Vaccinations have become a very popular topic of conversation, especially when it comes to travel. People are looking to book trips, but they aren’t sure if they’ll need the coronavirus vaccine to visit certain destinations around the world. Some countries are requiring that tourists need to be vaccinated, while others are welcoming visitors who haven’t received the vaccine. With so many places around the world having different requirements, it can be confusing to know if you’ll need a vaccine before visiting your desired vacation destination. If you’re ready to book your itinerary but would like some clarity, here’s what you should know about travel vaccinations:
Will You Be Able to Travel Without the Covid Vaccine?
There are some places that you can travel to without having the covid vaccine. For starters, you do not need the covid vaccine to fly domestically throughout the United States. When it comes to flying internationally, you will need to check if your destination country requires that visitors have been vaccinated or not. This means that although you can take an international flight, you may have to quarantine at your destination or you could even be turned away and sent back to the United States on arrival. There are some countries that require you to have the vaccine to visit (1), while others are requiring that you provide a negative covid test or quarantine.
Can I Travel After Getting the Covid Vaccine?
Once you get the covid vaccine and wait two weeks after receiving your full dose, you are considered to be protected from the coronavirus. Once you reach this point, there will be more options available for you in terms of where you can travel to. Some international destinations require that you are fully vaccinated against covid before visiting. So, once you receive your full dose of the vaccine there will be a wider variety of countries that you can travel to.
Will the Covid Vaccine be Mandatory For International Travel?
As of August 11, 2021, the coronavirus vaccine is only mandatory for international travel to some countries. Some international travel destinations are requiring that visitors show proof of vaccination on arrival, while others are not requiring that you’ve been vaccinated.
Please note that even if a country is not requiring you to be vaccinated against covid, it may still have other rules and restrictions in place such as having to quarantine or show proof of a negative covid test. It’s also important to note that the CDC recommends that you do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated (2). Â
What Countries Are Currently Open to Vaccinated Travelers?
There are several countries that are open to vaccinated travelers as of August 11, 2021. Here is the list of countries that are currently open to vaccinated travelers (1):
- AnguillaÂ
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- The British Virgin Islands
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- England
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- French Polynesia
- Republic of Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kenya
- Lebanon
- Lithuania
- Mexico
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nepal
- The Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Scotland
- Seychelles
- Slovenia
- Spain
- St. Bart’s
- St. Lucia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Wales
Please note that some of these countries may have further restrictions once you arrive, so you’ll want to do your research before booking your trip.
If you’re looking to travel in the near future, make sure that you do your research on the country you want to visit. Some countries require that visitors be fully vaccinated, while others have restrictions in place such as having to quarantine or show proof of a negative covid test.
Furthermore, if you have any questions about obtaining a passport or visa for your trip, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you get the passport or visa process started. We look forward to getting you to your destination!
Sources
- Baran, M. (2021, August 5). These countries are open to vaccinated travelers. AFAR. https://www.afar.com/magazine/travelers-with-covid-vaccines-can-visit-these-countries. Â
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). International travel During COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html#:~:text=Do%20not%20travel%20internationally%20until,get%20and%20spread%20COVID%2D19.
