[Updated May 2021] These Countries Are Opening Up to Vaccinated Tourists

If you can't contain your urge to travel abroad, here are the first countries you may want to visit.
by WindowSeat.ph | April 26, 2021

Have you been feeling the itch to travel again? After being stuck in your homes for more than a year now, we can just imagine how strong your urge is to just randomly book a flight, pack your luggage, hop on a plane, and meet new people. While some countries are now opening up to vaccinated travelers from low-risk countries, many of them aren’t accepting Filipino travelers yet. And so, here’s a roundup of the countries accepting vaccinated travelers from the Philippines — perfect for your bucket list in the new normal era. [Updated May 26, 2021]

Asia

Hong Kong 

• Travelers from low-risk countries like New Zealand, Singapore, and Australia must quarantine in designated hotels for 7 days
• Travelers from medium to high-risk countries must quarantine for 14 days
• Vaccinated travelers from very high-risk countries like the UK and Ireland must quarantine for 21 days
• However, travelers from extremely high-risk countries like India, Brazil, and the Philippines are banned from boarding passenger flights to the Philippines

Maldives 

• Vaccinated travelers are no longer required to take pre-flight COVID testing and quarantines
• Unvaccinated kids who are traveling are required to undergo testing
• Unvaccinated travelers can skip quarantine if they’re staying on an island where 60% of the population are vaccinated

Nepal

To enter Nepal, you’ll need to present:

• Negative PCR test taken 72 hours before boarding or a document showing complete vaccination against COVID-19
• VISA or recommendation from the department of tourism
• Proof of travel insurance
• Barcode obtained via an online application

Sri Lanka 

• Check out this flowchart for vaccinated travelers
• Kids aged 12 and younger have reduced resting requirements and are allowed to leave the country’s “bio-bubble” if they test negative after taking a test 24-48 hours upon arrival

Phuket, Thailand

• Thailand is looking into reopening Phuket in July.
• They are looking into waiving quarantines for vaccinated travelers.

Taiwan 

• Taiwan is looking into shortening quarantines for vaccinated travelers — from 14 days to just seven.
• Entry will be through an application. Accepted participants are required to be vaccinated one month before traveling
• Travelers will likely have to go through three COVID-related testings before and after arrival

Middle East

Israel

Starting May 23, this Middle-Eastern nation will be opening its borders to a limited number of groups of foreign tourists who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Here’s what you’ll need:

• RT-PCR test
• Serological test proving COVID-19 vaccination

Lebanon

• Travelers can skips COVD testing before their flight if they have been vaccinated 15 days before departing
• Travelers must have received their second dose of vaccine in the U.S., Lebanon, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, most of Europe and Asia, and parts of North Africa
• Testing is required upon arrival

Europe

Croatia

Here’s what you’ll need for travel:

• Proof of paid accommodation
• Negative COID-19 test result taken within 48 hours of arrival
• If testing can’t be done, tourists have to go through a 10-day isolation
• Tourists from low-risk countries don’t have to undergo testing, as long as they don’t have symptoms and have not been in close contact with an infected person.

Montenegro

• Fully vaccinated tourists within the last seven days prior to arrival
• Present a negative PCR test taken within the last 72 hours

It shouldn’t be difficult for you to visit this country in eastern Europe if you’re coming from low-risk countries. Check this site for more info.

Iceland

• Travelers from high-risk countries are required to stay in quarantine facilities for five to six days
• Vaccinated tourists no longer have to present a negative COVID-19 test result, but must take a test upon arrival
• Unvaccinated tourists must present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours, take another upon arrival, and quarantine for five to six days
• Another test is required before leaving the country

The European Union bloc

• Travelers immunized with vaccines approved by European regulators are allowed to travel. Approved vaccines are Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson&Jonshon
• Unvaccinated tourists from low-risk countries are also allowed entry

Cyprus 

• Tourists from most of Europe, Canada, United States, Russia, and other countries are allowed entry as long as they are immunized with European Medicines Agency-approved vaccine or Sputnik V vaccine from Russia
• A vaccine certificate must also be uploaded before departure, which will be verified by border control services

Estonia

• Tourists who received their COVID-19 vaccine can skip the tests and 10-ay quarantine
• Present proof of vaccination; this may be through an immunization certificate or passport, or approved vaccines from the traveler’s country of departure or residence

Germany 

• Quarantine is no longer required
• Only travelers immunized with vaccines on the Paul-Ehlich-Institut website are allowed entry. Chinese and Russian-made vaccines are not included.

Greece

• Present a negative PCR test result
• Travelers immunized with Chinese or Russian-made vaccines are allowed entry
• Travelers from the following countries can skip quarantine: residents of the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, Australia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Rwanda, Thailand, and Russia

Italy 

• Travelers who are residents of the United Kingdom, Israel, European Union, and Schengen Area can skip quarantine when they present a negative COVID test result within 48 hours of arrival
• Tourists from the United Arab or Emirates, the United States, Japan, and Canada can also skip quarantine if they arrive via Covid-tested flights to Naples, Rome, Milan, or Venice. These flights require testing before and after arrival.

Malta 

• Present evidence of full vaccination, which can be used as a replacement for negative COVID-19 test result

Spain 

• Spain will be opening its borders to all vaccinated travelers on June 7. Check out this website for requirements and updates regarding vaccination rules.

Slovenia 

• Travelers from the “Red List” or 155 countries with an unstable epidemiological situation, are required to quarantine for 10 days.
• Present proof of vaccination to skip 10-day quarantine
• China and Russia-made vaccines are allowed

Africa

Seychelles

• Both vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists are allowed entry, except those coming from South Africa
• Present a negative PCR test no longer than 72 hours upon arrival
• Tourists have to get travel health insurance covering the cost of COVID-19 care and isolation expenses in case they contract the virus during their stay

Oceania

Bora Bora, Tahiti, Moorea, and other Islands of Tahiti 

• Visitors must present a compelling reason to visit the region
• Vaccinated travelers can skip the 10-day quarantine but families traveling with kids aged 6 and older may be subject to it

The Caribbean

Belize

One of the first countries to reopen to international tourism, this Caribbean nation has relaxed its restrictions to foreign tourists as early as January 2021. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Official COVID-19 vaccination card to be presented within two weeks of arrival
• Negative RT-PCR test taken 96 hours of arrival (48 hours for a rapid test)
• Testing can also be done at the airport for $50. Vaccinated tourists no longer need an RT-PCR test.

Bahamas

Beginning May 1, 2021, fully-vaccinated international tourists visiting The Bahamas and those who have passed the two-week immunity period are exempted from testing requirements. The following vaccines are only allowed in the country:

• PfizerBioNTech
• AstraZeneca
• Moderna
• Johnson&Johnson

Daily health questionnaires are no longer required as well.

Bermuda

• Tourists aged 10 and above must take a COVID PCR test before and after arrival
• Vaccinated tourists, as well as children aged 17 and below who test negative, aren’t required to go on a four-day quarantine
• Vaccinated tourists are also not required to wear wristbands and report temperatures twice daily

Barbados 

• Quarantine for vaccinated travelers have been reduced to zero to two days
• Vaccinated tourists with unvaccinated companions are required to undergo quarantine for a week or more if they’re staying together
• Children under 18 traveling with vaccinated parents are also allowed entry

British Virgin Islands 

• Present proof of vaccination from “approved” vaccines such as Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson&Johnson, and Pfizer BioNTech
• Travelers who tested negative before and after arrival can skip the four-day quarantine

Grenada 

• Present a negative COVID test result before and after arrival
• Vaccinated tourists are required to quarantine for no more than 48 hours

St. Kitts and Nevis 

• Present a negative COVID-19 test before entering the country
• Travelers who got European and U.S.-made vaccines are required to quarantine for nine days
• A COVID-19 test is required on the 9th day of quarantine

South & Central America

Ecuador

• Fully vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists are welcome to enter Ecuador
• Unvaccinated tourists have to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of arrival
• Previous COVID-19 patients are also welcome, 30 days after symptoms manifested

Guatemala

• Open to vaccinated tourists at least two weeks prior to arrival
• Requires a negative COVID test taken 72 hours prior to arrival
• Travelers who previously contracted the virus are also welcome, as long as they’ve recovered within the last 3 months
• Travelers who came from high-risk countries two weeks prior to arrival may be required quarantine

This list of countries accepting vaccinated tourists will be updated periodically.