Holidays are back on the cards this year as several popular hotspots have eased their travel rules.
The UK's travel rules were already relaxed back in February and under new changes, fully vaccinated arrivals no longer need Covid tests before or after arriving in the UK.
For unvaccinated arrivals there are still pre-departure and post-arrival tests, although the requirement to self-isolate for 10 days has ended.
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Countries including Spain, Italy and Greece have eased restrictions in a welcome boost for travellers ahead of the Easter holidays.
From scrapping pre-departure forms to easing rules for unvaccinated travellers, it's now easier to go abroad amid the pandemic.
Here are the latest travel rules for Spain, Greece and Italy...
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Spain
Spain has changed its travel rules for holidaymakers that are yet to be fully vaccinated against Covid.
Previous rules meant that travellers who have received at least two doses of the vaccine were the only foreign visitors allowed to enter the country.
New rules announced by the Spanish government mean that unvaccinated tourists who have recovered from Covid in the last six months will now be allowed to enter.
Scots who fall under this bracket must show a medical certificate or recovery record to prove their Covid status at the border.
Travellers must also fill in a health control form, which is their equivalent of a passenger locator form, prior to travel over to Spain.
Children under the age of 12 are not required to show proof of vaccination or show their Covid recovery status before entry into Spain.
The updated rules on the Foreign Office website read: “Tourism: you must show valid proof of being fully vaccinated (with both doses of a two-dose vaccine or a dose of a one-dose vaccine) at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain.
“If you are traveling from the UK to Spain for tourism purposes, 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.”
Italy
Italy has changed its travel rules for vaccinated and recovered UK holidaymakers.
The UK's Foreign Office confirmed rules have been relaxed making travel abroad much easier.
In its latest update, on March 1, Italy announced it will no longer ask travellers to show both proof of vaccination or recovery from covid and a negative test result.
This means holidaymakers only need either a vaccination certificate, recovery certificate or just a negative test result.
According to the Foreign Office, 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
All arrivals from the UK into Sicily will need to undertake a rapid lateral flow test on arrival (administered by the local health authorities free of charge).
Adult travellers will need to complete a passenger locator form (EU PLF) to enter or travel through Italy as a visitor.
Accompanied minors can be registered on the form of the accompanying adult in the declaration section.
The EU PLF will generate a QR code which should be shown to your travel provider prior to boarding.
Regardless of your vaccination status, anyone arriving in Italy by air, land or by sea may be subject to random covid testing on arrival.
Greece
Greece is changing entry requirements for UK holidaymakers.
From March 15, travellers will no longer need to complete a passenger locator form in order to enter the country.
This means fully-vaccinated UK holidaymakers will only have to show proof of vaccination and don't have to fill in the document.
There are still test requirements for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers, who will have to show either proof of recovery or a negative Covid test result.
This involves a PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours, the Mirror reports.
It's worth noting that to be considered fully vaccinated, you'll need to have completed your 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.
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