The Countries Welcoming Vaccinated Tourists

With Covid-19 continuing to disrupt the travel industry, many destinations around the world are rolling out vaccines to protect their citizens.

According to the New York Times, more than 693 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. Some destinations have yet to begin their program but almost 40 million have received their first vaccine in the UK while the United States is currently inoculating at a rate of 3.03 million average doses per day.

For those wishing to relocate or simply travel abroad again, these successful rollouts offer a glimmer of hope. From Iceland to Seychelles, countries around the world are dropping border restrictions or easing them significantly for those who’ve been fully vaccinated. 

Here are all the countries reopening to tourists who’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Ecuador and the Galápagos

The Galápagos is one of our top trips to plan in advance but travel to the region is possible now for fully vaccinated travelers who also produce a negative PCR test taken no less than three days before arrival.

First landing in Ecuador, those wishing to visit the volcanic Galápagos archipelago from there must produce a test taken within 96 hours of their trip to the islands.

Travellers must also adhere to Ecuador’s public health protocols, such as wearing face masks in public places and following social distancing.

Belize

Belize has become the first Caribbean nation to open to vaccinated travellers. Evidence of two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine at least two weeks before their trip will allow sunseekers to enter without having to produce negative PCR test results upon arrival.

Non-vaccinated travellers are also permitted to visit the country given they produce a negative test result conducted no more than four days before arrival or a rapid antigen test was taken within 48 hours of departure to Belize.

Anyone unable to present a negative test result upon landing will be required to be tested at the airport at a cost of $50. 

All visitors must download the Belize Health App and fill out the relevant information within 72 hours of arriving in Belize.

Croatia

Visitors from any country who complete their vaccination course at least 14 days before travel to Croatia will be exempt from current travel restrictions in the country.

All other passengers who arrive in Croatia must present a negative PCR test conducted no longer than 48 hours prior. Alternatively, entry will be permitted to tourists who provide an antigen test conducted within 48 hours before arrival.

Individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 within the past three months are exempt from obligations to provide proof of a negative PCR test or self-isolate. To prove recovery, passengers can present an antigen test result, or a positive neutralisation test (NT) result obtained within the last three months, or a certificate or recovery issued by a doctor.

All tourists must have evidence of an accommodation booking in Croatia paid in advance of arrival at the border.

Georgia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Georgia, a nation situated at the crossroads between Asia and Europe, has recently announced that all visitors who’ve received two doses of any Covid-19 vaccine are permitted to enter the country without producing a negative PCR test.

A statement from the Ministry says, “Citizens of all countries, traveling by air from any country may enter Georgia if they present the document confirming the full course (two doses) of any Covid-19 vaccination at the border checkpoints of Georgia,”

Non-vaccinated travellers must submit a negative PCR result taken within 72 hours of departure to Georgia and are also required to take a second test at their own expense on day three of their visit. 

Those who’ve travelled to the UK within 14 days of their arrival to Georgia must undergo a 12-day mandatory quarantine.

Madeira

Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, Portugal’s archipelago of Madeira is launching a “green corridor” for fully vaccinated tourists and/or those who can prove they have fully recovered from infection in the previous 90 days. 

To be eligible, tourists must prove their status through one of the following documents: the official vaccination certificate, including the date of the two doses administered, or a validated statement of recovery with explicit mention of ‘recovered’ status.

Documentation must be submitted to the ‘Madeirasafe.com’ app before arrival.

Poland

While the only travelers currently permitted to enter Poland are Polish citizens and residents, diplomats, essential workers, students, or EU citizens and residents, they can do so without having to quarantine if they have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Visitors can also bypass quarantine if they show proof of a negative Covid-19 test, taken within 48 hours of arrival into Poland. 

Iceland

Those wishing to see the Northern Lights will be pleased to discover that Iceland, one of the best places on the planet to witness the natural phenomenon, has announced it will welcome back visitors who have been fully vaccinated.

On March 16, a statement from the Icelandic government read: “all those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to travel to Iceland without being subject to border measures, such as testing and quarantine,”. 

Travellers must provide proof of completing a full inoculation course with one of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency, which currently includes the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Iceland will also allow previously infected individuals to enter the country without quarantine measures or testing.

Romania

On January 18, the Romanian government announced that arrivals coming from select destinations, including the UK, who have had both doses of the vaccine and arrive in the country more than ten days after the second dose, will no longer be required to self-isolate.

In a statement, the European country’s National Committee for Emergency Situations (CNSU) said: “The vaccination proof, including the date when the second dose was administered, should be made through the document issued by the health unit that administered it, whether that be in Romania or abroad,”

Anyone who cannot provide evidence of their vaccinations will need to present a negative test for Covid-19, taken no more than 72 hours before entering Romania, and will need to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.

Seychelles

On January 14, 2021, the island nation of Seychelles became one of the first around the world to announce they would be welcoming vaccinated travellers.

Seychelles then went further on March 25, announcing that everyone (except for those travelling from South Africa) will be free to visit the island regardless of their vaccination status.

Visitors can bypass quarantine by providing proof of completing their vaccine course. All arrivals also need to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure to Seychelles. 

Cyprus

Though not yet in place, Cyprus has announced that it will allow British tourists who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 restriction-free entry to the country from May 1.

The move aims to aid the recovery of Cyprus’s tourism industry, of which British travellers are the biggest contributors.

Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios told the Cyprus News Agency: “We have informed the British government that from May 1 we will facilitate the arrival of British nationals who have been vaccinated… so they can visit Cyprus without a negative test or needing to quarantine,”

Other destinations

Many other destinations around the world, including Spain and Greece, have signalled intent to adopt a digital vaccine passport scheme for travel from May.

Trials are ongoing in the UK regarding certificates for events and travel with more details due to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Travelling with a vaccine certificate? You could make your travel even more stress-free by shipping your luggage in advance with Send My Bag.  

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