The Easter holidays are here and to make the most of it, families across the UK are jetting off abroad to soak up some much-needed sunshine.
However while some have been getting out of the country hassle-free, others have had a harder time with easyJet and British Airways cancelling hundreds of flights leaving thousands stranded.
Because if this, people have taken to social media in their hundreds asking the airlines to help sort out their issues.
READ MORE - Everything you need to know about the new covid omicron XE 'mutant' variant
Some flights have been cancelled from Edinburgh Airport, though it seems many of the affected flights are in airports such as Heathrow and Luton.
So what are the covid travel rules for the likes of France, Malta and Portugal for those jetting away this spring?
What are the covid travel rules when flying from the UK to France?
France has recently updated its travel rules which saw the removal of the sworn declaration for all travellers
Rules were also relaxed for those who have not had a dose of the covid vaccine yet after the UK was move from France's orange list to the green list, just in time for the Easter holidays.
Fully vaccinated
Passengers from the UK aged 12 and over must provide proof of vaccination.
According to UK Government website: "The French Government recognises any vaccination certificates which conform to EU norms . This means your final dose must have been administered at least seven days prior to travel for Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or 28 days after a second dose of Johnson & Johnson."
In addition, travellers aged 18 and over will only recognise an individual as being fully vaccinated if they completed their initial vaccine course within the last nine months.
If more than nine months have passed since your initial dose and you did not have a booster in that 9-month period, you will be considered as unvaccinated.
Unvaccinated
Travellers aged 12 and over must provide a negative PCR taken within 72 hours pre-departure.
Alternatively they can take an antigen test taken within 48 hours before departure.
Children
Those aged under 12 are exempt from all Covid travel restrictions.
What are the covid travel rules when flying from the UK to Malta?
All travellers
Holidaymakers from the UK must complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before travelling to Malta.
You must show the QR code (verifiable 2D barcode) from the email confirmation to airline officials on departure and health officials stationed at the Terminal Temperature Screening Points when you arrive in Malta. The forms should be completed before departure.
Fully vaccinated
Since June 30 2021, the Maltese authorities require all arrivals from the UK to present proof of full vaccination.
This must show that you received a full course of vaccination at least 14 days prior to your arrival.
If you live in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, Malta will accept the UK’s Covid vaccine certification (both the digital and letter versions) as proof of your vaccination status and digital certificates must include a verifiable 2D barcode (QR code).
Unvaccinated
At present travellers who have not had both primary does and a booster of the Covid vaccine must take a PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and quarantine for 14 days on arrival at an officially-designated quarantine hotel.
The rule regarding isolation will be scrapped from April 11 meaning Brits won't have to isolate. However, a PCR test or proof of Covid recovery within the last 180 days will be required.
Children
Those aged five to 11 can travel if their accompanying parents/legal guardians show evidence of a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to travel.
Children under five are not required to test.
What are the covid travel rules when flying from the UK to Portugal?
All travellers
Everyone arriving in Portugal must fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before they depart.
You can travel to mainland Portugal for all purposes from the EU/EEA, the UK and from some other non-EU/EEA countries.
If you’re travelling from any country not listed here, you can only enter for essential purposes such as to live with immediate family members or for professional, educational, health or humanitarian reasons.
You can travel to the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores for any purpose without restriction.
All travellers to mainland Portugal and the Azores are required to complete a passenger locator form before arrival.
It is recommended you complete a form if you are travelling to Madeira or Porto Santo:
- Complete this form for mainland Portugal
- Complete this form for the Azores
- Complete this form for Madeira and Porto Santo
Complete one form per passenger. If you’re travelling to Madeira or Porto Santo with children aged 11 and under, include their details in your form.
Fully vaccinated
Passengers with a full covid vaccine course can enter the country without needing to take a test.
To qualify under the fully vaccinated rules, you must have a vaccination certificate which shows you have had either:
- A full course, as described below, of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency, at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before you arrive, or
- A full course of a vaccine, as described below, plus a booster vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency at least 14 days before you arrive
You will be considered fully vaccinated if you have had:
- Both doses of a 2-dose vaccine, or a combination of two different vaccines, or
- An approved one-dose vaccine, or
- A full course of a vaccine, plus a booster vaccine, or
- If you caught COVID-19 after just one dose of a 2-dose vaccine and your certificate shows that your vaccination course is complete after the administration of just one dose of the vaccine
Unvaccinated
People who have not had the vaccine or a full course will need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before entry) to your destination.
You can also take a rapid lateral flow test taken no more than 24 hours before entry.
Travellers can also enter Portugal if they can show proof of covid recovery, which should be no less than 11 days and no more than 180 days before travel.
Children
Those aged 11 and under are not required to take a test or show proof of vaccination or recovery.
Are you travelling abroad this year? Let us know where you're heading to in the comments!
