As coronavirus cases start to wane, many of us are hoping to get away this year.
A growing list of countries have recently eased their covid travel restrictions, while airlines such as Jet2, TUI and Ryanair have already said bookings for Spain and the Canary Islands have increased over the past few months. And it's not just foreign nations that are making travel easier.
Passenger Locator Forms - which must be completed by all UK arrivals - are expected to be scrapped ahead of the Easter break. The expected move is set to boost the UK's tourism industry.
READ MORE: 25 countries British tourists are still banned from
Some regulations do remain in place in most destinations, however these are easing. Greece was the most recent European country to relax its entry requirements ahead of the Easter holidays.
The popular hotspot has announced arrivals will no longer need to fill out the pre-travel form to enter the country. The change comes into force from today (March 15) - and means fully vaccinated Brits will only need to show proof of their vaccination.
To be considered fully vaccinated, holidaymakers will need to have completed their full course at least 14 days before travel. If your vaccination was completed over nine months ago, you'll also need a booster jab to qualify.
Holidaymakers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will still need to show either proof of recovery, or a negative covid test result. This can be either a PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours.
Here, we take a look at the rules for other destinations that are popular with British tourists.
Spain
Before travelling to Spain, everyone travelling by air or sea must fill in and sign an online Health Control Form. If you are traveling from the UK to Spain for tourism purposes, you must show valid proof of being fully vaccinated (with both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a one-dose vaccine) at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain.
If you are not fully vaccinated but have recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months, you can also use a medical certificate or recovery record to prove your COVID-19 status on entry to Spain.
Requirements are country specific.
You may get a minimum fine of €3000 if you do not comply with the requirements.
France
Travellers from the UK no longer need to present a negative PCR or antigen test result before travel. Fully vaccinated travellers aged 12 and over must continue to provide:
- Proof of vaccination. Further details on what counts as being fully vaccinated can be found below
- A sworn statement (déclaration sur l’honneur) self-certifying you’re not suffering from COVID-19 symptoms and haven’t been in contact with confirmed cases in the 14 days prior to travel.
France will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record at the border. Your final vaccine dose must have been administered at least seven days prior to travel for Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or 28 days after the second dose of Johnson & Johnson.
Travellers from the UK to France who are not fully vaccinated no longer need to self-isolate on arrival. Travellers who are not fully vaccinated need to provide:
- A completed international travel certificate to prove the reason for essential travel (not required for children under 18 who are accompanied by vaccinated adults). This can be found on the French government’s website (in English). In exceptional circumstances, the French Consulate in London may be able to assist with travel for a compelling reason not listed as an ‘essential reason for travel’
- A negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours or an antigen test result taken within 48 hours pre-departure if aged 12 years and over.
- A sworn statement (déclaration sur l’honneur) self-certifying you’re not suffering from COVID-19 symptoms and haven’t been in contact with confirmed cases in the 14 days prior to travel.
Brits looking to visit France will no longer need to wear face masks - or need a Covid vaccine pass - to access venues such as bars, restaurants, clubs and museums from the end of this month.
Portugal
Fully vaccinated travellers can enter Portugal without having to take a test.
If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ll need to show proof of a negative PCR test (taken no more than 72 hours before entry) or rapid lateral flow test (taken no more than 24 hours before entry) when you check in for your flight to mainland Portugal
If you’re not fully vaccinated and your airline allows you to travel to mainland Portugal without a negative test, you will be denied entry on arrival unless you’re legally resident. In this case, you’ll be allowed to enter but you’ll have to take a test at the airport at your own expense and you will be fined a minimum of €300.
If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 in the last year, you can enter mainland Portugal with a COVID-19 recovery certificate showing you recovered from COVID-19, no less than 11 days and no more than 180 days before you travel. You will not need to take a test.
Italy
Adult travellers will need to complete a passenger locator form (EU PLF) to enter or travel through Italy as a visitor. All travellers, aged six and over, must show either:
- proof of vaccination OR
- evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before entering Italy or a negative rapid lateral flow test taken within the 48 hours before entering Italy OR
- a COVID-19 recovery certificate, certifying that you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months
If you cannot present evidence of vaccination OR a negative test OR a COVID-19 recovery certificate, you will need to:
- travel to your final destination in Italy by private transport
- remain in self-isolation for five days
- call the COVID-19 - Regional telephone information hotline to notify the Prevention Department of the local health authority of your entry into Italy as you will be under medical supervision
- take another PCR or rapid lateral flow test at the end of the five days’ self-isolation. If the test is negative, you can leave self-isolation
Turkey
If you’re fully vaccinated, you can enter Turkey without needing to test or quarantine. At least 14 days must have passed since your second dose of the vaccine and the vaccine must be approved by the Turkish Ministry of Health or World Health Organization.
Turkey will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record and proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued in the Crown Dependencies.
If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ll need to show proof of a negative PCR test (taken no more than 72 hours before entry), rapid antigen test (taken no more than 48 hours before entry), or proof of a recent recovery from COVID-19 within the last six months, when entering Turkey.
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