As Spain experiences the hottest May it's ever recorded, many of us will be looking forward to our long-awaited holidays as travel restrictions ease around Europe.
However, there are different rules for travellers heading to different destinations.
To make it easier, here is everything you need to know if you are heading to Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy or France, as shared by Belfast Live.
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Greece:
The following requirements for entry to Greece apply regardless of your vaccination status and apply to all travellers.
From 1 May, passengers arriving in Greece are no longer required to show proof of COVID vaccination, a negative COVID test, or a certificate of recovery from COVID. You no longer need to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). Travellers are still required to wear a protective masks in all indoor spaces, including aircraft.
Arrivals into Greece may be required to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test on arrival. If you test positive on arrival in Greece, you (and those you are travelling with) will have to self-isolate for at least 5 days at home or in quarantine hotels provided by the Greek state.
You should also be aware that if other passengers on your flight, bus, train or ferry later test positive, you may be subject to self-isolation requirements.
This applies to all travellers including children.
You can find more information on Greece's travel rules here.
Spain:
Any unvaccinated British visitor aged 12 or above can enter Spain with proof of a negative coronavirus test - either an antigen or LFT.
Visitors to Spain must present one of the following to enter:
- Vaccination certificate meeting the government's requirements
- A negative test certificate (PCR or similar)
- Certificate of recovery at least 11 days after testing positive
The proof of vaccination can be a UK certificate, either in digital or printed form. For those taking tests, these must be done in the 72 hours before travel if a PCR, or 24 if using a rapid flow antigen test.
Anyone using a proof of recovery certificate is reminded that it is valid for 180 days from the date of a positive test. Children aged under 12 are exempt from all requirements to prove vaccination or prior infection.
You can find more information on Spain's travel restrictions for Brits here.
Portugal:
A passenger locator form is no longer required for entry to mainland Portugal and the Azores. It is recommended you complete a form if you are travelling to Madeira or Porto Santo.
If you’re fully vaccinated, you can enter mainland Portugal and the Azores without needing to 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
You must present proof that you have been fully vaccinated when you check-in for your flight to mainland Portugal and the Azores.
If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ll need to show proof of a negative PCR test (taken no more than 72 hours before boarding), a rapid lateral flow test (taken no more than 24 hours before boarding) or valid evidence of recent recovery from COVID-19 (see below) on departure to mainland Portugal and the Azores.
If you’re not fully vaccinated and your airline allows you to travel to mainland Portugal or the Azores without a negative test or valid recovery certificate, you will have to take a COVID-19 test at your own expense at the airport or port on arrival.
Children aged 11 and under do not need to take a test or show proof of vaccination or recovery to enter mainland Portugal and the Azores.
For more information on entering Portugal, visit the UK Government's official site here.
France:
From 31 March 2022, fully vaccinated (see ‘Proof of vaccination status’ below) travellers from the UK aged 12 and over must provide proof of vaccination.
Further information can be found on the French Embassy in the UK’s website.
You may also be asked to complete the EU-PLF form before boarding.
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 7 days prior to travel for Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or 28 days after a second dose of Johnson & Johnson.
For travellers aged 18 and over, France will recognise you as ‘vaccinated’ for entry purposes if you completed your initial vaccine course within the last 9 months. If more than 9 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 detailed below.
From 31 March 2022, travellers from the UK 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.
You may also be asked to complete the EU-PLF form before boarding.
Children under 12 are exempt from all COVID-19 travel restrictions.
