Popular European Destinations That Unvaccinated People Can and Can’t Travel To
Europe is home to several popular destinations for American travelers, including the United Kingdom, France and Italy.
While most European countries allow vaccinated U.S. citizens to enter, each country has its own entry requirements and there often additional restrictions for travelers who have not been fully vaccinated.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you do not travel internationally until you have been fully vaccinated. The agency has ranked every country based on their level of COVID-19 risk, ranging from Level 1 (Low) to Level 4 (Very High.)
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Below are the main requirements for unvaccinated U.S. citizens who wish to travel to popular European destinations for non-essential reasons. All of the countries below are classified as Level 3 or Level 4 for COVID-19 risk by the CDC.
The agency recommends that unvaccinated travelers avoid non-essential travel to Level 3 destinations. For Level 4 countries, the CDC says people should avoid all travel to these destinations. If you must travel to a Level 4 country, make sure you are fully vaccinated beforehand.
Austria (Level 4: Very high)
Unvaccinated U.S. citizens are permitted to enter Austria although they are required to pre-register, present a negative COVID-19 test on arrival and remain in mandatory quarantine for 10 days at a hotel or residence at the visitor’s expense. This quarantine can be ended after five days with a negative PCR test. Austria prohibits travel from certain high-risk countries.
For more information, click here.
Italy (Level 3: High)
U.S. citizens can travel to Italy for non-essential purposes until at least December 15, 2021, if they present a negative PCR or antigen test result carried out within 72 hours of arrival and either proof of vaccination or a certificate confirming recovery from COVID-19 no more than six months before departure. Travelers from the U.S. who are unable to present a valid proof of vaccination or recovery will have to self-isolate on arrival for five days and take a PCR or antigen test at the end of this period. Children under six years of age are exempt from pre-departure COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements.
For more information, click here.
Ireland (Level 4: Very High)
U.S. citizens are permitted to enter Ireland but you will be asked to show valid proof of vaccination or that you have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 180 days. If you do not have proof of vaccination or recovery, you will need to present evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in the country. Visitors must also fill in a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. Unvaccinated U.S. travelers to the country must self-quarantine for 14, although this can be shortened to five days following a negative PCR test.
For more information, click here.
France (Level 3: High)
France has placed the United States on its “Orange” list. This means fully vaccinated travelers only need proof of vaccination to enter. No testing or quarantine is necessary for these people. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers, however, must provide a “compelling reason” for travel and either a negative PCR test performed in the 72 hours before departure or an antigen test performed in the 48 hours before departure. These travelers will be tested again upon arrival, and must self-isolate upon arrival for seven days, or 10 days if they test positive upon arrival. At the end of the seven days they must take a PCR test. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the testing requirements.
For more information, click here.
Germany (Level 3: High)
Germany lifted most travel restrictions for U.S. citizens on November 14. Proof of full vaccination is no longer required. Unvaccinated travelers simply need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or evidence that they have recovered from COVID-19 recently. The test can either be a PCR taken within the last 72 hours before arrival in Germany, or an antigen test taken within the prior 24 hours. Children under 12 are exempt from this requirement.
For more information, click here.
Greece (Level 4: Very High)
American travelers can enter Greece without being fully vaccinated but they must present a negative PCR test performed up to 72 hours before entry, or a negative antigen test taken 48 hours before entry. Children under 12 are exempt from these requirements. Visitors who have documentation showing that they have recovered from COVD-19 in the previous one to six months are also permitted to enter the country. Random health screenings may be administered at the airport. Travelers must fill out a passenger locator form.
For more information, click here.
The Netherlands (Level 4: Very High)
The Netherlands is currently only permitting vaccinated travelers to enter the country for non-essential reasons. Visitors must complete a health form.
For more information, click here.
Spain (Level 3: High)
Only vaccinated U.S. citizens can enter Spain for non-essential purposes at this time. These travelers must fill out a health form in order to enter.
For more information, click here.
Switzerland (Level 4: Very High)
Only fully vaccinated U.S. citizens are allowed to enter Switzerland for tourism purposes, as long as they fill out a health form before they cross the border.
For more information, click here.
United Kingdom (Level 4: Very High)
U.S. citizens who are not fully vaccinated can travel to the United Kingdom, but they must book and pay for a travel package that includes two tests to be taken during a mandatory 10-day quarantine. One on or before day 2, and the other on or after day 8. In England, travelers can take an additional test via a private provider on day five that can release them from quarantine, but the day eight test must still be taken. You will not be able to travel to the United Kingdom from a “Red List” country unless you have residence rights in the U.K.
For more information, click here.
A stock image showing Paris, the capital of France. France is one of the top international destinations for American tourists. Getty Images
Where can I travel without a vaccine?
The travel landscape in 2022 couldn’t look more different from summer 2020. Many countries have loosened their Covid-related travel restrictions, removing requirements such as PCR or antigen tests before arrival, masks on public transport and while out and about, and quarantines. There are some notable exceptions of course, such as China.
In the majority of cases, these rule changes are based on the prerequisite that the traveller is fully vaccinated, with unvaccinated travellers still facing stringent restrictions or banned from entry altogether.
However, a growing number of destinations are also starting to welcome unvaccinated travellers, with or without restrictions, for tourism purposes. Here are the countries where you don’t need to be vaccinated to visit.
Main photo: Oia village in Santorini (Getty Images)
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Where can I travel without a vaccine?
If you are not fully vaccinated, you still have plenty of options when it comes to holiday destinations. However, you may need to take a Covid test before travel and/or on arrival. A period of quarantine — either in an accommodation of your choice or at a government facility — may also be mandatory. In some cases you may be able to get around these extra requirements by showing proof of recent recovery from Covid, or a medical exemption from getting vaccinated.
It’s always worth checking before you travel as restrictions between different countries can vary significantly.
Be sure to check requirements at your destination before you take to the air (Getty Images)
Which countries allow unvaccinated travellers?
The countries below are open to unvaccinated travellers from the UK for tourism purposes. You don’t need to be a resident or citizen, or have recently recovered from Covid. You may however need to show negative results from a recent Covid test.
Very few countries require quarantine now — unless of course you test positive for Covid on arrival — but check your destination requirements first to be sure. These restrictions can change at any time so do double check before you travel and ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance.
What does fully vaccinated mean?
Fully vaccinated could mean the initial course of two jabs, or three jabs including a booster. There are a number of countries that put an expiry on the initial course of jabs, so if you were vaccinated more than 270 days (nine months) ago, you will need a booster. Check the entry requirements of your destination country for more information.
Where can I travel without a vaccine? How Europe entry requirements make holidays tricky for unvaccinated
Travelling to Europe is easier and cheaper if you are vaccinated but unvaccinated travellers can still get into 22 countries in Europe quarantine-free
Quarantine-free travel to Europe almost always costs more for unvaccinated travellers (Photo: Getty)
If you want to travel the world freely, then being fully vaccinated and boosted is the key to ensuring that you can holiday overseas as borders continue to reopen.
However, a careful counting of Covid border restrictions by i reveals that while favourites such as Spain, France and Italy are off limits, the majority of countries in Europe will allow unvaccinated UK visitors in for a quarantine-free holiday.
In total, 22 out of 44 countries in Europe – including Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Portugal – allow quarantine-free travel for un-jabbed travellers from Britain.
This is particularly good news for families with children who are yet to receive their second jab, due to the UK’s delayed vaccine rollout to 12- to 15-year-olds.
In most cases, unvaccinated travellers will pay more for their holiday due to the extra cost of tests which vaccinated travellers are exempt from taking. This can also mean running the risk of a cancelled holiday if a test comes back positive.
Unvaccinated travellers must fork out extra for more tests than the vaccinated everywhere but Cyprus, where travellers to test regardless of vaccination status, and Lithuania and Iceland, where recent infection rather than testing is required in lieu of vaccination.
In 11 out of 22 countries, unvaccinated travellers can save themselves both the cost and the hassle of testing if they can provide proof of a recent Covid infection.
In three of the countries that will let in unvaccinated travellers – Lithuania, Iceland and Austria – the un-jabbed will only get in with proof of a recent infection.
It is also important to note that unvaccinated travellers will likely find it all but impossible to purchase travel insurance. Most policies will not cover travellers if they have not taken all Covid vaccination doses recommended by the UK health authorities.
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While domestic Covid pass rules relating to public places might also restrict an unvaccinated person’s movement once they are at their destination. This could mean holidaymakers having to test regularly or face being barred from public places such as restaurants.
Below, we have listed every country in Europe that will welcome unvaccinated visitors from the UK, quarantine free.
In each case, some form of extra documentation – whether proof of recent infection or proof of a negative test result – is required by countries in lieu of proof of vaccination. There is not a single country in Europe that will let in UK visitors without some sort of Covid documentation.
We have ordered all 22 countries by the type of proof that is mandated at the border. We have also listed how much extra unvaccinated travellers will have to pay to visit each destination, when compared to vaccinated travellers. We have assumed that PCR tests cost £50, antigen test cost £25 and supervised antigen test cost £35. This does not include any possible extra testing costs related to domestic Covid pass rules for accessing public places.
Unvaccinated can enter but only with proof of recent infection
Lithuania
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Evidence of prior Covid infection within the last six months.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? No.
Iceland
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of recovery from Covid.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? No.
Unvaccinated can enter with proof of recent infection or antigen test
Moldova
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of negative PCR taken no more than 72 hours before entry, or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before entry, or evidence of prior Covid infection within the past 90 days.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Maybe. It costs around £25 for an extra antigen test for those who cannot provide evidence of prior Covid infection.
Montenegro
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: A negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival, a negative rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival or proof of recovery from Covid in the last 180 days.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Maybe. It costs around £25 for an extra antigen test for those who cannot provide evidence of prior Covid infection.
Bulgaria
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of negative PCR taken no more than 72 hours before entry, or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before entry, or evidence of prior Covid infection.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Maybe. It costs around £25 for an extra antigen test for those who cannot provide evidence of prior Covid infection.
Turkey
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of negative PCR taken no more than 72 hours before entry, or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before entry, or proof of recent recovery within last six months.
Extra testing fees for the unvaccinated? Maybe. It costs around £25 for an extra antigen test for those who cannot provide evidence of prior Covid infection.
Croatia
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: A negative antigen not older than 48 hours, or a negative PCR not older than 72 hours or proof of recent infection.
Extra testing fees for the unvaccinated? Maybe. It costs around £25 for an extra antigen test for those who cannot provide evidence of prior Covid infection.
Slovenia
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of recovery or PCR test no older than 48 hours from time when swab was taken or rapid antigen test no older than 24 hours from the time when the swab was taken.
Extra testing fees for the unvaccinated? Maybe. It costs around £25 for an extra antigen test for those who cannot provide evidence of prior Covid infection.
Albania
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of negative PCR taken no more than 72 hours before entry, or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before entry, or evidence of prior Covid infection within the last six months.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? It costs around £25 for an extra antigen test for those who cannot provide evidence of prior Covid infection.
Unvaccinated can enter with proof of recent infection or a PCR test
Romania
Entry requirements costs unvaccinated: Proof of negative PCR taken no more than 72 hours before entry or proof of recent recovery within last six months.
Extra testing fees for the unvaccinated? Maybe. £50 for extra PCR test for those who cannot provide proof of recent infection.
Serbia
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of recovery in the past six months or a negative PCR test taken within the past 48 hours.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Maybe. £50 for extra PCR test for those who cannot provide proof of recent infection.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of negative PCR taken no more than 48 hours before entry or evidence of prior Covid infection within the past 90 days.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Maybe. £50 for extra PCR test for those who cannot provide proof of recent infection.
North Macedonia
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: A negative PCR test made in the 72 hours before entering the country, or a certificate of recovery from Covid in the last 45 days, counting from the day of recovery.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Maybe. £50 for extra PCR test for those who cannot provide proof of recent infection.
Unvaccinated can enter with an antigen test
Luxembourg
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: A negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival, a negative rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival by a professional.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Yes. £35 for extra supervised antigen test for those who cannot provide evidence of prior Covid infection.
Norway
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken less than 24 hours before arrival.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Yes. £25 for extra antigen test.
Ukraine
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of negative PCR taken no more than 72 hours before entry, or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before entry.
Extra testing fees for the unvaccinated? Yes. £25 for a pre-departure antigen test.
Cyprus
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before departure or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure.
Extra testing fees for the unvaccinated? No. £0. The requirement for Covid testing before and after your arrival in Cyprus applies regardless of vaccination status.
Greece
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of a negative PCR test undertaken within the 72 hour period before arrival or proof of a negative rapid antigen test undertaken within the 24 hour period before arrival into Greece.
Extra testing fees for the unvaccinated: Yes. £25 for a pre-departure antigen test.
Portugal
Entry requirements costs unvaccinated: PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival or an antigen test taken 48 hours before arrival.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Yes. £25 for a pre-departure antigen test.
Unvaccinated can enter with PCR test
Ireland
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of a negative PCR test (taken no more than 72 hours before entry).
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Yes. £50 for extra PCR test.
Hungary
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: A negative PCR test conducted in the previous 72 hours of arrival.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Yes. £50 for extra PCR test.
Unvaccinated can enter with a PCR test and proof of recent infection
Austria
Entry requirements for unvaccinated: Proof of recovery in the past 180 days and a negative PCR test taken within the past 72 hours.
Extra testing costs for the unvaccinated? Yes. £50 for extra PCR test.
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Source https://www.newsweek.com/can-you-travel-europe-unvaccinated-covid-1650280
Source https://www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/advice/where-can-i-travel-without-a-vaccine
Source https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/travel-where-can-without-vaccine-entry-requirements-europe-holidays-unvaccinated-1449467