Where can I travel unvaccinated this summer?

Even though the COVID pandemic seems to be fading out of the headlines, travel this summer will still depend on your vaccination status, making COVID-19 vaccines an indispensable part of travelling.

However, if you are unvaccinated and want to travel abroad this summer, all is not lost. Some destinations are not imposing strict COVID requirements on international arrivals.

In this article, we will look at which countries are allowing unvaccinated travellers to enter their borders.

Where can I travel unvaccinated?

The countries listed below allow international travellers to enter without undergoing any additional requirements (mostly). However, some countries may still ask travellers to undergo quarantine procedures or COVID testing before entry. 

This list is subject to change, so please check the FCDO foreign travel advice page for the destination you intend to travel to for the latest information. 

The Americas

• Brazil – All travellers to Brazil must present a negative PCR fit to fly test no older than 72 hours or an antigen test no older than 24 hours. Unvaccinated travellers also need to quarantine for five days. 
• Chile – All COVID travel restrictions were removed from 14 April 2022, but travel insurance is required, and you may be subject to random COVID tests on arrival.
• Cuba – Travellers can enter Cuba freely provided they consent to the possibility of a random PCR test on arrival.
• Jamaica – Testing requirements and mask mandates have been scrapped from 16 April 2022
• Mexico – No tests or vaccination statuses are required for entry into Mexico.

Asia and Africa

• Bangladesh – Travellers to Bangladesh must show a negative PCR fit to fly test no older than 48 hours.
• Bahrain – All COVID related travel restrictions have been removed for travel to Bahrain. Testing will be conducted on travellers who have COVID-19 related symptoms. 
• Cape Verde – All travellers to Cabo Verde must present a negative PCR fit to fly test result no older than 72 hours or an antigen test no older than 48 hours. 
• India – All travellers to India must upload either a negative PCR fit to fly test result or a certificate of complete COVID vaccination. 
• Maldives – Maldives allows free entry for all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status.
• Pakistan – Non-vaccinated passengers must submit a negative PCR fit to fly test taken in the 72 hours before arrival.
• Saudi Arabia – Travellers to Saudi Arabia are no longer required to present a negative PCR fit to fly test on arrival, and all quarantine measures have been removed. However, travellers must have medical insurance to cover any COVID-19 related treatment costs during their stay.
• South Africa – Border officials must be presented with a paper copy of a negative PCR fit to fly test on arrival in South Africa. 
• Thailand – Unvaccinated visitors to Thailand must present a negative PCR fit to fly test taken within 72 hours of departure. 

Europe

• Austria – all COVID protection measures have been lifted from 5 March 2022 – except for mandatory masks on public transport and in essential shops.
• Belarus – travellers to Belarus who are unvaccinated, should present a negative PCR fit to fly test taken 72 hours before departure. If you are arriving from a location that has confirmed cases of COVID-19, you may be asked to undergo a 10-day quarantine on arrival.
• Belgium – Travellers can enter Belgium with no restrictions if they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19. If you are unvaccinated, you need to take a PCR or rapid antigen test before arrival. The PCR fit to fly test must be taken within 24 hours before entry.
• Bosnia & Herzegovina – Unvaccinated travellers must present a negative PCR fit to fly test or antigen test results no older than 48 hours.
• Bulgaria – All COVID-19 entry requirements have been lifted by the government of Bulgaria from 1 May 2022. 
• Croatia – COVID-19 related entry restrictions have been completely lifted, and face mask mandates have recently been relaxed.
• Cyprus – Unvaccinated travellers can enter Cyprus if they can show proof of a negative PCR fit to fly test taken 72 hours before departure or an antigen test taken the 24 hours before departure
• The Czech Republic – The Czech Republic has now removed all COVID-19 related travel requirements for all arrivals.
• Denmark – All visitors to Denmark can now enter the country under pre-pandemic rules, regardless of their vaccination status, with all social curbs no longer applying inside the country either. 
• Finland – Unvaccinated travellers can only enter Finland if they can show a negative COVID-19 test result
• France – You must present a negative PCR fit to fly test result taken within 72 hours of an antigen test result taken within 48 hours of departure for entry to France if you are unvaccinated and over 12 years old. 
• Germany – Unvaccinated travellers, are not allowed to access Germany – only fully vaccinated people can. 
• Greece – You can now enter Greece without a negative COVID test result, regardless of vaccination status – and passenger locator forms are no longer required either. However, you will have to take a rapid antigen test on arrival. 
• Gibraltar – All COVID related travel restrictions have been removed, including the need to take any tests or quarantine.
• Hungary – There are no longer any coronavirus-related travel restrictions from 7 March 2022.
• Iceland – Iceland has removed all COVID-19 restrictions on travellers and all domestic measures. 
• Ireland – The Irish Government, has removed all COVID-19 travel restrictions.
• Latvia – COVID entry requirements for all travellers have been lifted from 1 April 2022
• Lithuania – If you are an unvaccinated traveller to Lithuania over 12, you need to present a negative PCR fit to fly test no older than 72 hours old or an antigen test no more than 48 hours. You will also have to self-quarantine for ten days, although this can be shortened if you test negative on the 7th day.
• Luxembourg – All travellers to Luxembourg are required to present a negative PCR fit to fly test no older than 72 hours or an antigen test no older than 48 hours.
• The Netherlands – Only travellers who hold a recovery certificate or valid vaccination can enter the Netherlands. Unvaccinated travellers are not permitted to enter. 
• Norway – There are no longer any requirements for vaccination certificates or PCR testing when travelling to Norway from 12 February 2022. 
• Poland – All COVID entry requirements, including quarantining rules and mask-wearing, have been removed from 28 March 2022.
• Portugal – Mainland Portugal and Madeira are now open to unvaccinated travellers if they can show proof of a negative PCR fit to fly test taken within 72 hours or an antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure.
• Romania – All COVID travel restrictions have been lifted from 16 March 2022
• Spain – Unvaccinated travellers, can enter Spain if they can show proof of a negative PCR fit to fly test taken 72 hours before departure or an antigen test taken in the 24 hours before departure.
• Turkey – All travellers to Turkey who are aged six or over must fill in an online Form for Entry to Turkey a maximum of 72 hours before travel. Unvaccinated travellers can enter Turkey as long as they can show a negative PCR fit to fly test taken less than 72 hours before arrival or documentation showing recent recovery from COVID-19.

The Middle East and North Africa

• Egypt – All international travellers over six need to present a negative PCR fit to fly test or a valid vaccine certificate.
• Israel – Travellers need to present a negative PCR fit to fly test result and show proof of insurance covering treatment for COVID-19.
• Tunisia – If you are aged 18 and over and are unvaccinated, then you need to show proof of a negative PCR fit to fly test or lateral flow test 

Can I still travel abroad this summer if I am unvaccinated?

Yes, you can. However, it will depend on where you want to travel to. 

As you can see from the list above, certain countries allow unvaccinated travellers to enter. However, this does not mean you will be able to move about freely once you arrive. 

You may be denied access to public places such as restaurants, shopping centres and theme parks – unless you have a medical reason for not being able to receive the vaccine.