Countries including Ireland, Iceland and Norway have ended all regulations related to the testing and vaccination of travelers. Others, such as France and England, have phased out pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated people entering the country.
Rules vary greatly and change frequently. Some countries require booster shots to fully vaccinate travelers upon entry, while others are waiving COVID-19 requirements altogether. Travel advisors suggest looking closely at the rules for indoor spaces, along with entry requirements for specific countries and destinations such as Hawaii, which can vary by city or region.
“It’s not as simple as ‘Have you taken the shot or not?
Ireland ended COVID-19 requirements for travelers over the weekend. Travelers will no longer have to show proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative COVID-19 test to enter. The country’s health department said the swift change was made to make travel easier for people leaving Ukraine and neighboring countries leaving Ireland.
Iceland lifted all COVID-19 border restrictions and domestic restrictions in February, and Norway then implemented similar entry measures.
As of April 1, Costa Rica will no longer require unvaccinated travelers to have supplemental COVID-19 medical insurance to enter the country, according to the US Embassy in Costa Rica.
Israel closed its borders to foreign travelers in late 2021. The country now allows unvaccinated travelers to enter the country, but all tourists, regardless of vaccination status, are required to undergo a PCR test within 72 hours before taking off in the country, and another upon landing In Israel, where they will have to quarantine for 24 hours until a negative result is received.
Other countries that were closed to tourists have recently opened their borders. Australia began allowing fully vaccinated tourists into the country in February without any quarantine. Starting Monday, fully vaccinated travelers from 23 countries, including the US, can skip the quarantine on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Margie Arnold, owner of Creative Travel Adventures in Denver, says many clients traveling to Europe have received booster shots. “It’s going to be the best way to really travel and feel more confident in booking your travel plans,” she says.
France is among countries that require a booster dose for some foreign visitors. It does so for travelers 18 years of age and older if it has been more than nine months since their initial vaccine series.
Many countries have simplified entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers. In some cases, this means that visitors need to get booster shots. Aruba allows people who have received booster shots at least seven days before travel to otherwise skip the COVID-19 test required for entry.
Travelers to the US are required to test a negative within one day before traveling back to the country by plane.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still advises against travel to more than 130 destinations, including France, Iceland and the United Kingdom, based on the number of COVID-19 cases. Large destinations are classified as having “very high” levels of COVID-19 if more than 500 new cases per 100,000 people have been reported in the past 28 days.
More governments are putting more responsibility on individuals to make decisions, says Dr. Henry Wu, an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine and director of the Emory Travelwell Center. But the low requirements don’t mean travelers should forgo all precautions, he says. Dr. Wu suggests getting vaccinated and promoted if travelers are eligible, as well as testing before going to high-risk people and wearing masks in high-risk places.
He says, “If you want to be a smart traveler, to minimize the chances of getting somewhere or getting someone sick, you do it that way.” Travelers should remember that after one positive there is a risk of getting stuck in another country. Test results, they say.
Travel industry groups sent a letter to White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeffrey Ziants late last month, calling for an end to the need for pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated inbound travelers. He also urged the repeal of the federal mask mandate for public transport, which is in effect until March 18.
Removing vaccination rules for destination indoor locations. France will no longer require people to show a Covid-19 vaccine pass to access many indoor locations starting March 14, Prime Minister Jean Casteux announced last week.
Mask requirements have been relaxed in most domestic destinations. Puerto Rico is ending its indoor mask mandate for most places on Thursday, and will no longer require US travelers to show proof of vaccination or have a negative test upon entry.
Hawaii’s Governor David Ige said on Tuesday that the indoor mask mandate would expire at 11:59 p.m. on March 25, citing fewer cases and hospitalizations. Hawaii is the last state to give up the mandate.
Hawaii will end its Safe Itinerary program for domestic travelers later this month. Travelers must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to avoid quarantine. From 26 March, incoming domestic passengers will not face COVID-19 related requirements.
While many countries in Europe have reduced entry requirements, there are many in Asia and Africa that still require pre-departure testing and proof of vaccination, says Jemica Archer, owner of TrueBlue Travels in Jacksonville, Fla.
Ms. Archer says she still uses caution when booking trips for customers. Although the rules are loosening now, new forms can always emerge and the restrictions can change. “Next month it could be, ‘We’re tightening back up,'” she says.
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