Planning on flying to Bora Bora (or any other French Polynesian island) any time soon? The government of French Polynesia has introduced updated entry requirements regarding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
As of March 9, 2020, all travelers headed to the island chain will be required to provide a medical certificate not more than 5 days old proving the status of their health, regardless of nationality or last port of entry. The notice was published on Air Tahiti Nui’s website.
From March 9th, 2020, all passengers regardless of their nationality traveling to/via French Polynesia must carry a medical certificate no older than 5 days certifying their health condition, regardless of their port of departure.
This measure will be enforced until March 31st, 2020, at which date the government will decide on its possible renewal.
This decision could put a huge dent in travel plans as COVID-19 testing locations are still very limited, and getting a medical certificate could take some time.
Prior to March 9th, medical certificates were only required from passengers traveling through certain countries.
Before March 9th, 2020, travelers transiting through or that have visited one of the following countries within 30 days prior to their trip to French Polynesia:
- China
- Cambodia
- Hong-Kong
- India
- Japan
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Philippines
- Iran
- Italy: Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna
must carry a medical certificate no older than 5 days certifying their health condition, regardless of their port of departure. We therefore invite the concerned passengers to take the necessary measures prior to their flight.
For those transiting through the French Polynesian islands to the United States, non-American travelers will be denied entry if they are found to have entered or transited through Mainland China or Iran within the last 14 days of their departure date to the United States. Passengers will not be allowed to board an Air Tahiti Nui flight if they fall within that window.
By their definition, exemptions will be made for American citizens holding an American passport, and permanent residents holding a U.S. permanent resident card (green card) or a parole letter.
[Featured Photo: Didierlefort/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)]
