Which countries will allow vaccinated tourists and UK visitors this summer?

As the COVID-19 vaccinations roll out across the globe, the tides are finally turning on many a travel ban or border closure. Suffice to say, we are pretty keen to see the end of them, and we bet you are too. 

So now, the big question is how are countries handling vaccinated visitors? Who’s opening up, are there new processes in place and if so – what are they?

The EU announced that they are working on a ‘digital green pass’, which will allow vaccinated or immune citizens to travel freely throughout participating countries. More details on that will be out on March 17th. 

We'll present this month a legislative proposal for a Digital Green Pass. The aim is to provide:

•Proof that a person has been vaccinated
•Results of tests for those who couldn’t get a vaccine yet
•Info on COVID19 recovery

It will respect data protection, security & privacy

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 1, 2021

We’ve put together a bit of a list with a rundown on each country that is allowing UK visitors (or soon will) and how they are currently processing both vaccinated and non vaccinated visitors. 

*Note: things can always change quickly with COVID-19, so always make sure to check the relevant government websites to ensure nothing has changed before planning or leaving for your trip. The FCDO page is a good source of entry requirements for all major countries.

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua does have some potential quarantine rules. However, in practice, tourists arriving with pre-booked hotel accommodation from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s Approved List will normally be permitted to travel to their accommodation after screening and be allowed to move around the country providing they adhere to local social distancing measures

• Vaccinated: No changes as yet to policy.
• Not vaccinated: All passengers older than 12 need proof of a negative COVID-19 test no older than seven days. There is also a health declaration form to be filled out.

Barbados

• Vaccinated: No changes as yet to policy.
• Not vaccinated: Visitors must provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure.  New arrivals must then undergo a rapid test at the airport, and quarantine in government-approved facilities such as hotels and private villas for five days until the negative PCR results have been received. This is supposed to take up to 48 hours but has taken a lot longer at times.

Belize

You will need to book your stay at an approved Gold Standard accommodation.

• Vaccinated: Vaccinated travellers can travel to Belize and only need to present a vaccination record card, with final dose completed at least two weeks before their arrival into Belize. There is also a health travel app that must be downloaded and filled out before arrival.
• Not vaccinated: Non-vaccinated travellers must continue to present a negative COVID-19 test to enter Belize, taken up to 96 hours prior to arrival.

Costa Rica

• Vaccinated: No changes as yet to policy.
• Not vaccinated: Costa Rica currently has no restrictions on visitors, and don’t require a negative test or quarantine. Visitors will have to fill out the digital HEALTH PASS form which is available from 48 hours prior to departure. Specific travel insurance must also be purchased complete with COVID-19 cover.

Croatia

• Vaccinated: Reportedly considering allowing British travellers to visit from May onwards if they have had a Covid vaccine.
• Not vaccinated: Currently UK citizens aren’t allowed to visit Croatia until at least 15 March 2021.

Cuba

Cuba is said to be considering offering vaccines to tourists if their own vaccine is successful and approved. 

• Vaccinated: No changes yet to policy.  
• Not vaccinated: All travellers to Cuba will be required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result certificate, taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Cuba. New arrivals must then undergo a test at the airport, and quarantine in a hotel for five days until two separate negative PCR results have been received.

Cyprus

• Vaccinated: Cyprus recently announced it will open its borders to vaccinated tourists from May. Those who have had a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – including Pfizer or AstroZeneca – will be allowed to enter without the need for a negative test or quarantine.
• Not vaccinated: Currently UK citizens aren’t allowed to visit Cyprus. I would expect more clarification about unvaccinated UK tourists shortly. Last year they were allowed UK visitors with a PCR test. 

Estonia

• Vaccinated: 10-day self-isolation and Covid-19 testing are not mandatory for individuals, including those arriving from the UK or a third country, who either have suffered from Covid-19 and no more than six months have passed since they have been declared cured, or who have undergone Covid-19 vaccination and no more than six months have passed since its completion.
• Not vaccinated: provide a negative COVID-19 test undertaken no more than 72 hours before departure or to take a test on arrival.

France

• Vaccinated: PCR test 72 hours before – no concessions yet
• Not vaccinated: PCR test 72 hours before

Greece

• Vaccinated: British travellers will be subject to rapid testing on arrival but are not expected to need to provide a negative test prior to travel. 
• Not vaccinated: Visitors must complete a form, provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test (taken within 72 hours prior) upon arrival, take a rapid test at the airport upon arrival, and then self-isolate for 7 days (if negative).  
• Immune: (had covid) Same as vaccinated but no firm details yet

Iceland

• Vaccinated: Iceland are allowing visitors who have proof of vaccination or immunity (had covid) to skip the country’s quarantine and testing requirements. The test results must be from 14 days ago or more. However, they are still only allowing visitors who are already allowed to visit: sadly, UK visitors are still not allowed to visit, vaccinated or not.
• Non vaccinated: UK visitors are currently not allowed to visit Iceland. If for essential purposes, standard quarantine and testing requirements apply. From 1 May that it expected to change to the EU risk categories. The UK is currently amber which would mean a 5-day quarantine but by then we could well be within the green category which would mean you just need to present a negative PCT test. 

Ireland

• Vaccinated: No changes to policy as yet.
• Not vaccinated: UK citizens can visit Ireland but must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test (taken within 72 hours prior) upon arrival, and then quarantine for 14 days.

Madeira

Currently, you can only enter Madeira from the UK if you are a national, a resident or are travelling for essential reasons. 

• Vaccinated:  tourists vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 up to 90 days ago can enter with no testing at all. To be eligible, you must prove your status through one of two documents:
  • Proof of Covid-19 recovery in the last 90 days, validated by the respective country of origin, stating the name, date of birth, health number, type and date of the test and explicit mention of ‘recovered’.
  • The official vaccination certificate for each country is accepted which includes the date of the two doses taken and respect for the immunisation period according to instructions for each vaccine. (this could be an interesting one for the UK given the extended interval of the Pfizer vaccine which is somewhat controversial). 
• Not vaccinated: PCR test

Maldives

• Vaccinated: No changes as yet to policy.
• Not vaccinated: Visitors must provide a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours prior to arrival. There is also a government health form that needs to be filled out prior to departure.

Mexico

• Vaccinated: No changes as yet to policy.
• Not vaccinated: Currently there are no restrictions on visiting Mexico, and travellers do not need to provide any test results or undergo quarantine. General airport screening is in place. Some hotels may require visitors to fill out a health form or questionnaire. 

Poland

• Vaccinated: The 10-day quarantine requirement for those travelling to Poland will be lifted for anyone who has been fully vaccinated. You will need to have a Covid test issued within 48 hours before arrival, but both PCR and antigen tests will be accepted.
• Not vaccinated:  Need to have a PCR test within 48 hours.

Romania

• Vaccinated/immune: UK nationals and those resident in the UK are not allowed to enter Romania unless they have had both doses of the vaccine at least ten days before they arrive in Romania or have had a positive test between 14 and 90 days before arrival.
• Not vaccinated: Not allowed except for essential reasons. 

Seychelles

• Vaccinated: Accepting vaccinated visitors from anywhere in the world from 25 March 2021. Visitors must show proof of vaccination with final dose taken at least two weeks prior to arrival. However, vaccinated visitors also still need to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test no less than 72 hours prior to arrival.
• Not vaccinated: Only visitors from a set list of ‘safe’ countries (not the UK) are allowed to enter and must still provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival.

Spain

• Vaccinated: Reportedly considering allowing British travellers to visit if they have had a Covid vaccine.
• Not vaccinated: Travel to Spain from the UK is restricted until 30th March. 

Saint Lucia

• Vaccinated: No changes as yet to policy.
• Not vaccinated: Visitors must provide a negative PCR test taken within 7 days prior to arrival. There is also a government health form that needs to be filled out prior to departure, and proof of COVID-certified hotel booking must also be presented.

Turkey

Expected to reopen for the UK on 17 May but not confirmed. 

• Vaccinated: Allowed for entry with no test (not confirmed)
• Not vaccinated: Visitors must provide a negative PCR test taken 

Turks and Caicos Islands

• Vaccinated: No changes as yet to policy.
• Not vaccinated: Travel plans require pre-travel authorisation via the Turks and Caicos Islands Assured Portal. Visitors will need to add their evidence of a negative Covid-19 test no older than five days, proof of travel insurance that includes Covid-19 cover and a completed health screening questionnaire.

Thailand

• Vaccinated: Reportedly considering allowing British travellers to visit if they have had a Covid vaccine and to shorten or even skip the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
• Not vaccinated: Currently not accepting visitors from the UK.

United Arab Emirates

• Vaccinated: No dispensation yet
• Not vaccinated: All tourists, visitors and residents travelling from or through the UK and arriving in Dubai or Abu Dhabi must have a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test which was taken no more than 72 hours before departure and present the certificate at check-in. Travellers arriving in Abu Dhabi will also be required to undertake a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival and quarantine for 10 days. Travellers arriving in Dubai may be required to undertake a further COVID-19 PCR test on arrival and will have to isolate pending the result of the COVID-19 PCR test