will have to quarantine in a hotel room until they receive a negative result from their arrival test. Unvaccinated arrivals will need to quarantine for 5 days.
- Current internal travel restrictions: Travel restrictions vary from state to state.
- Face coverings: Masks are compulsory in all public places and those disobeying the rule will be fined.
- Border crossings: The land border crossing into Thailand is closed.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Myanmar Travel Restrictions.
The Philippines Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Fully vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter the Philippines.
- Visa on arrival: Many nationalities can enter visa-free.
- Requirements before departure: According to the Press release of the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines, COVID testing requirements have been lifted, but only for fully vaccinated travellers with at least one booster shot.
- Quarantine: For fully vaccinated travellers, there is no longer a mandatory quarantine.
- Current internal travel restrictions: There are restrictions on travel and the opening of public places which vary by region.
- Face coverings: Face masks should be worn in all indoor places and on public transport, including jeepneys and taxis.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Philippines Travel Restrictions.
Singapore Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Yes, fully vaccinated travellers are allowed to enter Singapore. Unvaccinated travellers can enter from 29 August 2022 with a negative covid-19 test for short term stays.
- Visa on arrival: Many nationalities can enter visa-free.
- Requirements before departure: Get proof of vaccination status, complete an online SG Arrival Card (3 days before arrival). Travel insurance is compulsory and must cover COVID-19.
- Quarantine: Fully vaccinated travellers no longer have to quarantine. Other travellers will be required to quarantine for 7 days.
- Face coverings: Masks mandates are easing for all indoor settings except for hospital/medical facilities and public transport.
- Current internal travel restrictions: Must be fully vaccinated to eat out and attend events of over 500 people.
- Border crossings: Land border with Malaysia is open.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Singapore Travel Restrictions.
Sri Lanka Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Yes. Sri Lanka is open to international travellers with valid tourist visas.
- Visa on arrival: Available. However, you are recommended to apply for a tourist visa online.
- Requirements before departure: Arrange a visa in advance, show a negative COVID-19 PCR/RT test within 72/48 hours of your flight (unvaccinated only), provide proof of vaccination status and purchase and pay for travel insurance online before travelling.
- Quarantine: No quarantine in place.
- Current internal travel restrictions: There are currently restrictions on inter-provincial travel for all citizens.
- Face coverings: Masks are compulsory in all public places.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Sri Lanka Travel Restrictions.
Thailand Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Yes. Thailand is open to travellers from all over the world.
- Visa on arrival: Available.
- Requirements before departure: Proof of vaccination or a negative test result within 72 hours of arrival in the country.
- Quarantine: Fully vaccinated travellers do not have to quarantine. From 1st May 2022, unvaccinated travellers who can provide proof of a pre-travel negative test result won’t need to quarantine either. Those who don’t present a test result will be required to quarantine for 5 days.
- Face coverings: Masks are recommended in all indoor public spaces and on public transport in Thailand.
- Current internal travel restrictions: Many hotels, public businesses and tourist attractions have been forced to close due to a lack of custom. Temperature checks are commonplace in hospitality venues.
- Border crossings: Some border checkpoints in Malaysia and Cambodia are now open. The land border with Laos is also open. You can’t currently cross the border into Myanmar.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Thailand Travel Restrictions.
Vietnam Travel Restrictions
- Open to international travellers: Vietnam is open to all international travellers regardless of vaccination status.
- Visa on arrival: Now available for some travellers.
- Requirements before departure: Obtain a visa online (if applicable).
- Current internal travel restrictions: Regulations vary in each province. Many hotels, public businesses and tourist attractions have been forced to close due to a lack of custom.
- Face coverings: Masks are compulsory in all public places in Vietnam and those not adhering to the rule can be fined.
- Border crossings: Most land borders into Vietnam are closed. However, the Vietnam-Laos land border is now open again.
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO: COVID-19 Vietnam Travel Restrictions.
Nikki Scott | Founder & Editor
Nikki is the founding editor of South East Asia Backpacker and The Backpacker Network. In her early twenties, she left her home in the North of England on a solo backpacking adventure and never returned! After six months on the road, she founded a print magazine that became legendary on the Banana Pancake Trail. The rest is history.
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Find travel buddies. Get advice. Have all your questions answered by travellers on the ground in Southeast Asia right now.
Don’t know why ya don’t have South Korea in here. It’s East Asian. South Korea’s different from North Korea, ya know…..
Hi Kristy. This page is about travel restrictions for countries in Southeast Asia, not East Asia. North Korea isn’t discussed on this page either, for the same reason.
Hey! I’m planning a trip to Bali in the summer, but flights from London inevitably have long layovers in either KL or Singapore, and most also involve going through immigration, collecting your bags, and then checking in again for the onward flight.
My question is – how do the PCR tests work in this case? On my inbound flight, could I arguably go into KL or Singapore without invalidating my PCR test for Bali? (As long as it’s still in the 48 hour window.) Similarly, how would this work on the way back? I presume I would need to get a PCR test done in Bali to enter KL or Singapore? Or are there any free travel zones? If I do need a PCR test in Bali, do you know how easy it is to do this?
Thanks so much!
Hi Emily!
Thanks for your comment. I’m not entirely sure how it would work to be honest. Back to Bali is a great resource and may be able to give you some guidance as to how it would work. If not, an official office such as the embassy or consulate will be able to advise. I believe tests are pretty easy to get in Bali, you can ask the staff at your hotel how to go about this.
Thank you for updating this page regularly! It is very informative. We are a family with kids, hoping to do a visit to an Asian country July and August this year. We are following the re opening closely. What is your impression of which countries has less strict rules on wearing of face mask in public? I am concerned if the kids will manage to use masks continuously in the heat. They are not used to either. It might put some extra stress to their Holliday.
Regards, Celia
Hi Celia,
To be honest, it is very difficult to know what travel will look like in a few months! The face mask rules which exist now may not be the same. At present, nearly all Asian countries are very strict with masks. I’d recommend asking this question in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SEABackpackerCommunity/. That way, you can hear from travellers on the ground at the moment.
Hey there,
I am curious on the verbiage. When you say Visas on arrival: None, does that mean it needs to be had in advance prior to entry? I apologise if this makes more sense than I get it, but I appreciate your help.
Best,
Nhu
Hi Nhu! Yes, that is exactly right. Unless VOA is available, all visas will need to be applied for in advance.
Hi, thanks for the updates. Do you know if there is a plan to open the land borders between Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia? Thanks
Hi Louis,
There are plans to reopen the land borders in the near future but as always, these things can change! Singapore has already implemented a land VTL which has enabled the Malaysia-Singapore land border to reopen. Keep an eye on the news for the latest developments and feel free to ask travellers on the ground in our Facebook Community. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SEABackpackerCommunity/
Hi Nikki
Thankyou for this so helpful!
We are going to the Philippines on the 5th of April and after 30 days we will be heading for Cambodia. I have two questions 🙂
Do you know what the entry requirements are when coming from the Philippines?
Also are you allowed to fly within the Philippines, for example from Manila to Coron etc?
Thankyou 🙂
Hi Mia,
1. The entry requirements, as far as I can tell, are the same if you are flying in from the Philippines to Cambodia as if you are flying there from anywhere else in the world. There are no special requirements for travellers coming from the Philippines. (Please check with a Cambodian Embassy to be sure.)
2. Yes. Domestic flights have been running in the Philippines for a while now, plus international travel opened on 10th February so things will hopefully be a lot easier for travellers!
Hope that helps. Have a great trip!
Hi there,
I’m Australian with extended family in SEA that I’ve not seen in 2 years because of this damn covid. I’ve just stumbled across this site and it’s proving helpful and informative. I will monitor this site for updates.
Thanks
Ferdi
Hello 🙂 I have booked a 30 day tour (15 days in Thailand and 15 days in Vietnam) starting April 30th 2022 – I was then planning on spending a couple of months in Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand before heading to Bali in September time!
Do you think by then things will have settled a bit more/that will be feasible?
Thanks!
Hi Faye!
At the moment, it’s impossible to give you a concrete answer.
But, much of SEA is opening up to vaccinated travellers now. By the end of April my personal feeling is that travel will start to be somewhat normal again.
Keep an eye on this post as we’ve been keeping it regularly updated with all the restrictions and changes in SEA!
I appreciate the updates since I have a friend there I wish to visit
Thank You
Bob
You’re very welcome Bob! We hope travel to the region will get easier towards the end of the year and into 2022. All the best, Nikki
Hi Nikki, thank you for keeping this article up to date!
I’ve been planning to move to Indonesia since the beginning of the year, and had prepared everything including flights, hotel, vaccine, etc. My flight was booked for 1st August, but Indonesia closed their borders just before my flight.
I’ve been watching the news and submitted a formal complaint as I already have a visa which will expire in September. And I’m losing hope that the border will open anytime soon.
I’m looking into other options, mainly Thailand and Singapore, but Singapore is crazy expensive for me.
Is it risky for me to travel to Thailand alone? I don’t know anyone there, but I’m hoping I can meet people. Also, do you know if I can get a visa to stay for longer than 30 days? I’m an Australian citizen.
Thanks again!
Hi Ari,
Sorry to hear about your troubles over the past few months! It’s certainly been a challenging time for those of us who want to travel…
During normal times, I would say it is perfectly safe and easy for you to travel to Thailand alone, and very easy to meet lots of people! However, right now it’s a slightly different story. The only way to access Thailand without having to do a 2-week quarantine is via the Phuket Sandbox, which you can read about here:
https://southeastasiabackpacker.com/phuket-sandbox/
This scheme requires you to be fully vaccinated and also stay on the island for 14 days before travelling elsewhere in Thailand. (They have actually just launched a 7+7 program which means you can spend 7 days in Phuket and 7 days on another island, see article for more details.)
Once you’ve completed 14 days, you can travel throughout Thailand (local travel restrictions apply). The longest you can get a visa is 60 days (TR60 visa) which can be extended at a Thai Immigration Office for a further 30 days, so 90 days in total.
Have a look at these guidelines also:
https://southeastasiabackpacker.com/covid19-thailand-travel-restrictions/
Be aware that things change all the time (as you know!) and Thailand isn’t having the best time with COVID right now. There is a lockdown in Bangkok and many domestic flights are cancelled. Make sure you have a look at local news and decide if you really want to travel during this time. If you were unlucky enough to test positive for COVID whilst on the Phuket Sandbox, or be on the same flight as someone who tests positive, it can be an expensive affair as you have to pay for extra quarantine accommodation on top of the hotel you’ve already paid for. Make sure you read all of the resources on the above pages carefully. Any further questions, feel free to get in touch!
Also, join our Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/SEABackpackerCommunity
All the best,
Nikki