COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Eswatini‌ (10 April Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Eswatini citizens and permanent residents are allowed to enter the country.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes

• Foreigners are allowed to enter the country.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes with exceptions

• All arrivals will need to undergo health screenings upon arrival.

• Inbound passengers without a COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued within 72 hours prior to departure or having any symptoms, will be tested upon arrival at their own cost. However, travellers arriving from South Africa and Mozambique without a negative COVID-19 PCR certificate may be sent back to their country of origin to take the PCR test.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes

• Test certificates obtained outside of Eswatini are accepted.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• Inbound passengers should have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate (hard copy) issued at most 72 hours prior to departure for Eswatini. A Rapid Antigen Test result will not be accepted for entry to the country.

• Outbound passengers also will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate no more than 72 hours prior to travel at their own expense.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• Travellers may be required to undergo a quarantine not exceeding 14 days or isolation as advised by the port health officers. These restrictions do not apply to drivers for cross-border commerce.

• Based on the above restriction, all incoming travellers will be subjected to zero days of quarantine in the best-case scenario and 14 days of quarantine in the worst-case scenario.

Is a vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not required for entry into the country.

Insurance required?

• No

• Proof of insurance coverage for COVID-19 expenses is not required to enter the country.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• Flights to Eswatini have resumed operations on limited routes with reduced frequency.

Border restrictions

• Significant

• All inbound passengers will be required to provide details about the country of origin and any transit stops upon arriving in Eswatini.

• Non-essential travel outside the country is prohibited. Travel will be allowed only for medical, work, business, and schooling purposes.

• Freight transport across the border will not be allowed between the curfew hours. Essential services will not be affected.

• South Africans and permitted foreign nationals are allowed to cross into Eswatini.

• Land border crossings such as Ngwenya, Mahamba, Lavumisa, Mananga, and Matsamo are open.

• Health screening procedures are in place at other ports of entry.

Curfew restrictions

• Significant

• There is a curfew in effect from 20:00-04:00 (local time).

Social distancing restrictions

• Minimal

• Maintaining a 1.5-meter distance between individuals is mandatory.

• Gatherings of up to 100 persons are allowed at all religious and community gatherings, including weddings with adherence to all social distancing and sanitization protocols.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Public transportation is allowed to resume with full capacity; however, passengers are not allowed to stand.

• No passenger should board public transport without a face mask.

Non-essential shops open?

• No with exceptions

• Essential businesses, such as grocery stores, hospitals, and pharmacies are open. Banks are open.

• All businesses must close by 18:00 (local time).

Accommodations open?

• No with exceptions

• Some hotels are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Bars are allowed to operate. However, the sale of alcohol will be permitted only for home consumption between Mondays to Thursdays from 09:00-17:00 (local time).

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Places of worship are open with limited capacity.

Events allowed?

• No

• Private parties are restricted.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Face masks are mandatory everywhere, even when travelling alone in a car.

Other

• Schools are allowed to partially reopen.

• People over 60 years or those with chronic diseases are not allowed to attend any sort of public gatherings.

• Manufacturing companies with international business may operate under the guidelines of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health.

• The medevac destination of choice for travellers in Eswatini is South Africa. However, South Africa is not allowing patients diagnosed with COVID-19 or those displaying symptoms of COVID-19 to enter their country.

The COVID-19 epidemic is changing constantly worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.