Countries Open for Vaccinated Travellers: Where Can You Go After You Get Your Vaccine

Due to COVID Situation, most of the people are stuck in their homes and after being stuck indoors for the whole year, you’re now thinking it’s a time you to get out into the world and do some traveling once again. Yes, there are Some countries that allowing fully vaccinated international travelers and that is without requiring quarantine.

After the surge of the second wave of the pandemic riding over our innately packed life and travel, we had no option but to become all couch potatoes once again. What seemed like a long, monotonous, endless wait, has now come to an end as some countries have opened their doors to welcome travelers. But the only thing one needs to ensure before that is one ought to have taken that jab of vaccination before they plan a trip to these nations. and yes you need travel insurance before visiting some countries. 

Keeping in view the current pandemic, certain color codes have been established for the purpose of risk assessment. Each country is assigned a color code that would signify its level of risk. The 3 color codes are as follows:

1. Red - These are the regions or countries where individuals are at a high risk of infection.
2. Orange - Orange-coded nations have a moderately elevated risk of infection.
3. Green - These are the regions or countries for which a low risk of infection has been identified.

The United States had already rolled out travel programs for vaccinated tourists, France and Denmark are among the latest to make this move. As per the new entry norms for France, that came into effect from June 9th, vaccinated tourists from European nations and those of the seven "green" countries- Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, and Singapore- can now enter France without undergoing the mandatory Covid-19 testing. Fully vaccinated travelers from “orange” countries—including the United States and the United Kingdom—will also be allowed but they would be required to provide a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours, or a negative antigenic test of no more than 48 hours. On a similar note, Denmark declared that it would open from June 5 to vaccinated Americans, provided it’s been 14 days since their final dose. Unvaccinated children are allowed entry but will need to take a test. 

Following is the list of some of the countries that have presently opened their borders for vaccinated international travelers:

1. Bahamas: The Bahamas have waived off all their pre-travel testing requirements effective from the 1st of May,2021. Fully vaccinated international tourists and those having passed the two-week immunity period will be exempted from testing requirements for entry and inter-island travel.
2. Barbados: For Barbados, apart from being vaccinated, what one needs would be proof of vaccination and proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within three days prior to departure. Travelers, upon reaching the place, are required to submit to a second test and stay in isolation until the results have come.
3. British Virgin Islands: Known for its reef-lined beaches and as a yachting destination, the British Virgin Islands allows travelers to avoid quarantine for four days if they test negative prior to and after arriving there. In addition to the same, they must also provide evidence of an “approved” vaccine — such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson.
4. Ecuador: Inoculated travelers will be allowed to enter Ecuador if they will be able to show proof of vaccination at the airport prior to departure. Unvaccinated travelers may also visit Ecuador as well as the Galapagos Islands with a negative COVID-19 test taken up to three days before arrival. 
5. Guatemala: Travelers who have been vaccinated for at least two weeks can travel to this nation. In case one is not yet vaccinated, they can still enter the country if they have negative test results obtained no more than 72 hours before arrival. The only exception is for travelers arriving from the UK and South Africa who may not be allowed entry.
6. Hawaii: For fully vaccinated individuals inter-country travel without pre-travel testing/quarantine starting the 15th day after the completion of their vaccination has been permitted now.
7. The United States: Entry and travel through the nation is permitted if one has a negative COVID-19 test taken at most 3 days before departure from the first embarkation point. Tests accepted are antigen, NAAT, RT-LAMP, RT-PCR, or TMA.
8. Albania: This European nation does not make it mandatory for travelers to obtain a negative COVID test to enter it. Also, there is no requirement to quarantine oneself upon arrival, however, quarantine may apply in specific cases when ordered by health authorities.
9. Austria: Tourists need not fill out the pre-travel clearance form if they are entering from states or areas of low epidemiological risk, carry proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative test result. And also if they have not stayed in any other state or area than those of low epidemiological risk or Austria in the past 10 days.
10. Bulgaria: This beautiful nation has opened its borders to all fully vaccinated travelers. You just need to provide a vaccination certificate confirming the same. Unvaccinated travelers may also enter if they can present either a negative result from a PCR test performed within 72 hours of their entry into the country or a negative antigen test performed within 48 hours of their entry into the country.
11. Croatia: Fully vaccinated travelers, with the final dose is taken 14 days prior to arrival in the country, or those who have recovered from the infection, can now visit the country. Those who can produce a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours of arrival are also welcome. In all cases, travelers will need to show proof of their accommodations in advance. 
12. Germany: The country has resumed its international tourism post the 25th of June allowing fully vaccinated travelers. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) needs to be provided. The vaccines permitted are Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. A period of at least 14 days must have elapsed since receiving the last vaccine dose. Travelers must also print out their proof of vaccination and carry it with them on their travels.
13. Gibraltar: Both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are required to take an on-arrival test. If remaining in Gibraltar for more than 7 days, travelers will also be required to take a further Lateral Flow Test on Day 5 from the date of arrival. 
14. Greece: The scenic nation of Greece has allowed travelers to visit the place, but they are required to present a certificate stating they have been fully vaccinated or have a valid negative test. 
15. Iceland: Alike Greece, Iceland also requires its visitors to produce a valid vaccination certificate detailing which vaccine was administered, who the issuer was, and the batch number of the vaccine.
16. Poland: International tourists here need not follow quarantine requirements only if they are able to prove that they have been vaccinated for COVID. However, Poland is currently only allowing certain types of travelers to enter its borders, including students, diplomats, essential workers along with citizens, and residents.
17. Russia: Travelers ought to have a print of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued at most 3 days before arrival. The quarantine procedure will only be required if a passenger develops any symptoms of COVID-19.
18. Spain: Spain has also opened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from around the world starting from the 7th of June.
19. Switzerland: Fully vaccinated travelers or those who have recovered from the infection in the last six months will be able to enter Switzerland without any quarantine and pre-testing measures. Vaccinated travelers must have received vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or one of the vaccines included in the WHO’s Emergency Use Listing. These include the Pfizer BioNTech, Sinopharm, and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines.
20. Turkey: All arriving passengers are required to present a negative PCR test taken at most 72 hours before arrival or a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken at most 48 hours before arrival.
21. The Maldives: This beautiful scenic South Asian Island has opened its borders to tourists of all nationalities on the 15th of July,2020. Individuals who have completed two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine 2 weeks prior to travel date, may be exempted from the mandatory travel quarantine (within the Maldives) given that a Negative PCR test (taken 72 hours prior to travel) is presented. 
22. Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka has outlined the following travel protocols for vaccinated travelers. For them, and their kids aged 12 and younger, testing requirements are reduced, and they are free to leave Sri Lanka’s bio-bubble (quarantine), which is designed to prevent tourists from mingling with the locals. That’s provided they test negative about 24-48 hours after arriving.
23. Thailand: Travelers traveling to Phuket with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival will not be subjected to quarantine. Vaccines accepted are AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), AZD1222 (SK Bioscience Co Ltd.), Covidshield, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.

So these were few nations where you can just plan a quick trip to take yourself out of boredom and get into some much-needed adventure and fun. But do not forget to mask up!