#NoTestsNeeded

It’s no secret that the requirement to complete a private PCR or Antigen Test prior to travel has not been well received. Not only does it cause concern immediately prior to travel as you anxiously await the results but there is also an added expense which really adds up for families. When the UK recently removed the need for any tests for arrivals, regardless of vaccination, there was a huge sigh of relief amongst travel fans and travel agents. And now with the recent removal of the Passenger Locator Forms travel feels, dare I say it, back to normal to a great extent. Several countries have since then followed suit and not just if you are vaccinated. Here is my run down on where you can travel without the need for a pre-departure test.

UNVACCINATED OR VACCINATED

• Cuba – no forms needed either

• Costa Rica

• Dubai – all travellers over 12 may be required to take a test on arrival

• Gibraltar – no forms needed either

• Hungary – no forms needed either

• Iceland – no forms needed either

• Maldives

• Mexico – no forms needed either

• Montenegro - no forms needed either

• Poland – no forms needed either

• Madeira and Porto Santo, Portugal – The Azores and mainland Portugal have different requirements.

• Sweden

• Slovenia

VACCINATED ONLY - AGED 12 AND ABOVE

• Abu Dhabi – aged 16+ must be fully vaccinated

• Austria

• Botswana – children under 12 travelling with vaccinated adults will need negative pre-departure test

• Brazil – children aged 2-11 will need to provide negative pre-departure test.

• Canada – arrivals may be selected for an arrival test

• Germany

• Jersey - all vaccinated travellers will also be required to take a test on arrival

• Malta – children aged 5-11 will need a negative test

• Netherlands

• Seychelles

• Turkey

VACCINATED OR VACCINATED AND TRAVELLING WITH UNVACCINATED CHILDREN

• Antigua – aged 5-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test

• Argentina - aged 5-17 are recommend providing a negative test OR full vaccination record

• Belgium - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test.

• Bulgaria - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test.

• Cape Verde - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test.

• Croatia - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test.

• Cyprus - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test.

• Dominican Republic - aged 7-17 require full vaccination record OR negative pre-departure test.

• Egypt - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test.

• France - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test.

• Gambia

• Greece - aged 5-17 can provide either a certificate of recovery, negative test or full vaccination record.

• India - aged 5-17 will need to provide a negative test or full vaccination record

• Italy - aged 6-17 will need to provide a negative test or full vaccination record

• Mauritius – you will however be required to take a test on arrival

• Namibia - aged 5-17 will need to be fully vaccinated OR have a negative test result

• Oman – under 18s do not need vaccination or tests

• Portugal including Azores - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test

• Spain including Canary Islands and Balearic Islands - aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test

• Sri Lanka – aged 12-17 require full vaccination record OR pre-departure test

• South Africa - aged 5-17 will either need to be fully vaccinated OR provide proof of a negative pre-departure test.

• Switzerland

• St Lucia – all unvaccinated travellers including children must provide negative test

• Tanzania - aged 5-17 will either need to be fully vaccinated OR provide proof of a negative pre-departure test.

• Tunisia

Fully vaccinated means different things to different countries but in general the UK vaccination scheme and COVID pass is accepted. In some countries you are only classed as fully vaccinated if you have had a booster when your 2nd dose was administered between 180 and 270 days ago. Your second dose must also have been administered more than 14 days before travel for most countries.

As always this guidance is subject to change and is correct at the time of writing. Please always check with your travel agent (me!) and/or FCDO guidance to start with.