COVID-19 Travel Advisory Notice

The Solomon Islands Government has set our specific guidelines for travellers to Solomon Islands during the COVID-19 Pandemic period. These guidelines may change from time to time as the COVD-19 situation globally and in Solomon Islands changes. During the State of Public Emergency period, the SIG has established the COVID-19 Oversight Committee [OSC] to oversee its responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entry into Solomon Islands during this period.

1. Solomon Island Citizens (Solomon Island Passport Holders) may enter Solomon Islands freely during this period. All returning Citizens must comply with Solomon Islands’ strict pre-departure COVID-19 requirements.
2. The cost of mandatory quarantine and associated prescribed COVID-19 tests for Solomon Island Citizens are met by the government. Paragraph 15 lists the exceptions to this rule.
3. Non-Solomon Island Citizens must be approved by the Prime Minister and their names must be published in the Gazette before they can enter the country.
4. Non-Solomon Island Citizens must present documentary evidence of approval and compliance with Solomon Islands’ predeparture COVID-19 requirements before they can be boarded on flights to Solomon Islands.
5. In some circumstances non-Solomon Island Citizens may be allowed to enter the country on humanitarian grounds.
6. Each approval by the Prime Minister is valid for single entry only. The approval expires 3 months from the date of approval. A new approval must be sought if the approval expires before first entry.
7. The cost of mandatory quarantine and associated prescribed test for all non-Solomon Island Citizens are met by the individuals themselves or their employers.
8. All arriving travellers must have documented proof of negative PCR COVID-19 tests in accordance with our predeparture test requirements for the country they are travelling from to Solomon Islands [see paragraphs 9 and 10 below]. These results are to be emailed to nheoc_repat@moh.gov.sb.

Risk Classification of Countries

9. Solomon Islands has assigned risk classifications to countries where the traveller is travelling from. The risk classification determines the number of pre-departure negative COVID-19 tests the traveller needs to have before he/she can board a flight into Solomon Islands.
10. The COVID-19 predeparture test requirements are as follows:

11. An additional COVID-19 test will be done in the first 48 hours for travellers from COVID-19 free countries or COVID-19 low risk countries if they did not comply with their full pre-departure test requirements.
12. Travellers from the other risk categories that do not comply with pre-departure requirements will not be boarded on flights into Solomon Islands.
13. The COVID-19 ‘post arrival’ mandatory quarantine period and testing regimen based on risk profiles of countries are as follows:

14. Where a person tests positive for COVID-19 during the mandatory quarantine period, he/she will be shifted to an isolation facility. The mandatory quarantine period will be extended. The person will only be released after 3 consecutive negative tests taken 7 days apart following the positive test.
15. Where a person’s quarantine period is extended due to misbehaviour of the person, the cost of the additional length of stay at quarantine and the additional COVID-19 tests will be borne by the offender.

Breaches of the State of Public Emergency Regulations [SOPE] while in mandatory quarantine.

16. Solomon Island Citizens who breach the SOPE and associated instructions during the period of mandatory quarantine will:
    1. be formally charged after being released from the quarantine station
    2. meet the cost for accommodation and food for any extension to the quarantine period beyond the original quarantine dates, and
    3. meet the cost for any additional COVD-19 tests that resulted from the misdemeanour
17. Non-Solomon Island Citizens who breach the SOPE and associated instructions during the period of mandatory quarantine will, in addition to meeting the same penalties outlined in paragraph 16 (a-c) above be subjected to deportation

Quarantine Accommodation

18. Quarantine in Solomon Islands will be undertaken in Government approved Quarantine Stations
19. Allocation of quarantine accommodation will be done by the OSC Camp management based on advice from Health.
20. All travellers and/or their employers or sponsors are advised NOT to independently book for accommodation for any non-Solomon Island citizen entering the country.

Processing of applications for exemption from Non-Solomon Island Citizens

21. All applications from non-Solomon Island citizens to enter Solomon Islands that are not covered under agreed bilateral programs, diplomatic missions, agreed priority projects, Regional and Multilateral Organisations, SOEs and UN Agencies will attract USD100 [SBD$800] processing fee per application effective immediately.

Charges for COVID-19 Tests

22. All travellers [Citizens and non-Solomon Island Citizens] departing to countries requiring pre-departure COVID-19 tests will be charged a fee of SBD1,500 per test, payable at the Government Treasury and effective immediately.

Applications for pre-departure COVID-19 tests must use the prescribed form which can be collected at the NHEOC [National Health Emergency Operation Centre] at the Ministry of Health Headquarters.

23. Non-Solomon Island Citizens entering Solomon Islands will meet the cost of the ‘prescribed’ COVID-19 tests at a reduced rate of SBD 1,000 per test during the mandatory quarantine period.  
24. Payments for the prescribed tests can be made at the Government Treasury by the sponsors or employers and receipt of payment must be presented to the NHEOC for verification before the person can be released from quarantine station.
25. Where a non-Solomon Island Citizen is required to remain in quarantine for a longer period because of a positive infection, the cost for additional tests beyond the prescribed tests for that person will not be charged to the person.
26. Only the NHEOC can authorise predeparture tests. All tests must be collected at the venue designated by the NHEOC and by staff designated by the NHEOC.

Permission to Leave and / or re-enter Solomon Islands

27. Non-Solomon Island citizens departing Solomon Islands do not require permission to leave the country. However, any person planning to re-enter will require approval to re-enter the country.
28. To assist the OSC in its role of monitoring the movement of people at our international borders, Solomon Airlines, Immigration and Customs will provide information to the OSC on a fortnightly basis on non-Solomon Island citizens departing the country.
29. For Solomon Island citizens:
    1. non-public servants do not require permission to leave the country
    2. public servants need permission to leave the country.
30. All persons that depart Solomon Islands and plan to re-enter the country must comply with prescribed pre-departure COVID-19 requirements prior to re-entry.

Flights into Solomon Islands

31. The government has agreed for Solomon Airlines to operate a weekly joint cargo and passenger service on the Brisbane / Honiara / Brisbane route every Fridays.
32. All other passenger flights in and out of Solomon Islands are by way of repatriation or special charter flights. These flights must be approved by Prime Minister following recommendation by the OSC.

Yachts & Pleasure Crafts

33. All yachts and pleasure crafts are banned from entering Solomon Island waters indefinitely.

Mr James Remobatu
Secretary to Cabinet and Chair of OSC