Destinations that remove restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers

(CNN) – While the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the travel industry, countless destinations around the world are introducing vaccines for their most vulnerable citizens.

Meanwhile, Denmark has announced plans to launch a digital coronavirus passport in late February that will serve as documentation that the holder has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

While it is worth pointing out that the main Covid vaccines are about 95% effective, meaning that vaccinated individuals can still become infected and spread the virus to others, there is no doubt that these successful implementations are a step further. are in the right direction.

As a result, a number of destinations choose to lift border restrictions for travelers who are fully vaccinated, or to relax them significantly.

From Cyprus to the Seychelles, here are seven destinations that are reopening for tourists who have received the Covid-19 vaccine.

Cyprus

Late last year, the Cypriot official announced plans to lift restrictions on vaccinated travelers.

ETIENNE TORBEY / AFP via Getty Images

In December, Cyprus became the first destination to announce plans to allow travelers who have been fully vaccinated without going into quarantine.

In addition, visitors who provide evidence that they have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine are allowed to visit without giving a negative PCR test result upon arrival.

This probably only applies to those arriving from destinations on the country’s safe travel list, which is regularly updated. However, Cyprus recently signed an agreement with Israel that allows vaccinated travelers to travel between countries without restrictions.

“The amended action plan is expected to further increase airlines’ interest in operating additional flights to Cyprus, improve connectivity and increase passenger traffic,” Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos told Cyprus Mail newspaper when the plan was announced last year.

While it was previously claimed that the new rules would go into effect on March 1, this has not yet been confirmed by government officials.

Currently, travelers authorized to visit Cyprus have the option of either taking a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to travel, or having a test on arrival.

They must then go into quarantine for two weeks in government-assigned accommodation. The isolation period can be slightly shortened if travelers undergo a molecular test at their own expense on their tenth day of quarantine and receive a negative result.

Estonia

EU travelers arriving in Estonia who have been fully vaccinated do not need to be quarantined.

Sean Gallup / Getty Images

Estonia has not only removed mandatory quarantine requirements for EU travelers, it has also relinquished them for those with evidence that they have recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months.

The European country also accepts vaccinations from nine suppliers around the world, rather than just Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca, the three approved by the European Union.

Only vaccination certificates drawn up in Estonian, Russian, or English are recognized, and visitors who have previously had Covid must provide a doctor’s certificate, as well as a recent PCR test indicating that they are no longer infected with the virus.

“This is to show mutual solidarity. When we consider vaccines used in other countries, we can hope that vaccines used in our country will be counted in other countries as well,” said Hanna Sepp, head of Infectious Diseases. the country. Department of Surveillance and Epidemic Control, Estonian television organization ERR News told.

Estonia currently has a mandatory 10-day quarantine for arrivals, with exceptions for European countries considered low-risk, such as Bulgaria, Iceland and Norway, as well as evidence of a negative PCR test administered within three days of arrival. Those coming from the UK must also provide a negative PCR test taken no earlier than 72 hours prior to arrival.

Georgia

Visitors who show that they have been fully vaccinated are exempt from quarantine in Georgia.

VANO SHLAMOV / AFP via Getty Images

Georgia, which lies at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, has also chosen to lift restrictions on fully vaccinated travelers.

The Georgia State Department recently announced that any visitors who received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to enter the country without producing a negative PCR test.

“Citizens of any country traveling by air from any country may enter Georgia if they can provide the document confirming the full course (two doses) of any Covid-19 vaccination at Georgia border posts,” the Ministry of Health said. Foreign Affairs of Georgia. in a statement.

Non-vaccinated travelers must provide a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours of travel and must also take a second test on the third day of their stay “at their own expense”.

Those who have traveled to the UK within 14 days of their visit must undergo a mandatory 12-day quarantine upon entry.

Iceland

In May, Iceland will remove border restrictions for those who have had a full course of the Covid vaccine.

Maja Hitij / Bongarts / Getty Images

From May 1, fully vaccinated travelers from European Union countries, as well as from Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, will be able to skip quarantine when they arrive in Iceland and will not need to submit a negative PCR test.

Visitors who can provide a paper vaccination in Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish or English and prove that they have had two doses of one of the three main Covid-19 vaccines are exempt from border restrictions.

However, those who provide an “invalid” document will “have to undergo a double test with quarantine in between,” according to the Icelandic Health Directorate.

The popular destination also plans to issue digital “vaccination certificates” to Icelandic citizens who have been vaccinated “to facilitate the movement of people between countries”.

Unvaccinated arrivals from destinations where travel to Iceland is permitted must undergo a Covid test on arrival, before being quarantined for five to six days and having a second test.

In some cases exceptions will be made, for example when there is a valid medical reason.

Poland

Horse-drawn carriages will be at the Cloth Hall in the old city center of Krakow on 5 February 2020.

Since December 28, Poland has allowed travelers to enter without going to quarantine.

LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP via Getty Images

Travelers from EU countries can visit Poland without undergoing the mandatory 10-day quarantine “on the basis of a certificate confirming vaccination against Covid-19”.

Those who deliver a negative SARS – CoV – 2 test on arrival are also exempt as long as there is no more than 48 hours between the time they receive their test result and the time they cross the line.

Romania

Fully vaccinated visitors arriving in Romania can also avoid quarantining.

IONUT IORDACHESCU / AFP via Getty Images

All travelers arriving in Romania from authorized destinations that have been fully vaccinated against Covid have been exempt from quarantine on arrival since January 18.

The new rules were announced by the European country’s National Emergency Situations Committee (CNSU), which stipulated that visitors and returning residents must demonstrate that they have had two doses of the vaccine to avoid mandatory isolation.

The second dose must be administered at least 10 days before arrival.

“The vaccination certificate, including the date the second dose was administered, must be provided via the document issued by the health unit that administered it, whether in Romania or abroad,” the CNSU said in a statement.

Currently, travelers arriving from Romania’s “yellow list” countries, which comprise destinations with a high epidemiological risk, are in quarantine for 14 days.

Those submitting a PCR taken no less than 72 hours prior to entry must be quarantined for 10 days.

The Seychelles

A photo taken on November 21, 2019 shows a hawksbill turtle nesting beach on Cousin Island, a nature reserve island managed by Nature Seychelles, a national environmental NGO, Seychelles

Vaccinated travelers can visit Seychelles without having to isolate themselves, but they must still submit a negative PCR test.

Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP via Getty Images

Fully vaccinated visitors are now allowed to enter the remote destination off the coast of Tanzania without having to be quarantined for 10 days.

However, those who have received a full course of a Covid-19 vaccine must still provide a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of travel, as well as a certificate from their national health authority confirming they have been fully treated . vaccinated.

Non-vaccinated travelers on the Seychelles Category 1 and 2 list and travelers arriving by private jet must isolate themselves for 10 days and give a negative PCR result within 72 hours of arrival.

The 115 island nation aims to become the first nation to vaccinate its entire population following a donation of 50,000 doses from the United Arab Emirates government.

President Wavel Ramkalawan hopes that more than 70% will be vaccinated by mid-March. The restrictions will be further relaxed if this goal is achieved, meaning that those allowed to enter Seychelles will only need to submit proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours of travel.

Source