Cyprus, Greece, and the British Virgin Islands are the newest additions to the list
After months of an international travel ban, the world is finally seeing a shift toward reopening. More countries are slowly starting to open up to travelers who have had their COVID-19 vaccine and airlines and airports are setting up new routes for those eager to travel. Let’s see what are the latest additions to the list of countries accepting vaccinated travelers.
Cyprus
The island nation in the Mediterranean Sea announced recently it’ll be opening up to fully vaccinated travelers on 10 May. Tourists from 65 countries who have received all required jabs won’t need to take a COVID-19 test or go into quarantine.
On the green-lit list will be countries like Armenia, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Switzerland. Only those having received an EMA-approved vaccine — Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Moderna — will be allowed to enter with no other restrictions.
The British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands make up a volcanic archipelago in the Caribbean, popular as a beach and yachting destination. The government has announced it will ease restrictions for vaccinated travelers starting 15 May.
The vaccines accepted by the British Overseas Territory include AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Those with completed vaccination rounds will still be required to show a negative PCR test result within five days of arrival and may be tested again upon arrival.
“If the test administered on arrival returns a negative result, the fully vaccinated traveler will be immediately released from quarantine unless they have been in close contact with a positive case,” said BVI Health Services Authority, Carvin Malone.
Croatia
A summer favorite, Croatia is among the latest countries to start allowing in travelers who have been fully vaccinated without the need to self-isolate or present a test. There must be at least a 14-day period between travel and the last dose.
Besides vaccinated travelers, Croatia also allows in those who have previously been infected and recovered and those with proof of a negative test no older than 48 hours of travel. Moreover, passengers traveling from the green list of countries, regardless of their citizenship, are allowed in under the same conditions as pre-pandemic.
Grenada
Starting on 1 May, the Caribbean island of Grenada will ease restrictions for vaccinated travelers. They will need to obtain a PCR test before traveling, apply for travel authorization, test again on arrival in Grenada, and quarantine for 48 hours in pre-booked accommodation while waiting for their test result. Once medically cleared by the Ministry of Health, visitors are free to enjoy the country.
Unvaccinated travelers can enter as well, however, they need to quarantine for up to seven days in a hotel booked in advance, and take a PCR test on the fifth day of their stay.
Ecuador
Travelers who have either a COVID-19 recovery certificate, a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, or a PCR test not older than three days prior to arrival are welcome to travel into the country. On arrival, passengers may still be asked to have a rapid COVID-19 antigen test although this is only applicable to passengers 14 years of age and older.
Passengers from Brazil are still required to undergo a 10-day quarantine.
All passengers must complete a declaration form to be presented on arrival.
Greece
Regardless of the situation in your departure country, all unvaccinated passengers to Greece are required to show a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in the country.
Travelers possessing a vaccination certificate of any of the types approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are free to enter the country without needing a PCR test or isolation. This applies only to passengers from the following: EU and Schengen, US, UK, Israel, Serbia, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, and Russia.
With the mercury in Greece reaching balmy temperatures, airlines are announcing their route plans for the summer. Many carriers have opened brand new routes direct to the islands, offering passengers practical options to reach idyllic destinations without the need to transfer through Athens onto ferries or connecting flights.
Starting 15 May, the Latvian carrier Air Baltic will fly weekly direct flights between Riga and Heraklion, Crete and as of 5 June will also add a direct flight to Santorini.
Ryanair intend to start flying into three new airports for the airline — Corfu, Crete, and Rhodes.
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air have announced that they will fly direct to Santorini from 18 European origin airports and to Crete from 14, and also opening new routes from their newly-established hubs in Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Good news: you can now travel to Greece without having to quarantine if you are a UK resident! But how?
👨⚕️ A negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to your arrival.
📝 Or a certificate proving that you have been vaccinated at least 14 days prior to your arrival.Book now! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/UkgGCgkh5o
— Wizz Air UK (@WizzAirUK_W9) April 27, 2021
From Paris Charles de Gaulle, the French flag carrier Air France are also flying direct to these airports and in total have added six new destinations for sun-seekers: Corfu, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, and Thessaloniki.
To complete the list of new routes for European airlines, Blue Air have already started flying direct between their home base in Bucharest, Romania, and the Islands of Zakynthos, Rhodes, Irakleio, and the legendary Mykonos.
14 May marks the official opening of international tourism and flights from Qatar Airways are copying the trend of flying direct to the islands and will be flying daily between Doha and Mykonos.
Although no American carriers will be following suit in direct island flights, Delta will restart operations between JFK in New York, and O’Hare in Atlanta flying direct to the capital, Athens on 28 May and 2 July respectively. From 1 July, United Airlines will operate daily flights from Washington DC to the Greek capital until 3 October for passengers who have either been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a negative PCR test certificate.
Guatemala
The Central American country lying at the southern border of Mexico, accepts COVID-19 vaccinated travelers. Those who possess a COVID-19 passport or proof of vaccination can enter and exit the country without special conditions.
Everyone else who hasn’t been vaccinated yet, can either bring a negative test result that is not older than 72 hours before arrival or proof of recovery from the infection in the last three months.
Belize
All fully vaccinated passengers who arrive in Belize do not need to undergo COVID-19 tests, providing they have had all required vaccination doses. Travelers who have not been vaccinated are required to show a negative test no older than 96 hours for a PCR test or 48 hours for a rapid antigen test from one of the following providers: Quidel Sofia, SD Biosensor, and Abbott Panbio. Official correspondence such as an e-mail from a testing facility is also accepted as proof of testing.
Prior to arrival, all passengers with smartphones are required to download the Belize Travel Health app for “daily health monitoring of arriving passengers, location monitoring, and for contact tracing, if necessary.”
Unvaccinated passengers traveling back to the United States from Belize must take a CDC-compliant test 1–3 days before departure from Belize.
What countries have opened up previously?
We’re regularly updating the information on countries that are opening up to international tourists who have received their vaccinations. Several countries have already started welcoming visitors, including several European ones, such as Poland, Estonia, or Iceland, and others, such as Seychelles.
Always check the current restrictions at your destination before booking a trip and traveling abroad.
Go to Kiwi.com Stories to find out more about the latest developments in international travel.
