Tourists take photos in front of Casa Batllo in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Adri Salido
Unvaccinated third-country nationals, including Americans and Brits, are now allowed to holiday in Spain after the government joined other European countries in dropping Covid entry requirements and allowing all travelers entry.
“With the summer holidays just around the corner, travelers from all over the world can start planning their trip to Europe as most countries have already eased their Covid-19 entry regulations,” reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.
“While some in the European Union/European Economic Area are easing restrictions, others have lifted all their Covid-19 entry requirements.”
Tourists visit the Acropolis in Athens after travel restrictions were lifted in Greece. photo … [+]
Full and partial openings
Spain has joined the growing list of European countries that have lifted all or part of their restrictions, including most recently Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Lithuania and Switzerland.
The full list of countries open to unvaccinated people, with variations ranging from requiring negative test results (UK and Ireland, France, Italy) to lifting all pandemic travel restrictions, also includes Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Iceland , Ireland and Latvia , Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden.
Blossoming Japanese cherry trees on the western walkway of Buda Castle Hill in Budapest. photo … [+]
Spain relaxes rules
“We will stop asking for the vaccination card that could discourage tourists from outside the European Union from visiting us,” said María Reyes Maroto, Spain’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
She mentioned a “new phase of the pandemic” that has allowed the country to relax its entry requirements. “The country saw a 9% drop in daily cases over the past week, with 229 new cases per 100,000 population over the past week,” he said Washington Post reported.
In comparison, the United States saw a 12% increase in daily cases over the same period.
However, a negative test is still required to enter Spain. Those with negative test results must take an NAAT test — a category that includes PCR testing — within 72 hours of travel or an antigen test within 24 hours of departure.
“There is a certain level of security in travel that we must maintain,” argued the minister. “We’re still coexisting with the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t gradually lifted restrictions.”
Children under the age of 12 are exempt from presenting any kind of certificate.
People walk on a hiking trail in the Saxon Switzerland National Park. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/
country by country
These countries are opening up to all travelers, regardless of their country of origin, without having to show a certificate of vaccination, recovery or testing:
Austria: Travel to Austria is possible for tourism. As of May 16, proof of vaccination, recovery and testing are no longer required.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria has lifted all Covid-19 related travel restrictions for entering the country. Regardless of the origin of their journey, passengers are not required to present any documents related to Covid-19 upon arrival – such as Covid-19 vaccination certificates, certificates of recovery or PCR/antigen test results.
Croatia: The country has lifted all border crossing restrictions, specifically the requirement for non-EU citizens to present a Covid-19 certificate or proof of vaccination to enter Croatia. There are no longer any Covid-related restrictions on entering Croatia.
Denmark: There are no Covid-19-related entry restrictions.
Greece: As of March 15, travelers visiting Greece no longer have to fill in the Passenger Locator Form (PLF).
Also, since May 1st and as long as the epidemiological data allows, all travelers arriving in Greece, regardless of their country of origin, are no longer required to present a valid certificate of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 or evidence of a negative test result of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PCR or rapid antigen test).
However, a simplified PLF remains in service, completion of which is optional.
Tourists at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Photo by Oscar Gonzalez
Hungary: Entry into Hungary is again possible without restrictions. As of March 7, travelers can enter the country without the need for vaccination or immunity certificates, or any type of testing or quarantine requirement.
Iceland: All travel restrictions have been lifted since February 25. All visitors are welcome, regardless of vaccination status, with no prior notification required prior to the visit. No PCR test is required to board an aircraft, and no testing or quarantine is required on arrival.
Ireland: All Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted on March 6th. No passenger locator form, proof of vaccination or recovery, or Covid-19 test is required.
Latvia: As of April 1, travelers will no longer be required to present an interoperable vaccination or recovery certificate, or proof of a negative Covid-19 test result.
Lithuania: As of May 1st, Lithuania has lifted all Covid-19 related requirements for all travelers entering the country. And all tourist attractions are open and there is no mask requirement.
Clown with a tourist outside St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria. Photo by JOE … [+]
Norway: Entry restrictions have been lifted. The legal obligation to obtain a negative test before travel and the obligation to register entering Norway on arrival have ended.
Poland: As of March 28, all restrictions have been lifted, meaning there is no obligation present Covid certificates when crossing the border, test for SARS-CoV-2 or undergo the so-called entry quarantine.
Romania: Covid-19 related travel requirements for passengers have been lifted.
Slovenia: All restrictions have been lifted.
Sweden: Since April 1, the entry ban to Sweden from countries outside the EU/European Economic Area no longer applies. The obligation to present vaccination and test certificates when entering Sweden has also been abolished.
Switzerland: There are currently no entry restrictions. No proof of vaccination, recovery or testing is required.
Tourists relax in Reykjavik, Iceland’s world famous blue lagoon of hot geothermal mineral … [+]
Still some restrictions
While, like Spain, neither France nor Italy require a vaccination card, both countries still require negative test results.
France: Testing is no longer required upon departure for travelers vaccinated in accordance with European regulations. Proof of a full vaccination plan is sufficient to enter France, regardless of the country of origin.
For unvaccinated travelers, the obligation to present a negative test for travel to France remains, but the measures on arrival (test, isolation) are lifted.
Italy: Italy continues to maintain entry requirements for all travelers. Since March 1, the country applies the same rules to all people, regardless of their country of origin.
Italy is currently allowing entry to all travelers who are in possession of a vaccination or recovery certificate or a negative COVID-19 test result.
