The Foreign Office (FCO) has updated travel rules and advice for Brits heading to Portugal, Croatia, Jamaica and Sri Lanka over the past few days. The new advice comes into force immediately and will affect holidaymakers with trips booked this summer.
Covid entry requirements have changed for Portugal, though regulations remain in place for the Azores. Croatia has updated it's passport requirements in line with other countries in the Schengen area like Spain and France.
Jamaica and Sri Lanka have both seen 'states of emergency' declared in recent weeks. The FCO has now updated guidelines for holidaymakers visiting those areas.
Read More: Portugal covid travel update as rules change for UK tourists
Latest travel advice for Portugal
Mainland Portugal has dropped all Covid entry requirements, meaning Brits can now enter the country without needing to show any proof of vaccination or being tested for Covid-19. The move is likely to see unvaccinated Brits flock to destinations including Lisbon, Madeira, and The Algarve.
Portugal has joined the first European countries to drop all travel entry restrictions for Covid. Countries to have dropped the entry requirements so far include Germany, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Austria, Estonia, and Greece.
The Foreign Office’s latest travel advice for Portugal states: “There are no COVID vaccination or testing requirements for entry to mainland Portugal, Madeira and Porto Santo.”
However, those (over the age of 11) travelling to Portugal’s autonomous region of the Azores - a group of islands in the mid-Atlantic - will need to provide proof of their fully vaccinated status. Alternatively, they may show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding, a negative rapid lateral flow test taken no more than 24 hours before boarding, or a recovery certificate showing you had Covid between 180 and 11 days before travelling.
Latest travel advice for Croatia
Croatia has also fully reopened to tourists, removing all of their Covid-19 entry requirements in May of this year. However, it has recently clarified its rules on British Nationals visiting without a visa.
Brits are permitted to travel in Croatia for 90 days visa-free. Croatia is not part of the Schengen area but applies a similar rule on visas, so don’t get caught out if travelling for extended periods.
The Foreign Office’s latest travel advice for Croatia states : “Croatia is not part of the Schengen area, but does apply Schengen rules of entry. If you have been banned from entering Schengen countries, you will not be allowed to enter Croatia.
“Visits to other EU or Schengen countries do not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit in Croatia. Visits to Croatia do not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit in the Schengen area.
“You can travel to Croatia for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.”
Latest travel advice for Jamaica
Although Brits travelling to Jamaica are no longer required to show a negative test prior to boarding, they may still be tested or screened for Covid-19 on arrival if deemed high-risk. The Foreign Office’s latest travel update for Jamaica announced the end of the ‘State of Emergency’ in the country’s St Catherine parish.
A state of emergency was announced in St Catherine, a parish in the south east of Jamaica, by its Prime Minister Andrew Holness on June 17 after a flare up of violence. The state of emergency has now come to an end.
The Foreign Office’s latest travel advice for Jamaica states : “There are high levels of crime and violence, particularly in the capital Kingston. As part of security enhancement measures, the government of Jamaica may impose a State of Emergency (SoE) with little warning.
“A SoE allows the military to support the police in joint security operations in response to recent violence and shooting incidents. Police and military checkpoints may be established on roads, and full cooperation with security forces is recommended.”
Latest travel advice for Sri Lanka
The latest Foreign Office travel advice for Sri Lanka warns travellers of the “severe economic crisis” that is ongoing in the country. The country is experiencing food, fuel, and medicine shortages that have led to “violent unrest”, the Foreign office states.
The Foreign Office’s latest travel advice for Sri Lanka states : “Sri Lanka is experiencing a severe economic crisis which has led to shortages of basic necessities including medicines, cooking gas, fuel and food because of a shortage of hard currency to pay for imports. There is a major shortage of fuel (diesel and petrol) affecting transport, businesses, and emergency services.
“There are daily power cuts due to electricity rationing. This has led to protests and violent unrest. Further protests, demonstrations, roadblocks and violent unrest could occur at short notice.”
Some Covid-19 entry restrictions are still in place for British citizens entering Sri Lanka. Fully vaccinated travellers will not need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test before arrival, however they will need to show a printed version of the UK’s “proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record”.
Unvaccinated travellers above the age of 12 will need to show a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours of embarking, or a negative Rapid Antigen Test report, taken within 48 hours before embarking. Self-swab tests are not recognised in Sri Lanka.
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