We’re not out of the woods yet, but travel around the world is surely getting easier due to the removal of restrictions. Have these measures affected unvaccinated travel? Yes. Due to the lifting of these travel restrictions, the number of destinations allowing unvaccinated travellers has significantly increased. So, if you’re one of the explorers wondering, “where can I go on holiday unvaccinated?” keep reading.
Here’s everything to know about the countries allowing travellers from the UK who are not yet vaccinated.
Is unvaccinated travel allowed?
Unvaccinated travel might not be allowed everywhere, but many holiday destinations have started to become much more lenient towards travellers who have not been jabbed; that’s why we’re talking about the 29 places to go unvaccinated in this article.
What are the isolation rules for returning to the UK if I’m unvaccinated?
No new rules have been introduced after the ones implemented as of April 1st, 2023.
Therefore, unvaccinated travellers will no longer have to self-isolate when they arrive.
However, they will still be required to take a Covid test (PCR or lateral flow) 48 hours before departure and fill in a mandatory passenger locator form. Once they land, they will be required to take a pre-booked PCR test by the end of day 2, where the day of arrival is day 0.
How do I keep up with the places to go unvaccinated?
A handful of countries allow people who have not been vaccinated to enter. Some are in Europe, while the others are a little further away.
We recommend closely following UK health guidance, including having your Covid vaccine and booster if you can. You should verify official guidelines before travelling, both for the country you may be visiting and the UK when you return.
Where can I go on holiday unvaccinated?
Covid-19 restrictions are still important but falling as more people have received the recommended dosage of vaccinations. This, in turn, has benefited travellers who have not yet been jabbed as well! Here are 29 places to go unvaccinated.
1. Greece
Unvaccinated visitors can enter the country with proof of a negative PCR test issued within 72 hours of arrival or a negative Covid-19 rapid antigen test taken 24 hours after the arrival. This rule applies to everyone above the age of five.
Travellers may also be asked to undergo a rapid Covid test on arrival. If the test returns positive, you (and those with you) will have to self-isolate for a minimum of at least five days, either at home or in a hotel (paid by the Greek state). If you have zero signs of Covid-19 symptoms, you will be allowed to leave quarantine.
The Greek government also ‘strongly recommends that you take either a certified rapid test or certified PCR test on both days two and four after arrival in Greece.
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2. Iceland
All Covid limitations, including domestic rules, were lifted on February 25, 2022. This means that you will not be required to take a vaccination test or provide proof of vaccination status in order to enter the country.
For travellers wondering, “where can I go on holiday unvaccinated”, this is a popular pick.
3. United Arab Emirates
You do not have to be fully vaccinated to visit the UAE. Unvaccinated arrivals to the Emirates must show evidence of a negative PCR test taken 48 hours before departure. Travellers landing in Abu Dhabi will also be subjected to a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival, as well as on days four and eight, but will not be needed to quarantine.
4. Italy
Unvaccinated tourists entering Italy from the UK must fill in a locator form and show a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours before entering Italy or a negative lateral flow test taken within 24 hours before entering. They then need to notify the Prevention Department of the local health authority of their entry into Italy, travel to their final destination in Italy by private transport only & self-isolate for five days. At the end of the five days, they must take another PCR or lateral flow test to leave quarantine. It is one of the top places to go unvaccinated.
5. Turkey
Turkey does not require you to be fully vaccinated, but the country does ask that you show evidence of a negative PCR test (taken not more than 72 hours prior), rapid antigen test (taken no more than 48 hours before arrival) or proof of a recovery from Covid-19 within the last six months. Arrivals into the country must also display a completed online form 72 hours prior to travel and may be subjected to a medical examination.
6. Maldives
On arrival in the Maldives, all tourists (excluding children under the age of one) must submit a negative PCR test. The test & negative PCR certificate must be issued no more than 96 hours before departure. While those who are unvaccinated will be allowed to enter, they will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days and take an exit test before leaving quarantine. This does not apply to fully vaccinated travellers.
7. Sri Lanka
All travellers should present a pre-travel health registration form before entering Sri Lanka. Covid travel insurance is mandatory for all visitors, and unvaccinated travellers need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before their flight, or a negative lateral flow test taken no more than 48 hours before – be aware that self-swab tests are not recognised. In Sri Lanka, you will need to stay in a ‘Tourism Bio Bubble’ for seven days after arrival, although you will be allowed to visit approved tourist sites and use all facilities of the hotel upon negative results of the on-arrival PCR test.
8. Sweden
Until March 31 2022, Sweden has an entry ban in place for unvaccinated non-EU citizens. However, if you can provide evidence that you are exempt from the country’s current ban, you may be able to enter.
Unvaccinated people will be allowed to enter if they can show evidence of a negative PCR or antigen test (taken no more than 72 hours before entry). For entrance to Sweden, proof of previous Covid infection will not be accepted.
9. Norway
All Covid-19 travel restrictions upon entry to Norway have been removed, which means that the same rules as before the pandemic apply once again.
10. Bahamas
When visiting the Bahamas, visitors are no longer subjected to stringent health screenings. Prior to entering the country, visitors no longer needed to submit a COVID-19 test or confirmation of immunization.
While there is no need for quarantine upon entering the Bahamas, anyone who is symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19 must be quarantined.
11. Seychelles
Travellers can enter Seychelles regardless of vaccination status, but they must show proof of a negative PCR test done within 72 hours of leaving and stay in approved accommodation. There is no need to quarantine when you arrive.
12. Egypt
Before entering Egypt, all visitors are required to fill out a declaration form. Unvaccinated travellers must present either a negative PCR test performed no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Egypt or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 24 hours prior to their arrival in Egypt. COVID-19 recovery proof will not be accepted.
13. Cape Verde
You do not have to be fully vaccinated to visit Cape Verde. However, the country does require you to prove that you don’t have Covid, either with a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before departure or a lateral flow test was taken 48 hours before flying. Your temperature will also be taken into account on arrival, and if it’s higher than 37.5°C, you may need to do another test.
14. Ireland
Before travelling from the United Kingdom to Ireland, passengers must complete a location form. They will also be required to show proof of vaccination or recovery, as well as proof of a negative PCR test done within 72 hours of their entry into the country.
15. Mexico
Mexico currently does not require travellers to show evidence of a negative PCR test or quarantine upon arrival; however, you must fill out a form ahead of time and bring the QR code from the form with you while entering the country. On arrival, resorts might also ask visitors to fill out a health questionnaire.
16. Paraguay
No COVID test or vaccination confirmation is required for entrance into Uruguay as of February 16, 2023. However, all overseas visitors to Uruguay will be required to provide a health insurance policy valid in Uruguay for the duration of their stay.
17. Singapore
The COVID-19 entry restrictions for visitors to Singapore have been lifted, including the requirement that they have received all recommended vaccinations. Visitors are no longer required to present documentation related to coronavirus for entry. The change became effective on February 13, 2022. After that date
travelers will no longer be subject to border restrictions. This includes the removal of the requirement to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative test result.
18. China
As of January 8, China will no longer require overseas travelers to undergo quarantine. This is an important step toward reopening the borders that sealed off the country from the outside world for nearly three years.
China’s National Health Commission (NHC) said last week that inbound visitors now only need to present a negative Covid test conducted within 48 hours of departure.
China is easing border controls as part of a larger effort to dismantle the remnants of its long-standing zero-Covid policy, which was abruptly abandoned earlier this month in response to widespread protests over its severe social and economic costs.
19. South Korea
South Korea finally dropped the testing on arrival. This means that passengers no longer need to present a Covid-19 test or a vaccine certification to enter the country.
20. Tunisia
With the removal of all travel restrictions, Tunisia, a wonderful Mediterranean country that first closed its borders due to the pandemic nearly three years ago, will once again welcome tourists as usual. Short-term visitors from other nations, including Americans, will no longer need to go through health checks before or after arrival.
On Dec. 1, Tunisia’s Ministry of Health approved lifting all travel restrictions due to health concerns and reinstating pre-2020 entry requirements.
21. India
The remaining pandemic-related travel requirement, the Air Suvidha form, has been eliminated, according to the Indian government.
Beginning today, November 22, international travellers will no longer be required to complete this health declaration form or submit a PCR COVID-19 test. Previously, they were obliged to do so in order to enter the country.
22. St. Maarten
As of November 1, visitors will no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or negative test result in order to enter the island.
This week, Omar Ottley, St. Maarten’s minister of tourism, provided confirmation of the details.
Visitors will only need to meet the “usual immigration and border control requirements to visit the island,” Ottley said.
23. Peru
Peru has now formally lifted all COVID -related restrictions after two and a half years of some of the strictest controls in the world, permitting the return of normal tourism. This means that travellers can once again enter Peru without restrictions after receiving notification that the country’s state of emergency has ended, which has already happened.
24. Spain
As of October 21, 2022, neither EU nor non-EU citizens will be required to show proof of their vaccinations, recovery, or a COVID-19 test result in order to enter the nation. The government website states: “All COVID-19 travel restrictions for travellers to Spain have been lifted. The rules that previously applied to travellers coming to Spain no longer apply.”
25. Ecuador
On October 20, 2022, Ecuador eliminated the COVID-19 admission requirements. International travellers are no longer required to present COVID-19 vaccination records or documentation of a negative COVID-19 test before entering Ecuador.
26. Canada
According to the federal government, all COVID-19 border controls will be eliminated on Saturday, so travellers won’t have to provide proof of vaccination to enter Canada or wear masks on trains and aeroplanes.
No matter their nationality, all travellers will no longer be required as of October 1 to:
Submit public health data using the ArriveCAN app or website.
- Show proof of vaccination.
- Pre- or post-arrival testing.
- Execute quarantine or isolation for COVID-19.
- Pass through health inspections for air and rail travel, or wear masks on aircraft and trains.
27. Thailand
Beginning Oct. 1, authorities will no longer require international travelers to present proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results to enter the country.
People will also be able to attend crowded events without having to produce proof of vaccination. Officials announced that the nationwide state of emergency, which was set to expire on September 30, will not be extended.
The decision followed a meeting with the National Communicable Diseases Committee (NCDC) last Wednesday.
28. Trinidad & Tobago
All entry requirements for Trinidad and Tobago were abolished as of July 1, 2022. T&T was one of the strictest countries throughout the pandemic.
29. Malta
Starting July 25, 2022, Malta permanently lifted all entry requirements. Masks have not been required since April but will continue to be required indoors and now on flights.
Conclusion
There you have it, folks! We hope this answers all your thoughts on “where can I go on holiday unvaccinated?”. Feel free to call us and get more information on all the places to go unvaccinated.