Global immigration updates for Hong Kong and more
Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong: Travel and quarantine restrictions
Hong Kong shares further information on travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.
Entry bans include:
- Flights for all non-Hong Kong SAR residents from overseas countries and regions.
- Travelers from Group A (extremely high risk) which includes: Brazil, Ireland, South Africa and the U.K.
Exemptions include:
- Individuals entering from Mainland China, Macau SAR or Taiwan, who have not been outside these regions in the 14 days preceding entry.
- Passengers from Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, who have not been outside these regions in the 21 days preceding entry.
- Travelers who have stayed in Brazil, Ireland, South Africa and the U.K. for less than two hours in the past 21 days.
There will be two designated flights (CX 2252) departing London, U.K., on April 21 and April 28, 2021. All arriving passengers must undergo the 21-day quarantine in a specified quarantine hotel (Ramber Garden Hotel in Tsing Yi).
Quarantine:
Arrivals from Mainland, Macao or Taiwan must quarantine at home, a designated hotel or other accommodation for 14 days.
Travelers from Group A and Group B must present a room reservation and quarantine for 21 days at a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong SAR, and present negative nucleic acid Covid-19 test results conducted within 72 hours prior to departure.
Travelers from Group C (medium to high-risk) – all countries outside of Groups A and B and Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan – must present a room reservation and quarantine for 21 days at a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong SAR.
Arrivals from Group D (low-risk countries) – Australia, New Zealand and Singapore – must quarantine for 14 days at a designated quarantine hotel, self-monitor for seven days after quarantine ends and undergo Covid-19 tests on day 19 after arrival.
To find more information on the categories, specific conditions imposed on inbound travelers and quarantine exemptions, read more from the Government of HR SAR.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Government of Hong Kong.
India: Bilateral agreement
The Indian government has signed a bilateral agreement with Sri Lanka, providing air bubble transportation to Sri Lanka. The countries with which agreements have been signed are as follows: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, the Maldives, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ukraine, the UAE, the U.K., U.S. and Uzbekistan.
Travel to and from India will be facilitated via non-scheduled flights under the Vande Bharat Mission, air transport bubble arrangement or other chartered flights as allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Hindustan Times.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Debra Jane Beynon, Regional Immigration Manager (APAC).
Europe, Middle east and Africa
Ireland: Further visa cessation and extension of immigration permissions
The Irish government had temporarily ceased accepting new visa/pre-clearance applications from visa-requiring nationals. This has been reviewed and the cessation will remain in place until May 5, 2021, when further reviews will be conducted.
While it remains possible to apply for an Irish visa/pre-clearance online, these measures mean applicants are unable to complete the process at their local embassy/VFS office.
This is in addition to further restrictions where passport holders of the following countries are now required to apply for an entry or transit visa, as appropriate, before traveling to Ireland: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname and Uruguay.
Foreign nationals with expiring immigration permissions will be able to continue to legally stay in Ireland until September 20, 2021, while they are unable to submit renewal applications, receive their renewed IRP cards or attend a first-time registration appointment.
The extension is based on the current residence permission and covers the following categories:
- Applicants whose permission expires between April 21, 2021, and September 20, 2021.
- Applicants whose permission previously expired between March 20, 2020, and April 20, 2021.
- Residents in Ireland and outside, who hold an Irish Residence Permission, valid from March 20, 2020, until September 20, 2021.
- Applicants granted permission to land at a port of entry and have yet to register at Burgh Quay (Dublin Immigration Service Delivery) or their local immigration office.
Burgh Quay (Dublin Immigration Service Delivery) continues to remain closed for first-time registrations, however, the immigration offices throughout the rest of Ireland are open for registrations.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Department of Justice.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager (EMEA).
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