South Africa and South Korea ease Covid travel restrictions

South Africa has dropped its Covid testing requirement for fully vaccinated international travellers as of Wednesday 23 March, alongside the relaxation of domestic Covid rules. Unvaccinated inbound visitors will still be required to provide a negative result for a PCR test taken up to 72 hours before arrival to be permitted entry. Previously, all travellers, regardless of vaccination status, were required to conduct a PCR test before arrival.

The move was confirmed during a national address by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 22 March, in which he also confirmed that: “All unvaccinated travellers entering the country who want to be vaccinated will be offered a vaccination.”

Ramaphosa also announced the easing of a range of domestic rules, including the end of mandatory mask wearing in outdoor public spaces, and the reopening of sports stadiums, theatres, and music venues to vaccinated individuals or those with a negative test – to operate at half their full capacity.

Mask requirements for indoor public spaces remain in place, however.

The relaxation of coronavirus rules follows the decline of daily Covid cases in the country from its previous peak in mid-December. South Africa was one of the first countries to be impacted by the Omicron variant in late 2021.

South Korea waives quarantine requirements for vaccinated visitors

South Korea will waive quarantine requirements for vaccinated international travellers from Friday 1 April, if they present valid certification proving their vaccination status.

However, vaccinated travellers must still submit their personal and health information via South Korea’s online Covid Q-Code system prior to travel. In addition, the requirement to provide a negative PCR test result within 48 hours of departure remains in place, according to current guidelines by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Prior to the change, travellers of all vaccination statuses were required to undergo a mandatory one-week quarantine in a government-recommended facility. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals will still be required to submit for quarantine.

In recent weeks there has been a wave of countries announcing relaxations to their Covid travel rules for international visitors, including Vietnam, the Netherlands, Indonesia and the UK.