COVID - The travel elephant in the room.
Remember - do your own Covid Research!
Traveling in the 3rd decade of the 21st Century is certainly not the same as traveling in the 1970s. Travel costs are way higher, the world is full of refugees trying to escape wars, poverty or searching for better economic conditions, countries want tourists yet are more wary and insular, and of course, COVID-19 and now the Monkeypox.
For all my meticulous planning for this trip the one thing I had not fully considered was the actual effect of Covid on my personal travel plans, two years plus after its' onset. After all I live in Western Australia and for two years Covid was something the rest of the world had, whilst we would go out and enjoy our meals and our coffee bars. Watch the following musical satire to understand how different Perth, WA was from the rest of Australia and, by extention, the rest of the world during the lock downs :)
I have had four anti-virus vaccinations, I have also recovered from Covid and have had the 2022 Influenza vaccine. So I was under the impression, incorrectly it seems, that all countries will just open their borders for me. My initial research gave me a shock!
The following is a summary of the research I have done as to each of the ten countries I am visiting and their Covid entry requirements. I am also comparing information published by the Australian Government Smart traveller site and the corresponding information from each country's own Covid information site for travellers. This research was conducted across the 8th, 9th & 10th of June 2022.
Update (10th July 2022): According to Smartraveller all countries I plan to visit have lifted Covid entry requirements with the exception of Spain.
Note:
It is the responsibility of all travellers to do their own research as Covid Omicron is still mutating. I present current information as it shows on the noted websites. This information may and can change without any notice. I have supplied links to country government websites for you to double check. Remember no-one but yourself is responsible for gaining the latest border entry data.
First of all, here is what Smart Traveller says in general about the Australian International Covid Vaccination Certificate ICVC
- Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. Foreign governments may need evidence of the COVID-19 vaccinations and tests you’ve had before they let you enter.
- The Australian-issued International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate
(ICVC) is a free and secure way to prove your COVID-19 vaccination
history when you travel across borders overseas.
On the smartraveller web site ( https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/COVID-19/global-covid-19-health-advisory) there is an option for travellers to request updates concerning the countries you are visiting. I would strongly recommend that you keep up to date with any changes that may affect you and your trip. Apparently the updates can arrive via email or SMS as and when the government receives them.The countries I am visiting
UPDATE!! 24th June 2022
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Via the Australian Smartraveller site I have been receiving updates concerning Covid and border entry. Most of the countries I am visiting have dropped their Covid entry requirements since I finalised this post. It would appear that currently only Spain still has somewhat strict requirements.
I would still warn any and all travellers to do their own research as Covid Omecron is apparently mutating yet again.
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United Kingdom
All COVID-19 travel restrictions for the UK have been removed, regardless of your vaccination status. You'll no longer need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive. There's no requirement to fill in a UK passenger locator form. There's no quarantine required on arrival.
You do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a passenger locator form. This applies whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
Spain
PASSENGERS FROM COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT BELONG TO THE EUROPEAN UNION OR ARE NOT CONSIDERED AS ASSOCIATED COUNTRIES SCHENGEN (i.e. Australians)
Passengers arriving in Spain by AIR (except children under the age of 12 and passengers in international transit) from countries that DO NOT belong to the European Union or are NOT considered Schengen associated countries, must have one of these documents:
or the Spain Travel Health application. The system will send you a QR code that you will have to
present both prior boarding, and upon your arrival in Spain. In the
health control, you may be required to present this document certifying
vaccination, diagnostic test or recovery. France
Travel
- If you're vaccinated against COVID-19 you're no longer required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test for entry into France. Check with your airline or travel company for the latest information. This is subject to change and may depend on the country of origin.
- France has introduced a traffic light-based border control system. There are additional entry requirements for unvaccinated travellers, including the requirement for a negative COVID test. Current rules are available on the French Government website.
- You can transit through France depending on your country of origin.
- COVID-19-related restrictions have eased across France, including
for mask wearing. You'll still need a Health Pass (pass sanitaire) to
access certain venues such as retirement homes and hospitals. For more
information, consult the French government website
Applicable rules depend on the traveller’s vaccination status.
The list of orange list countries classified by decree of the
Minister of Health, may be amended according to how the global outbreak
status evolves. Note that Australia falls under the definition of an Orange country.
The vaccination schedule is considered complete 28 days after receiving one dose of Janssen vaccine, seven days after a second dose of other vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (namely Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria/Covishield) and, for persons who have received all the required doses of a WHO-licensed vaccine not approved by the European Medicines Agency, seven days after receiving an additional dose of a duly approved mRNA vaccine.
Since 1 February 2022, in order for their vaccination schedule to continue to be recognised as complete, persons aged 18 years or older wishing to enter French territory must have received a booster dose of messenger RNA vaccine no later than nine months after receiving the last mandatory dose.
The Government draws the attention of travelers to the rules relating to the vaccination pass, necessary to access certain leisure activities, and which may differ from this definition : https://www.gouvernement.fr/le-pass-vaccinal-mode-d-emploi
Denmark
Updated: 29 March 2022
Germany
Czechia
2. Entry into the territory of the Czech Republic
As of 9th April 2022, the protective measures regarding the conditions of entry into the Czech Republic in relation to the epidemic of covid-19 have been suspended. Entry into the Czech Republic is no longer subject to any special epidemiological conditions to prevent the spread of the disease. The entry-ban for foreigners from third-countries and the obligation to prove infection-free status have been lifted.
Switzerland
Entering Switzerland: There are currently no entry restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more information on the Travel page.
Italy
If you're vaccinated against COVID-19 you're no longer required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test for entry into Italy. Check with your airline or travel company for the latest information.
A 5-day home quarantine is in force for travellers who fail to produce appropriate Covid-19 documentation on arrival.
Your temperature may be taken on arrival, along with other testing or screening. A nasal swab may be conducted if deemed necessary.
Netherlands
that country is not participating in the EU travel rules scheme.
If you fall under one of the exemptions to the EU entry ban:
you do not have to fill in a health declaration to enter the Netherlands;
you do not have to get tested before departure;
you do not have to self-quarantine on arrival in the Netherlands.
Belgium
Measures for territories of countries classified as very high risk
Following is an overview of the very high risk countries :
An entry ban applies to these third countries classified as very high-risk zones:
It is forbidden for people who have been on the territory of third countries classified as very high risk at any time during the past 14 days to travel, either directly or indirectly, to Belgian territory.
.................... and don't not forget that there may be re-entry and quarantine measures in place when you return down-under.
Australia
Re-entry and quarantine measures for returning to Australia
If you're returning to Australia, check your route carefully with your airline or travel agent as a number of key transit hubs have restrictions in place, including on transit.
Flight disruptions are not uncommon. Reconfirm your travel leading up to your departure and consider what you would do should your flight be rescheduled at the last minute, or if one of your travelling party received a positive COVID-19 test. Make a plan.
Evidence of a negative COVID-19 test is required to enter Australia. You must provide evidence of either:
- a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 72 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled departure (72 hours prior to the first flight if there are one or more connecting flights booked for travel to Australia), or
- a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) taken 24 hours before your flight’s departure.
Interesting Mike. Obviously good research.
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