Hong Kong updates list of countries where vaccination records of incoming travellers are accepted

閱讀中文版本

Other countries on the list include India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Hong Kong government has added South Africa to its list of countries from which it accepts vaccination records issued by the respective countries in a specified format.

The announcement came after discussions were concluded with the Government of South Africa. 

As such, effective 6 October 2021, vaccination records issued by South Africa will be taken as recognised vaccination records for Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Group A specified places under the mechanism. 

Thus, Hong Kong residents who hold vaccination records issued by the relevant authority of South Africa in the prescribed format can board a flight for Hong Kong from Group A specified places. Further, the vaccines for such travellers have to be vaccines listed on the HK Government's List of COVID-19 Vaccines Recognised for Specified Purposes.

South Africa currently falls under Hong Kong's Group A listed countries, which are classified as "high risk". Other countries on Group A include Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, and the US

In addition to South Africa, Hong Kong has reached recognition arrangements with 16 other countries/regions, whereby the vaccination records of incoming travellers may be recognised, but only if submitted in the precise format provided. These countries are:

1. Bangladesh
2. Brazil
3. Chile
4. India
5. Indonesia
6. Iran
7. Korea
8. Malaysia
9. Nepal
10. New Zealand
11. Pakistan
12. The Philippines
13. Russia
14. Singapore
15. South Africa
16. Thailand
17. The United Arab Emirates

Effective 20 August 2021, Hong Kong government has implemented strict prevention-and-control measures for inbound travellers arriving in Hong Kong from overseas places. All incoming travellers to Hong Kong must note the following (detailed guidelines here): 

1. Travellers who have stayed in Group A specified places on the day of boarding or in the 21 days before that day can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they are Hong Kong residents who are fully vaccinated and holding recognised vaccination records.
2. Recognised vaccination records include those issued by Hong Kong, Mainland or Macao authorities or an institution recognised by Mainland or Macao authorities, an authority or recognised institution of a country where its national regulatory authority is designated by the World Health Organization as a stringent regulatory authority, or a relevant authority or recognised institution of a country with which Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement.

The Government will continue to discuss on the arrangements for the recognition of vaccination records with other places, and will update the list once discussions have been finalised.

Image / 123RF

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