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Flying To Dubai? UAE Finally Lifts All Entry Requirements
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Last Updated 6 hours ago

UAE Removes All Travel Restrictions

The United Arab Emirates is the latest country to drop all entry requirements and remove internal COVID-related restrictions.

As of November 7, this Gulf state finally joins more than 120 countries that have gotten rid of travel restrictions, returning to normal travel.

The UAE is a popular tourist destination in the Middle East, with Dubai being the top place to visit in the country.

But up until this recent change, the UAE maintained strict entry requirements and internal restrictions that dissuaded many travelers from visiting for the past two and a half years.

In order to enter the country, travelers were required to comply with a myriad of restrictions in place.

However, as of November 7, all of these rules have been dropped.

What Does This Mean For Travelers?

Previously, visitors to the UAE were required to demonstrate proof of vaccination or present a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours of their arrival in order to enter the country.

Within the country a variety of COVID-related restrictions were in effect.

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This included indoor mask mandates, as well as the usage of a “Green Pass” on the Al Hosn app in order to enter most public places. These restrictions made travel within the country more difficult.

But according to an update from the Gulf Times, all of these internal restrictions have been dropped as of November 7, 2022.

Travel as usual has resumed in the UAE, making it easier to visit this Middle Eastern country once again.

Dubai is an extremely popular destination, and it’s also a common stopover on Emirates and Etihad flights which transit through this major travel hub.

With the previous restrictions in place, it was more difficult for travelers to visit the country.

Now, it’s a simple process. American and Canadian travelers do not need to apply for a visa to visit the UAE, and there are several nonstop flights available from the United States and Canada to Dubai.

Flights To Dubai

Ready to book a trip to the UAE? Here are some of the best flights available from the United States and Canada.

Prices were determined by Google Flights for the best fare on a one-week round-trip flight within the next six months.
- New York to Dubai: $884 on United Airlines
- Toronto to Dubai: $917 on Air Canada
- Los Angeles to Dubai: $1,292 on Emirates
- Miami to Dubai: $1,253 on Emirates
Flights on Emirates may also qualify for the airline’s Dubai Connect stopover program, which provides travelers with layovers of between 10 and 24 hours a free hotel room and airport transfer.

This is a great way to explore Dubai on a short stopover before making your way to another destination on Emirates.

Dubai is a popular stopover on trips to destinations further afield in Asia.

Why Visit The UAE?

The UAE has exploded in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years, specifically its largest city of Dubai.

Dubai has expanded rapidly in the past two decades, with a focus on tourism and luxury. Some of the most extravagant hotels in the world are in Dubai, and the city is also known as a luxury shopping paradise.

Some of the top things to do in Dubai include visiting the Burj Khalifa, which currently holds the title as the tallest building in the world and shopping at the Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world.

Although Dubai is a glitzy and glamorous city, you’re never too far from the desert, which makes 4×4 desert off-roading another popular activity.

The capital city of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, is another ultra-modern, ultra-luxury destination in the country that is worth a visit.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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November 10, 2022
Brazil Lifts Ban On Unvaccinated Americans
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Last Updated 38 mins ago

Brazil just took a huge step in reinstating pre-Covid normality after spending months in the company of some of the world’s most restrictive countries. More specifically, it finally lifted its ban on unvaccinated visitors, including Americans, allowing in all foreigners once again with some restrictions.

During the early days of the pandemic, Brazil maintained an open border policy, much like Mexico and the Caribbean nations, although it still required tests of visitors. However, things changed drastically when vaccines became widely available, and the country, where vaccine uptake is incredibly high, shut its doors to those choosing not to get the shot.

Luckily, as of this week, the unvaxxed can start exploring Brazil again by fulfilling one simple requirement:

Unvaxxed Americans Are Welcome Again On One Simple Condition

A new decree published on September 12 changed guidelines for Americans traveling to Brazil. While the process has always been pretty straightforward, with no post-arrival testing or strict quarantine rules applying, South America’s number one nation did start turning away unvaxxed travelers in late 2021 at the peak of the Omicron wave.

Essentially, the group was no longer authorized to board flights to the country, as they once had been, by using a negative Covid test as proof of entry. This outright ban lasted a whole nine months, dating back to December 10 of last year and shunning more than 73 million Americans who have opted for not getting immunized.

Heading into the fall in the Northern Hemisphere and the early days of Brazil’s long, hot summer months, the strict vaccine rule, which placed the country side by side with the Netherlands, Canada and the like, has been done away with. Brazilians authorities have loosened their border curbs and now expect tourists to produce only one of the following documents:
- Proof of vaccination; or
- A negative Covid test undertaken one day prior to boarding.
How Many Doses Are Required To Fit The Vaccination Criteria?

Two doses are enough, or one in Janssen’s case.

Brazil considers Americans to be fully vaccinated when they have fulfilled the initial immunization scheme of any Anvisa-approved vaccines, other brands that have been certified by the World Health Organization, or even by equivalent health organs in specific countries. Anvisa is the equivalent to the States’ own Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

In sum, Brazil accepts all popular vaccination certificates issued worldwide, most notably Pfizer’s, Moderna’s, Janssen’s, Sinovac’s and others. The decree states that, in order to be deemed valid, vaccination proof must contain the recipient’s name, the vaccine brand or information about its manufacturer, as well as the number of doses given and their precise dates.

Both printed and electronic certificates are accepted, but it is worth noting Brazilian border officers will not accept QR-code only certificates without any specifications. If you qualify as a vaccinated traveler and plans on using a digital certificate as proof of entry, make sure it includes all of the relevant information described in the paragraph above.

What Covid Tests Are Accepted As Proof Of Entry?

On the other hand, if a traveler cannot present proof of vaccination, they will no longer be refused boarding, but must present a negative Covid test result, issued by a laboratory, taken at most one day prior to the departure time. The unvaccinated can choose between the more-detailed PCR, or the Rapid Antigen tests.

Other than that, all of the following is true:
- Travelers are not required to complete an entry form
- There is no post-arrival testing for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated
- No quarantine applies to travelers arriving from abroad
- There are no restrictions on inter-state travel within Brazil
- The mandatory use of face masks in planes, public transport, airports and other public settings has been lifted*
*Different Brazilian states, cities and municipalities have their own jurisdiction which may, or may not, countermand the Federal mandate. If you’re unsure whether masks are still required in a particular state or at your final destination, we advised you obtain confirmation from local authorities.

Brazil Is Yet To Fully Reopen Like Argentina, But It’s Getting Seriously Close To It

This isn’t yet a full reopening in the mold of neighboring Argentina or the fellow Portuguese-speaking Portugal, but it serves as evidence Brazil is indeed pursuing a path of wider reopening, unlike other American nations that not only continue banning unvaccinated Americans, but are going as far as tightening rules further.

Besides lifting the controversial ban, the tropical gem has said yes to cruise ships and proved it is on top of the latest travel trends, being the proud home of South America’s first-ever digital nomad village. Of course, we want to see Brazil resume tourism as usual with zero requirements for all, but until that day comes, we will savor every smaller win.

Read More:

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Brazil To Launch New Digital Nomad Visas For Up To 2 Years

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This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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September 14, 2022
Thailand Lifts All Mask Requirements Both Indoors And Outdoors
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Once one of the strictest countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand has been progressively easing its Covid mandates in recent weeks. After removing the Thailand Pass, an entry authorization visitors had to apply for before entering, the country has now lifted all mask requirements, both indoors and outdoors, being the freest it’s ever been in over two years.

With immediate effect, mask usage has ceased being compulsory within Thailand, allowing the aptly named ‘Land of Smiles‘ to smile once again. In a continent mired in restrictions, where the virus is still treated as an imminent threat and travel heavily curtailed, the nation is one of a select few to have relaxed some of the most stringent measures.

As a matter of fact, removal of mandatory masks is further proof Thailand is changing approach and slowly moving towards an imminent declaration of Covid as an endemic disease:

Tourists Can Explore Thailand Mask Free As Of June 2022

On June 23, 2022, the Thai government revoked the mask mandate across the country, following an official ordinance signed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha easing certain pandemic regulations. As the announcement published in the Royal Gazette reads, from the aforementioned date, ‘the wearing of hygienic or cloth masks shall be voluntary‘.

According to an official source at the Public Health Ministry, the entity responsible for handling the crisis in Thailand, ‘the lifting of the mask requirement applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces‘. To put it simply, tourists will no longer be expected to wear coverings when strolling the busy streets of Bangkok, or relaxing at Krabi;s paradise beaches.

While they confer some protection against Covid, having been widely used throughout the pandemic, masks have long been associated with discomfort, especially in Western countries like the U.S., where the practice was not common prior to 2020, and particularly warmer, humid environments, like Thailand.

Now, both tourists and residents in Thailand will be able to travel the country mask-free, and without being subject to the much criticized restrictions on movement that had been in place up until recently. With each passing day, tourism in Thailand is edging towards a pre-pandemic state of normality as the nation quickly outpaces its neighbors in reopening.

Right now, mask usage is no longer enforced in all of the following settings:
- Clubs
- Bars
- Restaurants
- Nightclubs
- Museums, temples and other cultural sites
- All outdoor areas, including public beaches
What About Public Transport And Flights?

At this moment, we have not been able to confirm the ordinance applies to public transport as well, as there is no mention of that in the Royal Gazette. Thai Airways, the country’s flag-carrier, maintains that ‘masks must be worn at all times’ in airports, while Bangkok’s privately-owned metro service confirmed commuters would still have to wear them.

Although the mask requirement has been lifted on a national level, private companies and certain entertainment venues may continue enforcing their usage. Additionally, the Health Ministry has re-issued a recommendation that people should wear masks in ‘crowded or poorly ventilated areas’, despite the nonbinding nature of the statement.

Tourists who may be at a ‘high risk’ of experiencing severe Covid symptoms are also urged to pack enough masks. The list includes the elderly, aged 60 and above, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, respiratory, cardiovascular or kidney diseases, and individuals yet to be fully immunized.

Is Thailand A Safe Destination Right Now?

As reported by Reuters, Thailand’s infection figures are totaling only 8% of the April 4 peak and falling, or only 2,094 new infections on average per day. So far, Thailand has administered nearly 140 million doses of the Covid vaccine, enough to have immunized roughly 99.5% of the population, a higher rate than several Western World countries.

The downward trend, coupled with the successful vaccination campaign and the broader relaxation of rules, gives strong indication that the country is now a safe destination to visit. It also menas the Thai Government’s plan of moving several tourist hotspots, including Phuket, to the endemic phase could materialize soon.

As things stand, social life and tourism have already resumed. In order to enter Thailand quarantine-free from July 1, travelers must present one of the following documents:
- A valid vaccination certificate; or
- A negative ATK/RT-PCR test result issued in the previous 72 hours
Applying for the Thailand Pass and taking out health insurance is no longer mandatory. However, as cancellations plague the industry and travel disruption aggravates, we seriously recommend you get insured ahead of flying to Thailand in order to avoid getting stranded on a trip to South East Asia – or worse.

Read More:

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Non-Stop Flights From North America To Thailand Returns After 10 Years

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Top 5 Off Path Places To Travel In Thailand For 2022

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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June 27, 2022