All About Flights

Planning a summer trip but not sure what the flight procedures are? Don't worry, we've got you covered. 

Travelling from one country to another is no longer as simple as it used to be especially during a time of COVID-19. Rest assured, our Travel Advisors can provide assistance in handling complicated airfares and information about the changing regulations of travelling. 

Contact our Travel Advisors for questions and bookings for your future travel flights and accommodations. 

Find out more below about the restrictions of entering Hong Kong as well as entering other countries. 

 

This blog was produced on 26 May 2021 and the information provided is based on the date of creation.

 

Who is Eligible To Enter Hong Kong?

Only residents with the following documents will be permitted to enter Hong Kong: 

• Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or Hong Kong Identity Card that: 
  • bears the "asterisk" or "A" or "R" codes
  • bears the "C" code (provided that it is accompanied by a valid work visa or study visa)
  • bears the "U" code (Note: this type of HKID is subject to approval from Hong Kong Immigration prior to acceptance at check-in)
• Hong Kong SAR Passport
• Hong Kong Document of Identity
• Non-Hong Kong residents will be denied entry into Hong Kong

Entry Restriction Exemptions

The following passengers are exempt from the entry restrictions:

• Passengers travelling from the mainland China, Taiwan or Macao SAR, and have not been to any other country/region in the past 21 days*
• Passengers travelling from any of the 'Group D - low risk countries' (see below) who have not been to any other country in the past 21 days*
• Diplomatic/official passport holders (subject to prevailing visa requirements) 
• The spouse and children of Hong Kong residents
• Local government personnel performing official duties
• Personnel approved by the Hong Kong SAR government to carry out anti-epidemic work
• Passengers holding a new entry visa to work, study, establish or join in any business, or take up residence in Hong Kong 

*Passengers falling into this exemption category must still possess a travel document that would allow them to stay in Hong Kong for a minimum of 14 days, or 7 days (if passenger has been fully vaccinations) in order to meet the compulsory quarantine requirements. Otherwise, entry will be refused.

Passengers who have been in or transited through Brazil, India, Nepal, Pakistan, The Philippines or South Africa for more than two hours in the past 24 hours will not be permitted to enter Hong Kong.

 

Pre-Departure Requriements & Mandatory Quarantine in Hong Kong

Group A1 - Extremely High Risk Places (Brazil, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines or South Africa) 

• Passengers who have stayed in or transited through these countries for less than two hours in the past 21 days
  • Undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in a designated quarantine hotel
  • Proof of a medical certificate with a negative COVID nucleic acid test result, performed within 72 hours of scheduled departure time of last direct flight to Hong Kong
  • Proof of hotel reservation for 21 days quarantine upon arrival (including returning residents)

 

Group A2 - Very High Risk Places (Ireland or the United Kingdom)

• Undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in a designated quarantine hotel
• Proof of a medical certificate with a negative COVID nucleic acid test result, performed within 72 hours of scheduled departure time of last direct flight to Hong Kong
• For passengers travelling from the United Kingdom, the NHS (National Health Service) test report does not meet the Hong Kong entry requirements and will not be accepted. 
• Proof of hotel reservation for 21 days quarantine upon arrival (including returning residents)

 

Group B - High Risk Places (Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirate or the United States)  

• Travellers who have not been fully vaccinated
  • Undergo quarantine for 21 days in a designated quarantine hotel 
  • Present a negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before scheduled time of flight departure
  • Present confirmation of room reservation for 21 nights at a designated quarantine hotel
• Travellers who are fully vaccinated
  • ​Undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days in a designated quarantine hotel
  • Self-monitor in the subsequent 7 days
  • Compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th day of arrival in Hong Kong
  • Present a negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before scheduled time of flight departure
  • Present confirmation of room reservation for 14 nights at a designated quarantine hotel
  • Present vaccination record

 

Group C - Medium Risk Places (Other places outside of the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong or Macao and not named in Group A, Group B or Group D)

• Travellers who have not been fully vaccinated
  • Undergo compulsory quarantine 21 days in designated quarantine hotel
  • Present confirmation of room reservation for 21 nights at a designated quarantine hotel
• Travellers who are fully vaccinated
  • ​Undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days in a designated quarantine hotel 
  • Self-monitor in the subsequent 7 days
  • Compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th day of arrival in Hong Kong
  • Present confirmation of room reservation for 14 nights in designated quarantine hotel
  • Present vaccination record

 

Group D - Low Risk Places (Australia or New Zealand)

• Travellers who have not been fully vaccinated
  • ​Undergo compulsory 14 days in designated quarantine hotel
  • Self-monitor in subsequent 7 days
  • Compulsory testing on 16th and 19th day of arrival in Hong Kong 
  • Present confirmation of room reservation for 14 nights in designated quarantine hotel
• Travellers who are fully vaccinated
  • ​Undergo compulsory quarantine 7 days in designated quarantine hotel
  • Self-monitor in subsequent 7 days
  • Compulsory testing on 9th and 12th day of arrival in Hong Kong
  • Present confirmation of room reservation for 7 days in designated quarantine hotel
  • Present vaccination record

 

Taiwan 

• Travellers who have not been fully vaccinated
  • Present a negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before scheduled time of flight departure
  • ​Undergo compulsory quarantine 21 days in designated quarantine hotel 
• Travellers who are fully vaccinated
  • Undergo compulsory quarantine 14 days in designated quarantine hotel
  • Present a negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before scheduled time of flight departure
  • Present vaccination record

 

To be considered fully vaccinated, passengers must have received the full vaccine (as stipulated in the guidelines of a COVID-19 vaccination course) 14 days prior to the flight's scheduled time of departure to Hong Kong. The 14 days are counted from the day after receiving the last dose of the recommended course. For example, if the last dose was administered on 1 May, the 14th day would be on 15 May. 

 

Mandatory COVID-19 Testing

All passengers arriving into Hong Kong will be required to undergo a medical test for COVID-19 prior to clearing immigration and baggage collection. 

• The test, which involves providing a combined nasal and throat swab sample, will be conducted by medical professionals at the Department of Health Temporary Specimen Collection Center at Midfield Concourse.
• Passengers will receive directions and assistance after disembarking the aircraft.
• All passengers will be required to wait for their test results. 

 

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Departing Hong Kong to the United States

Entry Restrictions

Non-US citizens and residents who have visited/transited through one or more of the following countries/regions in the past 14 days are not permitted to enter:

• Chinese mainland
• India
• Iran
• Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuanina, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
• Brazil
• South Africa

Entry Restriction Exemptions

• US citizens/lawful permanent residents including their spouse
• The parent or legal guardian of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the US citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21 
• The sibling of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21
• The child, foster child or ward of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee who is seeking to enter the US pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications
• Foreign government officials or an immediate family member of an offical (visas: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, E-1, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, or NATO-6) who originated in, transferred from, or transited through the aforementioned countries/regions in the past 14 days
• Foreign nationals that hold: a DV-1, DV-2 or DV- 3 immigrant vista (issued prior to 4 September 2020), a visa annotated with "Exception under PP10014" or a non-immigrant visa (H-1B, H-2B, J-1, L-1)
• US Armed Forces and their spouses and children (if have been to the aforementioned countries/regions) 
• Special arrangements are in place for passengers from certain countries travelling on student visas. 

Quarantine Measures

• All passengers are subject to a quaranitne assessment on arrival
• Passengers who have been fully vaccinated are no longer required to quarantine upon arrival in Los Angeles, California (LAX)

COVID-19 Test

• All passengers aged two years above travelling to or transiting through the United States, are required to present: 
  • A medical certificate indicating a negative COVID-19 test result. The test specimen must be collected within 3 days prior to the scheduled flight departure; OR 
  • A written/electronic documentation of recovery from COVID-19 after a previous SARS-Cov-2 infection. This must be in the form of a positive viral test result and a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health official stating that the customer has been cleared for travel (Documentation of Recovery)

An Attestation

• All passengers (aged two years or above) must attest to receiving a negative test or that they have recovered from COVID-19 and signted the attestation form at the time of check-in
• A parent or other authorised individual should attest on behalg of customer age 2 to 17 or anyone who is unable to attest on their own behalf

Health Declaration

• Passengers aged 16 or above, travelling to Los Angeles (LAX) are required to fill in the Traveler Form
• Passengers travelling to New York are required to fill in the Travel Health Form (one form per adult required, children or other dependents travellign together can be included with one adult)

Additional Requirements

• With effect from 1 February 2021, all passengers are required to wear a face mask on all public transportation (including aircraft, trains, and buses) and at transportation hubs (including airport terminals) in the US. The face mask must completely cover the passenger's nose and mouth.

 

Departing Hong Kong to Australia

 

Entry Restrictions 

• All foreign nationals are not permitted to enter Australia

Entry Restriction Exemptions

• Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family including legal guardians, spouse, de facto partner, provisional partner via holders and dependent children of a passenger eligible for entry to Australia
• Diplomats accredited to Australia that currently reside in Australia and their immediate family 
• Nationals of New Zealand who ordinarily reside in Australia (444 visa)
• New Zealand citizens who do not reside in Australia are permitted to transit through Australia if their final destination is New Zealand
• Citizens of the following countries are permitted to transit through Australia to return home:
  • Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati Marshall Islands, Micronesia
  • Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea
  • Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
• Foreign nationals transiting an Australian airport with a confirmed onward flight (provided they do not leave the airport during transit)

All passengers who have been in, or transited India within the 14 days prior to the day of departure, are not allowed to enter Australia. 

Quarantine Measures

• All passengers (including Australian citizens and residents) arriving in Australia will be subject to a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days
• Passengers must pay for the cost of their quarantine on arrival. Please note that arrangements differ by state
  • Exemption
    • New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (including their immediat family) or a citizen of a South Pacific Island travelling home through (i.e. transiting) Australia, is not subject to these mandatory quarantine requirements

COVID-19 Test

• From 22 January 2021, all passengers aged five or above travelling to or transiting through Australia are required to present a medical certificate indicating a negative COVID-19 test result, conducted within 72 hours of their scheduled flight departure
• The medical certificate can be either hard copy or digital copy; English is the preferred language, however the medical certificate in another language can be accepted if passengers have a certified translated copy of the COVID-19 test report in English
• Exemption 
  • Passengers aged four years or below
  • Passengers with a medical condition - must present a medical certificate which indicates that due to a medical condition they are unable to undergo a COVID-19 test
  • Passengers departing from a green zone country (i.e. New Zealand)

Health Declaration

• All passengers (except diplomats) are required to complete the Australia Travel Declaration form before departure
• All passengers travelling to Queensland (i.e. through Brisbane Airport), are required to complete the Queensland International Arrivals Registration form before departure

Passengers Travelling to Perth

• Passengers travelling to Perth must obtain an offical exemption to be able to enter Western Australia. More information and how to apply for an exemption via the G2G Pass system can be found on the Western Australia government

Exit Restrictions

• Australian citizens and permanent residents are prohibited from travelling out of Australia, unless they hold an exemption. 
• Passengers can apply online and must meet at least one of the following requirements:
  • Travel is part of the response to COVID-19, including the provision of aid
  • Travel is for business / employer
  • Travelling to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia
  • Travelling outside Australia for a compellint reason, for three months or longer
  • Travelling on compassionate or humanitarian grounds
  • Travel is in the national interest

Departing Hong Kong to the United Kingdom

 

Entry Restrictions

• Foreign nationals who have stayed in or transited through any coutnry on the travel ban red list countries in the past 10 days, are not allowed to enter the United Kingdom

Quarantine Measures

• The government of the United Kingdom have a 'traffic light' system which will determine a passenger's pre-departure and post arrival quarantine / self-isolation obligations 
• Self-isolation or quarantine requirements will depend on a passenger's travel history in the past 10 days
  • For travel to England, the latest information can be found on the UK Government website
  • If you are travellling to Scotland, Wales or Norther Ireland, please see the respective government websites for specific arrangements 
• Passengers who are required to self-isolate may be able to shorten their isolation period by paying for a private COVID-19 test on day 5

Pre-departure COVID-19 Test

• All passengers aged 11 years or above, arriving in and transferring through the UK are required to take a COVID-19 test conducted within 3 days of their scheduled flight departure.

Post-arrival COVID-19 Testing Package

• When travelling to England, if, in the 10 days before a passenger arrives, they have been in a country on the: 
  • Green list - before departure, must pre-book and pre-pay for one post arrival COVID-19 test. This must be taken on or before day 2 of arrival in England
  • Amber list - before departure, must pre-book and pre-pay for two post arrival COVID-19 tests. These must be taked on day 2 and day 8 after arrival. Passengers must also self isolate for 10 days at the place they are staying. 
  • Red list - must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days and take two post-arrival COVID-19 tests. The Government assisted hotel package must be pre-booked and paid for before departure to the UK. Only British and Irish nationals and those with residence rights in the UK are permitted to travel from red list countries. 
• Passengers are able to choose their own testing provider for their post arrival tests. A list of known testing facilities can be found on the UK government website. 
• Confirmation details of these pre-booked tests must be entered in the Passenger Locator Form - which all passengers must complete in the 72 hours before departure to the UK 

Passenger Locator Form (PLF)

• All passengers travelling to or transiting through the UK are required to present a completed Passenger Locator Form (PLF) upon check-in.
• As this form requires a seat number, passengers are asked to check-in online before coming to the airport and then complete the form. Online check-in opens 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the flight.

Additional Entry Requirements

• It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in the UK.
• You may be requested to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival. Please check the exempt countries list immediately before you travel as this list can change at short notice. 
• If you are required to self-isolate, you may be able to shorten the self-isolation period by opting itno a test to release scheme depending on which part of the UK you are in.

 

Departing Hong Kong to Other Countries

Each country has different travel restrictions and quarantine procedures.

Be sure to book your flights with Charlotte Travel and contact one of our Travel Advisors to help you check these travel restrictions and quarantine procedures.