Immigration updates for China, Denmark, Malaysia and Singapore
Asia-Pacific
China: Beijing adjusts quarantine to 14+7
All persons arriving in Beijing must undergo the 14-day centralized quarantine, with a possible extension of seven days if the passenger tests positive for COVID-19 after landing or during their quarantine. The extension may be completed at home or in central quarantine facilities. During this period, activities, gatherings and dining out are prohibited. People must also co-operate with the relevant health reporting regulations regarding their health status.
Passengers landing in other Chinese cities must complete at least 21 days in China before entering Beijing. A  health status report via the Jing Xin help (京心相助) at least 72 hours before entry, is required to enter within the 21 days as well as an additional seven days’ quarantine in Beijing. This observation can be served at home (if qualified) or in central quarantine (if not).
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Xinhuwa News Agency (in Chinese).
Malaysia: Job adverts via MyFutureJobs portal
Further to an earlier announcement, employers who wish to hire expatriates will be required to advertise the vacancies for a minimum of 30 days on the MYFutureJobs portal.
This prerequisite is applicable for the hiring of expatriates under the Employment Pass only.
 Advertising steps
- Advertise the vacancy at my Homepage – MYFutureJobs for at least 30 days.
- On the eighth day after posting, employers must register and log into the ePPax System, Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM) for the level labor investigation. Employers’ failure of this will impact reporting data availability for the Commerce Officer Employment Committee Meeting.
- Conduct interviews within the 30-day period to determine suitability of local employees for the role.
- Present the Laporan Pengambilan Pekerja (Employee Hiring Report) to the Executive Talent Officer after the 30th day.
There are two exemptions:
| Types | Exemption | Remark |
| Type 1 | Automatic exemption |
|
| Type 2 | Conditional exemption | This is for specialized skilled positions. Employers are required to fill in a PDKK form at http://bit.ly/PDKKPERKESO and provide justification of expatriate hiring compared to local hiring. |
Jawatankuasa Penggajian Pegawai Dagang (JPPD) will evaluate the report. Once JPPD issues an acknowledgement letter, the employer can submit an expatriate application to immigration accordingly.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Immigration Department of Malaysia and Perkeso (In Malaysian).
Singapore: New requirements for pass holders entering
Pass holders entering Singapore who meet both of the following conditions must now download the FWMOMCare mobile app instead of the HOMER mobile app to report their location and health status daily to Ministry of Manpower (MOM):
- Serving a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) – this refers to pass holders who did not spend the last 14 consecutive days in any of the lower-risk countries/regions (i.e., Australia, Brunei, Macao, Mainland China, New Zealand, Taiwan, Vietnam) before entering Singapore. Pass holders entering from South Africa and the United Kingdom are not allowed to enter until further notice. List of countries/regions is correct as at Jan. 9, 2021.
- Entering Singapore from January 11, 2021.
Pass holders must ensure that the app is downloaded, once they have received an SMS from the Government within one to three days of arrival, to report their location and health status three times daily (refer to user guide).
No source available at the time of writing.
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
Denmark: New strict entry rules
Denmark announced stricter entry rules from January 9 to at least January 17, 2021. See below:
- Restrictions in what is considered a worthy travel purpose (job interview and business meetings are no longer deemed a worthy purpose).
- Requirements to show a negative test no older than 24 hours.
For all air arrivals, including Danish residents, border region residents and people in transit:
- Passengers must present a negative test no older than 24 hours (both PCR and quick/antigen tests are accepted) and have what is deemed a worthy purpose.
- Having a job, performing services and delivering goods are worthy purposes. Children under 12 are exempt from test requirements.
- Anyone with a positive corona test that is between two and eight weeks old can fly to Denmark from January 11.
- If anyone fly to Denmark from a country that does not provide tests  answers within 24 hours, the official advice is to re-book/change so that you transit via airports/countries that do offer a test response within 24 hours.
Train and car arrivals:
- For train/car arrivals (NOT border residents or transit): they must present a negative test no older than 24 hours (quick tests) and have what is deemed a worthy purpose.
- Danish residents (who can present active proof of residence in Denmark) do not require a negative test to cross the border but should avoid all but the most necessary travel. Business travel is no longer deemed necessary. They are recommended to have a quick test on the day of entry and a PCR test on the fourth day of arrival and stay in self-isolation until a negative test result is received.
- For transit (no overnight stay, same day departure): no negative test required but proof of same day departure.
- Border regions: persons resident in the regions of Schleswig-Holstein, Southern Sweden (Blekinge and Scania) and West Sweden (Halland og West Gothia) can enter Denmark either with a worthy purpose combined with a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than seven days before entry, or with a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than 24 hours before entry. This requires an active proof of residency in the border regions. Swedish residents living abroad and persons on holiday in Sweden can use transit same-day travel to go via CPH Airport but cannot stay overnight and must present same day travel papers.
For all arrivals from high-risk countries: 10-day self-isolation is strongly recommended upon arrival. This can be ended with a negative test result from a PCR test taken on the fourth day after arrival. PCR tests are free and available to all.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Coronasmitte.
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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