Traveling over the past few years has been a rollercoaster of rule changes and variable entry conditions.
Travel has rebounded lately, with waves of reservations following the announcement that coronavirus tests for fully vaccinated people traveling to England will be deleted from February 11.
Government and NHS advice states that all three doses of a Covid vaccine will provide the best protection against catching the virus or serious illness if you do.
But there are of course those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, or who have chosen not to be vaccinated.
Which countries will accept travelers who haven’t had the Covid hit?
Which countries can you visit without a Covid vaccine?
The following countries will accept travelers who have not had the Covid vaccine:
Australia
Australia has officially reopened its borders to visitors on February 21.
Although vaccinated travelers do not need to self-isolate upon arrival, to access the same travel arrangements as an unvaccinated traveler, you must provide acceptable proof that you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
If you are coming to Australia and have a medical contraindication registered in the Australian Immunization Register (AIR), you can show a Australia COVID-19 Digital Certificate airline personnel. Otherwise, you can show your vaccination history.
If you have not registered your medical contraindication in the AIR, you will need to show airline staff a medical certificate stating that you cannot be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical condition .
The medical certificate must be in English and include the following information:
- your name (this must match your travel identification documents)
- date of the medical consultation and contact details of your attending physician
- details clearly indicating that you have a medical condition that means you cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine (vaccination is contraindicated).
Quarantine requirements in Australia are determined by state and territory governments.
Croatia
Visitors to Croatia can produce either a negative lateral flow taken within 48 hours of arrival, a PCR test taken within 72 hours or a medical certificate confirming recovery from Covid infection between 11 and 180 days before travel.
Cyprus
Unvaccinated visitors to Cyprus must provide a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours of arrival, then take another PCR test at the airport and self-isolate until the result is received (which should take about three hours)
Passengers are then given five self-tests to use daily – if one is positive, you must take a PCR test and notify the authorities, then self-isolate for 14 days.
Greece
Unvaccinated travelers can visit Greece with either a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival or proof of a negative rapid antigen test from an approved laboratory, taken within 48 hours.
Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)
Portugal changed its rules in September 2021, and British travelers can now show a negative PCR result taken within 72 hours or a negative antigen test which is included on the Common EU list of rapid antigen tests. A regular side stream issued by the NHS will not be accepted.
You will also need a PCR or rapid antigen test result to enter Madeira and the Azores – and in Portugal and the islands you will be subject to a medical screening at the airport.
Mexico
If you are traveling to Mexico, you will need to complete a health declaration form and scan its QR code upon arrival.
There is currently no requirement to show a PCR test result, although some resorts may ask customers to complete a health questionnaire on arrival.
Slovenia
Unvaccinated visitors to Slovenia from the UK must complete a digital passenger locator form, as well as a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours or a rapid antigen test performed within 48 hours. Evidence of recovery from infection, in the form of a positive PCR test result more than 10 days old but less than six months old, may also be used on entry.
Turkey
If you are visiting Turkey, you will need a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival, or a negative rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours, if you have no proof of vaccination.
Alternatively, you can present proof of recovery from a Covid infection within the last 180 days.
United Arab Emirates
Everyone arriving in the UAE must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival (48 hours if arriving in Abu Dhabi). If you are visiting Dubai, you must register on the Covid-19 DXB app, as well as complete a health declaration form and a quarantine form.
If you are in Abu Dhabi, you will also need to test on days six and nine of your trip, if you are still in the country.
Before traveling
If you are planning to go anywhere right now, remember that the situation is constantly changing and the rules of any country you plan to visit may change at any time.
Travel rules for returning to the UK are also subject to change if a new variant emerges or the number of cases increases in another part of the world.
This means that countries could be put on the short-term red list, which means that you will have to self-quarantine in a hotel at your own expense when you arrive in the UK.
The current rules also state that unvaccinated travelers must self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival in England and take two PCR tests, on the second and eighth day.
Your best bet before traveling anywhere is to make sure you are up to date with your Covid jabs, and also to have your booster vaccination if you are eligible.
You should also note – whether you are vaccinated or not – that if you test positive while you are abroad, you will be subject to that country’s quarantine rules.
You should ensure before traveling anywhere that you have comprehensive travel insurance which will cover you should you need to extend your stay or require medical attention.
FOLLOWING : 500,000 people in the UK have had long Covid for over a year
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