• Travellers must fill out a form online before heading to the Maldives. Photo: Baros
    Travellers must fill out a form online before heading to the Maldives. Photo: Baros
  • Fully vaccinated passengers travelling to the Seychelles are exempt from Covid-19 PCR testing requirements. Photo: Seychelles Tourism Board
    Fully vaccinated passengers travelling to the Seychelles are exempt from Covid-19 PCR testing requirements. Photo: Seychelles Tourism Board
  • Travellers must complete a health form online before heading to Mauritius. Photo: Unsplash
    Travellers must complete a health form online before heading to Mauritius. Photo: Unsplash
  • From March 28, registration on the MOPH Pass Platform of the Ministry of Public Health is no longer required for travel to Lebanon. AFP
    From March 28, registration on the MOPH Pass Platform of the Ministry of Public Health is no longer required for travel to Lebanon. AFP
  • There are no longer any Covid‑19 entry restrictions for travel to Jordan. Photo: Alamy
    There are no longer any Covid‑19 entry restrictions for travel to Jordan. Photo: Alamy
  • From May 1, there are no longer any Covid‑19 entry restrictions for travel to Kuwait. Photo: Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait
    From May 1, there are no longer any Covid‑19 entry restrictions for travel to Kuwait. Photo: Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait
  • From August 1, the New Zealand border is reopening to all tourists and visa holders. Courtesy: Tom Roberton
    From August 1, the New Zealand border is reopening to all tourists and visa holders. Courtesy: Tom Roberton
  • There are no longer any entry restrictions for travel to Australia. AP
    There are no longer any entry restrictions for travel to Australia. AP
  • There are no longer any Covid-19 entry restrictions for travel to South Africa. Alamy Stock Photo
    There are no longer any Covid-19 entry restrictions for travel to South Africa. Alamy Stock Photo
  • Passengers must fill out an online Public Health Passenger Form before departure to Morocco. Photo: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis
    Passengers must fill out an online Public Health Passenger Form before departure to Morocco. Photo: Matthew Williams-Ellis/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis
  • There are no longer any Covid‑19 entry requirements for travel to Egypt. AP Photo
    There are no longer any Covid‑19 entry requirements for travel to Egypt. AP Photo
  • Travellers to Greece are no longer required to have a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a Covid-19 test result. AFP
    Travellers to Greece are no longer required to have a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a Covid-19 test result. AFP
  • Passengers travelling to France from the UAE need proof of vaccination, or a negative PCR result from the previous 72 hours. AFP
    Passengers travelling to France from the UAE need proof of vaccination, or a negative PCR result from the previous 72 hours. AFP
  • Visitors to Switzerland will no longer be required to carry Covid‑19 test, recovery or vaccination certificates to enter the country. AFP
    Visitors to Switzerland will no longer be required to carry Covid‑19 test, recovery or vaccination certificates to enter the country. AFP
  • Travellers to Spain must make sure they have had a booster shot if their second vaccine dose was more than 270 days ago. Getty
    Travellers to Spain must make sure they have had a booster shot if their second vaccine dose was more than 270 days ago. Getty
  • There are no longer any vaccination, PCR test or quarantine requirements to enter the UK. EPA
    There are no longer any vaccination, PCR test or quarantine requirements to enter the UK. EPA

Covid-19 summer travel rules and vaccine booster shots explained


Sarah Forster
  • English
  • Arabic

Summer temperatures are rising and parents are preparing to whisk their families abroad for a change of scene and cooler climes.

After years of Covid restrictions limiting which countries were accessible, the world is once again on offer when choosing a destination.

But, if it has been a year since your last Covid inoculation, is your jab now out of date?

If you do need an additional vaccination, call your local health authority to arrange an appointment.

The National explains the entry requirements for some of the most popular holiday destinations. Requirements for unlisted destinations can be found here.

Europe

UK & Ireland — There are no longer any Covid‑19 entry restrictions for travel to the United Kingdom or Ireland. This includes requirements for testing, vaccination, quarantine and entry forms.

Spain — All passengers over 12 years old arriving in the country, including returning Spanish citizens, must have one of the following documents: a digital Covid‑19 certificate or EU equivalent; a vaccination certificate against Covid‑19; or a negative Covid‑19 test certificate or a certificate of recovery.

It must have been a minimum of 14 days since your last vaccination, but also no more than 270 days. After this, you must prove that you have had a booster or third dose.

Recovery certificates are valid for up to 180 days before arrival.

Switzerland — Passengers will no longer be required to carry Covid‑19 test, recovery or vaccination certificates to be accepted for travel.

France — Passengers travelling from the UAE need proof of vaccination, or a negative PCR result from the previous 72 hours.

Greece — Passengers are no longer required to hold a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a Covid-19 test result to enter the country. Quarantine restrictions have also been lifted.

Switzerland no longer has any travel restrictions in place regarding Covid vaccination or PCR test. Reuters
Switzerland no longer has any travel restrictions in place regarding Covid vaccination or PCR test. Reuters

Africa

Egypt — There are no longer any Covid‑19 entry restrictions for travel to Egypt. Passengers are no longer required to hold a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a Covid-19 test result to enter the country. Quarantine restrictions have also been lifted.

Morocco — Passengers must fill out an online Public Health Passenger Form before departure, and present a printed version on arrival. They must also have received their second dose within four months of arriving, or have received a booster dose. Passengers between 12 to 18 years old are considered fully vaccinated as long as they have received two doses of an approved vaccine. A booster dose is not required.

South Africa — There are no longer any Covid-19 entry restrictions for travel to South Africa. Passengers are no longer required to hold a vaccination certificate or a Covid-19 test result to enter the country. Quarantine restrictions have also been lifted.

Australasia

Australia — From July 6, there are no longer any entry restrictions for travel to Australia. Passengers are no longer required to hold a Covid‑19 vaccination certificate or a negative Covid‑19 test result to enter the country. Quarantine restrictions have also been lifted.

New Zealand — From August 1, the New Zealand border is re‑opening to all tourists and visa holders. Travellers must still adhere to Covid-19 vaccination requirements.

Gulf & Middle East

Kuwait - From 1 May, there are no longer any Covid‑19 entry restrictions for travel to Kuwait. Passengers are no longer required to hold a Covid‑19 vaccination certificate or a negative Covid‑19 test result to enter the country. Quarantine restrictions have also been lifted.

Jordan — There are no longer any Covid‑19 entry restrictions for travel to Jordan. These include requirements for testing, vaccination and quarantine.

Lebanon — From March 28, registration on the MOPH Pass Platform of the Ministry of Public Health is no longer required. Travellers must take a PCR test within 72 hours of departure, unless they have received a third dose or booster shot, or if their second dose was within the past six months.

To head to the Maldives this summer make sure to fill in the required paperwork online ahead of departure. Photo: Heritance Aarah Maldives
To head to the Maldives this summer make sure to fill in the required paperwork online ahead of departure. Photo: Heritance Aarah Maldives

Indian Ocean islands

Maldives — Travellers must complete the online Traveller Declaration Form within 96 hours before arrival in the Maldives, get a QR code and present it to an immigration officer on arrival.

Passengers travelling to the Maldives as tourists must have a confirmed hotel reservation for their stay at registered tourist facilities.

Mauritius — Travellers must complete a health form online. There are no longer any Covid-19 entry restrictions for travel to Mauritius. Passengers are no longer required to have a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a PCR test result to enter the country. Quarantine restrictions have also been lifted.

Seychelles — Fully vaccinated passengers travelling to the Seychelles are exempt from Covid-19 PCR testing requirements.

The specs

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Updated: July 08, 2022, 3:00 AM