Travel rules and entry requirements are updating around the globe as countries move forward from the pandemic.
In the UK, entry requirements relaxed making it easier and cheaper for everyone.
If you are arriving in the UK and are fully vaccinated you no longer need to take a pre-departure test or Covid test on arrival.
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And those who are not fully vaccinated don't need to isolate or take a day eight test.
They do need to take a pre-departure test and a day two test though.
And the European Commission have updated their guidance for EU countries regarding vaccine validity.
So if you're planning trips over to Europe, here are all the entry requirements for France, Germany and Belgium.
France
France is open to UK travellers and anyone who had their second dose over 270 days ago need to have the booster before arriving in France.
As from February 12, 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.
Anyone aged 16 or over requires a 'pass vaccinal' to access venues such as restaurants, bars, museums and sport venues and ski lifts.
To get this pass and be registered as fully vaccinated, in some parts of France, you need to have a booster jab if your vaccination course was completed over four months ago.
If you are not fully vaccinated, you no longer need to isolate. You need to show;
- A completed international travel certificate to prove the reason for essential travel. 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.
For children, The Foreign Office says: "The same measures applied to vaccinated adults are applied to any minors (17 and under) who are travelling with them, whether vaccinated or not. Therefore, if an unvaccinated child arrives in France with a vaccinated adult, they may follow the rules of entry for those who are fully vaccinated."
Belgium
According to Gov.uk, if you’re fully vaccinated, you can enter Belgium from the UK if you
- Complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF), unless you fall under a very limited list of exemptions listed on the Belgian government website (under the Transport and International section).
- Do a pre-departure test. This can be a rapid antigen test (lateral flow test) either the day before arrival or the day of arrival or PCR test no more than 72 hours before you arrive in Belgium. This test must be negative.
- Take a PCR test on day 1 after arrival and quarantine until you receive a negative result.
- Take a further PCR test on day 7 after arrival.
Those who are unvaccinated are only allowed entry if they have an essential reason and submit an application form. You can see more here.
Children under 18 years of age who are not fully vaccinated can travel with a fully vaccinated adult without the requirement for an essential travel certificate.
Children over aged 12 who are not fully vaccinated must follow quarantine requirements.
Belgium does not consider children who have received one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to be fully vaccinated.
Children under 12 do not need to be tested either before departure or on arrival but must respect the quarantine requirements that apply to the adult(s) with whom they are travelling.
Germany
Germany have updated their validity of vaccination certificates to just 270 days. This means anyone who had their second dose over 270 days ago need to have the booster before arriving in Germany.
To enter Germany, all travellers aged six and over need to;
Show proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival and present this proof on request to carriers or authorities.
Those who have proof of being fully vaccinated need to upload it to pre-departure digital registration portal to be exempt from quarantine.
Those who are not fully vaccinated need to isolate for 10 days on arrival with a test and release available after five days.
The Foreign travel advice also adds: "If you’re not fully vaccinated you may only enter Germany from the UK if you are a German citizen; the spouse/partner/child under 18 of a German citizen; a resident of Germany; the spouse/partner/child under 18 of a resident of Germany; serve in an important role; or have an urgent need to travel."
