Where Can You Travel if You Are Double Vaccinated?

As the vaccine rollouts continue at full speed, some countries are opening up travel to holidaymakers from the UK. Most countries are asking for a negative PCR test result or proof of double vaccination status.

Travel has taken a huge hit during the pandemic, so countries are depending on the much-needed tourism boom to boost their economies. So, which countries are opening up, and from when?

If you’d like to learn which countries you can visit if you’re double vaccinated and how to prove your vaccine status, read on.

Where can you travel if you’re double vaccinated?

The UK government has announced that “From 4 am Monday 19 July you will not need to quarantine on arrival in England or take a day 8 COVID-19 test, as long as you: have been fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme & have not been in a red list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England”.

The countries that announced they will welcome British travellers if they are fully vaccinated 14 days prior to travelling (two doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna) are as follows; France, Germany, Gibraltar, Portugal, Madeira, Iceland, Spain, Denmark, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Croatia, Spain, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Romania, Poland, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

(Disclaimer: France and Croatia won’t accept the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine. These vaccines were part of batches: 4120Z001, 4120Z002, 4120Z003)

You can also travel to Green list countries without having to quarantine upon your return but some of the countries on the list don’t allow travellers from the UK without 5 to 10 days quarantine.

Let’s break down the individual demands of the amber list countries.

Santorini

European Countries on the Amber List: France, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Greece, Germany

France: Double vaccinated arrivals still need to take a PCR test 72 hours before travel to avoid a 7-day quarantine. France is accepting the NHS App to prove vaccination status. You must get a PCR test on day 2 of your arrival and you won't need to quarantine if you come back negative. Children aged 11 or over will need to provide a negative test result when they are travelling with their vaccinated parents. (France is on the Amber Plus* list since 15th of July)

*Amber plus list requires those returning to the UK to quarantine regardless of their vaccination status

Spain (& the Canary and Balearic islands): Spain is allowing fully vaccinated travellers from the UK. Children 12 or over must present a negative PCR test when travelling with their vaccinated parents. Spain is also accepting the NHS App to prove you’re fully vaccinated. If you live in Scotland or Wales, Spain will accept your respective NHS letter.

Portugal: Portugal also requires a negative PCR test result received within 72 hours of travel. You also need to complete an online passenger locator card before you arrive in Portugal. Madeira is on the Green watchlist. Children aged 11 or under are exempt from providing vaccination status or showing a negative PCR test. For 12- to 17-year-olds travelling with fully-vaccinated parents, there is no quarantine requirement, but they must provide a negative test result.

Malta: Malta only allows fully vaccinated adults from the UK. Travellers don’t need to show a negative PCR test result. Malta is currently accepting the NHS App to show vaccination status. Children aged 5-11 can travel with fully vaccinated adults, but must show evidence of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival. Under-fives will not need a test.

Greece: Greece is asking travellers from the UK (over 12 years old) to provide one of the following; a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours of arrival, a negative rapid antigen test within 48 hours of arrival, proof of two vaccinations at least 14 days before arrival, proof of recovery from Covid (a positive PCR result 30-180 days before travel). Tourists must also complete a passenger locator form.

Germany: Germany declared the UK as a “high incidence area”. Those travelling to Germany need a negative Covid-19 test result, proof of a full Covid-19 vaccination or proof of recovery from an infection in order to avoid quarantine.

Croatia

Central and Eastern European Countries on the Amber List: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Poland

Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan requires travellers from the UK to provide a negative test no older than 72 hours as well as a 'Covid-19 passport' to prove fully vaccinated status, or proof of immunity to Covid-19. You will need proof of a negative test result obtained within 72 hours before your arrival.

Bulgaria: The UK is on Bulgaria's 'red zone list', which means only Bulgarian nationals and permanent and long-term residents in Bulgaria, as well as their immediate family members (who they normally live with), will be eligible to enter the country. Authorities are only accepting the letter version of the NHS COVID Pass as evidence of vaccination. Bulgaria also requires one of the following for entry; proof of two vaccinations at least 14 days before arrival, a document showing a positive result from a PCR or rapid antigen test for people who have recovered from COVID-19 (dated at least 11 days before travel), a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours or a rapid antigen test performed up to 48 hours before entry.

Bulgaria is moving to the Green list from 4 am on the 19th of July.

Estonia: Those who recovered from Covid-19 or who have been fully vaccinated in the past 6 months are allowed in Estonia, and they don’t have to self-isolate.

Romania: Romania is accepting travellers from the UK that can demonstrate proof of a full course of vaccination against COVID-19 (completed 10 days before arrival) or proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 (at least 14 days, or at most 3 months prior to travel). Children aged 3 or under don’t need to provide a negative PCR test, however, children aged between 3 and 16 need to provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival if they are travelling independently.

Croatia: Travellers from the UK can enter Croatia with a negative COVID-19 antigen test (taken in the past 48 hours), a negative PCR test result (obtained within 72 hours of arrival), or proof of vaccination, or a doctor’s certificate of recovery following a positive test result between 11 and 180 days prior to travel. Children under 12 and accompanied by a parent are exempt from the requirement to present a negative test result, and to self-isolate if their parent has any of the mentioned documents. Croatia accepts the NHS COVID Pass or your NHS letter to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status.

Croatia is moving to the Green watchlist from 4 am on the 19th of July.

Poland: Those who have been fully vaccinated don’t need to quarantine upon entering Poland. Children up to age 12 who are travelling with fully vaccinated adults are exempt from the mandatory quarantine upon arrival from the UK. Poland accepts NHS Covid Pass or your NHS letter as proof of vaccination.

Georgia: Those who have been fully vaccinated don’t need to quarantine upon entering Georgia. Georgia accepts NHS Covid Pass or your NHS letter as proof of vaccination.

Montenegro: UK travellers are required to present one of the following; a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours, a negative rapid antigen test no older than 48 hours, a positive serology test no older than 30 days, or proof of full vaccination status.

Cyprus

Cyprus is accepting travellers from the UK who have been fully vaccinated or can prove they have recovered from COVID-19. Even if you are fully vaccinated, you will be required to present a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to your arrival. You also need to obtain a Cyprus flight pass and take another PCR test at your destination and wait up to 3 hours to get your results.

Ephesus, Turkey

What about Turkey?

Turkey remains on the red list, and the next review will be at the beginning of August, but Turkey is still open to travellers from the UK with no quarantine or double jab restrictions.

Contact us to book your holiday and your transit holiday before returning to the UK to avoid quarantining at a hotel.

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