We are collecting updates in a forum thread on the coronavirus travel situation in Central Asia and the wider Silk Road. You are still very welcome to chime in there, but there was too much information to convey, so I made a separate page.
We will keep updating (last update: ). But keep in mind: situation might have already changed!
Good general resources
Look at these ones first. These people are updating very meticulously.
- International SOS has excellent updates on the travel situation worldwide.
- Roadpioneer also has a great overview.
- Eurasianet has a dashboard with coronavirus news in Eurasia.
Country restrictions
Abkhazia
All foreigners are banned from entering.
Armenia
Border with Iran is closed. Border with Georgia closed until April 1st.
Azerbaijan
Border with Iran has closed. Border with Georgia closed until April 1st. No visas currently being issued.
China
Closed for all foreigners since March 28.
Visa extension inside P.R.C. after 2 March 2020
ALL foreigners with ALL types of visas get AUTOMATIC extension of 60 days FOR FREE.
Until further notice, “automatic” means that no intervention at/by PSB is required: the 60 days start after expiration of the old visa (or its extension date). “Until further notice” means “the end of 60 days depends on whether NIA issues new regulation, may change if epidemic is over” (see below for NIA).
Arrival in P.R.C.
All passengers, incl. P.R.C. citizens, arriving must make a health declaration and are transported to quarantine at home, with host(ess) or designated hotel (per day RMB 400 + 80 food, at own expense) for 14 days. Penalties when caught outside quarantine. Suspected cases are brought to hospital for free treatment.
Diverted flights
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said it would divert all international flights bound for Beijing to 12 other Chinese cities as an epidemic prevention and control measure.
Since March 23rd, all international passenger flights for all destinations in Beijing must enter from 12 designated entry points: Tianjin(TJN), Shijiazhuang(SJW), Taiyuan(TYN), Hohhot(HET), Shanghai Pudong(PVG), Ji’nan(TNA), Qingdao(TAO), Nanjing(NKG), Shenyang(SHE), Dalian(DLC), Zhengzhou(CGO), Xi’an(XIA).
Passengers taking the above international flights will conduct quarantine inspection at the first entry point and go through the entry formalities to clear their luggage. Passengers who are eligible for boarding can travel to Beijing on the original flight. The cargo carried in the abdominal compartment will be cleared at Beijing.
The first entry point designated for each airline are hereby listed:
- Air China (CA) :Tianjin (TJN), Shijiazhuang (SJW), Hohhot (HET), Qingdao (TAO), Shenyang (SHE), Dalian (DLC), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Zhengzhou (CGO), Xi’an (XIA).
- China Southern (CZ): Ji’nan (TNA), Shenyang (SHE)
- Hainan Airlines (HU): Taiyuan (TYN)
- Emirates (EK): Shanghai Pudong (PVG)
- Etihad (EY): Xi’an (XIA)
- Ethiopian Airlines (ET): Taiyuan (TYN)
- Korean Air (KE): Qingdao (TAO)
- Aeroflot (SU): Tianjin (TJN)
- Asiana Airlines (OZ): Dalian (DLC)
- Air Asia (D7): Zhengzhou (CGO)
- Thai Airways (TG): Shijiazhuang (SJW)
- Singapore Airlines (SQ): Nanjing (NKG)
Hong Kong
From 25/03 ALL foreigners will be banned from arriving in Hong Kong. Arrivals from Macau and Taiwan will have to undergo testing and go into 14 days quarantine (like arrivals from anywhere else). This ban will be for 2 weeks.
Same measure as above (except arrivals from Macau and Taiwan), but with mandatory bracelet provided in the airport upon arrival for checking by authorities that your quarantine is not violated. If in designated hotel: 200 HKD per day (all in). Violators have been fined and/or got prison term.
Suspected cases are brought to hospital with free treatment.
From Hongkong it is possible to cross into mainland by land border with 14 days quarantine and vice versa also with 14 days quarantine.
Hubei Province
Hubei Province is partially opened again, e.g. bus lines have resumed.
Travel inside P.R.C.
Entrance/flights/trains to certain provinces in PRC (e.g. Sichuan) means mandatory quarantine upon arrival for 14 days.
All official buildings, appartment buildings and most shops will measure your temperature and all must wear masks throughout P.R.C. Some places you have to show your phone to get clearance to enter.
Home visits by neighbourhood workers to check health and wellbeing.
Suspected cases will be brought to a hospital.
Georgia
The Georgian government has announced a temporary closure of its borders for all foreign citizens, with exceptions, to avoid the further spread of the Covid-19 virus, until April 1st.
Georgia and Turkey will maintain flights through March 20.
Iran
All borders with neighbouring countries are closed. No flights.
Kazakhstan
Until 15th of April all borders will be closed.
If you visited one of the most-affected countries recently, you will be denied entry to Kazakhstan. This might also include people who have these passports but haven’t been there for a while, it depends on who is guarding the border that day.
Almaty and Nur-Sultan are in quarantine regime. The rules will limit movement in and out of the cities, also for people living in them.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan has closed for all foreigners. Exit visas for foreigners overstaying will cost 60$ + 10 000 som.
Mongolia
Border with China closed for cars and pedestrians. All flights into and out of Mongolia are cancelled between 11 and 28 March.
Road crossings between Mongolia and Russia are suspended from 10 March until 31 March and rail crossings until 28 March.
Foreign visitors may be asked to take medical checks upon arrival and may be quarantined for up to 14 days by the local authorities.
Russia
Russia has banned the entry of foreign nationals and stateless people from March 18 to May 1 in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the government said. The ban will not apply to diplomatic representatives, airplane crew members and some other categories of people
Latest info at https://ru.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
Tajikistan
All land borders closed. All flights suspended.
Assume that both citizens of these countries and travelers who were recently in these countries will be quarantined for 14 days: China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Afghanistan, France, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, United States.
Turkmenistan
No tourists at all are allowed into Turkmenistan until the end of April.
Uzbekistan
All flights are cancelled from March 16 until April 5. Foreigners can overstay their visa until April 10.
Border with Afghanistan is closed. All other borders only passable on foot.
Citizens of China, Korea, Italy, Iran, France, or Spain, or who has visited these countries in the last 14 days, cannot cross the border.
https://uzbekistan.travel/n/order-of-st … ronavirus/ says:
All citizens (regardless of which country they belong to) arriving on a charter flight or other specialized transport from China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Afghanistan and Japan are quarantined in specialized medical institutions for 14 calendar days under the supervision of medical personnel.
– all citizens arriving in Uzbekistan by direct flight, in transit from Afghanistan, Japan, the USA, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan undergo an initial examination, and if no signs of the virus are detected would be placed in isolation at home (residential building, apartment, hotel).
Can I start making travel plans?
At this time, it is very difficult to say when the world will open up again. Not anytime soon, though, that seems clear now.
We’d love to know your opinion, though. Let us know when you think Central Asia / the Silk Road / the world will open up again.