With the summer holidays now firmly on the horizon, many of us are planning trips abroad to soak up some sunshine.
All covid travel rules were drawn to a close in the UK in March, and many other nations have also eased restrictions in recent weeks and months. There are also now dozens of countries Brits can travel to without being vaccinated or having to take a test.
That said, many other countries still have covid rules in place.
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It pays to be prepared, so we've taken a look at the latest coronavirus travel guidelines. Greece recently relaxed all of its covid rules. As of May 1, travellers arriving from the UK do not need to show a vaccine certificate or proof of a negative test any more. Unvaccinated visitors are also able to enter the country without testing prior to travel.
You also no longer need to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). Travellers are still required to wear a mask on public transport.
Here's all you need to know about vaccination proof and test for some of the other most popular destinations with UK travellers, as reported in Kent Live.
Spain
If you are travelling to Spain for tourism, you must show valid proof of one of the following:
Fully vaccinated - your vaccination status must meet the Spanish authorities’ validity period requirements
Negative COVID-19 test - either a PCR taken within 72 hours prior to departure, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure.
Recovery from COVID-19 in the last 6 months - you can also use a medical certificate or recovery record to prove your COVID-19 status on entry to Spain
Children under the age of 12 years old do not need to:
- Complete an online Health Control Form before travel
- Show proof of being fully vaccinated on entry to Spain
- Take diagnostic tests prior to arrival
- Show proof of having recovered from prior Covid-19 infection in the last 6 months
Travellers from the UK who can either show proof of vaccination or full recovery, or of having recovered from prior COVID-19 infection in the last 6 months, or those under 12, do not need to complete Spain’s Travel Health Control form.
Everyone else must complete Spain’s Travel Health Control form no more than 48 hours before arrival. Unvaccinated travellers can now enter Spain.
If you’re not fully vaccinated, the UK government states you can enter Spain presenting one of the following:
- Documentation certifying that you have taken a PCR and tested negative within 72 hours of entering Spain - or 24 hours if using an antigen test
- Proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the last 6 months - you can also use a medical certificate or recovery record to prove your Covid-19 status on entry to Spain
France
There are a number of rules anyone travelling to France must follow. Fully vaccinated travellers aged 12 and above must provide proof of vaccination status on entry to France.
As of March 31, travellers from the UK aged 12 and above who are not fully vaccinated need to provide a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours or an antigen test result taken within 48 hours pre-departure. All children under 12 are exempt from COVID travel restrictions in France.
France will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record at the border. The French Government recognises any vaccination certificates that 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.
If more than nine months have elapsed since your initial course, and you have not since received a booster, you will be considered unvaccinated and must follow the rules for unvaccinated travellers. Tourists aged 12 years and over who are not fully vaccinated need to provide a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours or an antigen test result taken within 48 hours pre-departure.
Italy
As of 1 June, COVID-19 restrictions on entering Italy have been lifted. Italy does not require any proof of vaccination, a negative test result, or a COVID-19 recovery certificate to enter the country, regardless of your vaccination status.
Passenger locator forms (EU PLF) to enter or travel through Italy as a visitor have also been scrapped. All passengers entering Italy by plane, ferry, train or coach must wear an FFP2 mask in order to enter the country.
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