Bahamas Changes COVID-19 Entry Rules for Vaccinated Visitors

Updated 8/5/21: The Bahamas has reinstated mandatory COVID-19 testing for vaccinated travelers, in light of the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant.

Updated 7/19/21: Canada reopens to fully vaccinated Americans on August 9, 2021, although a pre-travel COVID-19 test is also required.

Updated 7/16/21: Ireland will reopen 7/19/21 to fully vaccinated visitors from the U.S. with no need to test or quarantine

Updated 6/29/21: On June 30, 2021, Sweden is lifting its entry ban for visitors from the U.S. and select other non-EU countries, although entry requires negative results from a COVID-19 test conducted within the 48 hours prior to arrival in Sweden.

Updated 6/26/21: Spain has lifted its vaccine requirement for U.S. visitors.

Updated 6/24/21: The Netherlands and Austria have reopened to U.S. visitors

Updated 6/23/21: The Czech Republic has reopened to U.S. visitors.

Updated 6/23/21: Switzerland will reopen early, on June 26, 2021!

Updated 6/20/21: Germany is open to fully vaccinated U.S. visitors starting June 20, 2021.

Updated 6/16/21: Portugal is open to U.S. visitors with a negative COVID-19 test as of June 15.

Updated 6/13/21: Switzerland plans to reopen to fully vaccinated U.S. and international visitors starting June 28. Fully vaccinated Americans and Canadians won't be required to take COVID-19 tests or to quarantine.

Updated 6/6/21: Denmark has reopened to fully vaccinated U.S. visitors, along with fully vaccinated visitors from the UK and from OECD countries not on Denmark's red list.

Updated 6/2/21: Thailand will adopt a phased approach to reopening to vaccinated visitors, starting July 1, 2021

Updated 5/28/21: Ireland plans to reopen on 7/19/21 to vaccinated travelers from the U.S.

Updated 5/16/21: St. Barths has reopened to vaccinated travelers; negative COVID-19 PCR test results are still required.

French Polynesia, including Tahiti and Bora Bora, are open to vaccinated travelers with a negative COVID-19 test result, who are able to bypass the otherwise mandatory 10 day quarantine.

Where Can You Go If You're Vaccinated for COVID-19? As vaccination rollouts continue, many travelers are wondering which countries are open to them, without a mandatory quarantine. We've previously reported that Iceland is permitting vaccinated travelers to avoid COVID-19 testing on arrival and quarantine, although at time of writing, Iceland is only welcoming visitors from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, so this isn't relevant for Americans or other travelers from outside Europe.

Estonia is allowing vaccinated visitors from some third party countries with low COVID-19 rates, such as Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, but not the U.S.

Here are the countries that are waiving quarantine requirements for vaccinated Americans for travel either now or later in 2021. As entry requirements can change quickly, please double check the country's entry requirements through the country's tourism and U.S. Embassy page before making travel plans.

Anguilla

As of July 2021, Anguilla is requiring all prospective visitors to be vaccinated. Vaccinated visitors will still have to produce a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken 3-5 days prior to arrival, provide proof of vaccination and apply for entry permission, but they won't be tested on arrival and won't have to quarantine.

Austria

As of 6/24/21, Austria has reopened to U.S. travelers, who can present a vaccination card (within 9 months of the first shot, for those fully vaccinated by Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm or Sinovac); certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the past 6 months; or negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within the 72 hours prior to entering Austria (within 48 hours prior to arriving, for an antigen test).

Enjoy experiencing the Park Hyatt Vienna:

Bahamas

Effective August 6, 2021, the Bahamas will require even fully vaccinated travelers to have negative test results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within the 5 days prior to arrival, due to the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant and data showing that many fully vaccinated travelers can also become infected with the new variant, even though they may be asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Vaccinated travelers who have already applied for and received an approved Bahamas Travel Health Visa will have it honored for their upcoming stay. Note that all visitors 18 and older, vaccinated or unvaccinated, must apply for their Bahamas Travel Health Visa, which can take up to 48 hours to process. Remain up to date with the current COVID-19 entry rules at Bahamas Travel Updates.

Kids: Note that unvaccinated travelers age 11 and older must continue to take a COVID-19 PCR test within the 5 days prior to arrival and submit a negative test result, and for stays longer than 4 nights they will need to take rapid COVID-19 antigen tests.

Bahamas Exempts Vaccinated Travelers from COVID-19 Testing

Bali

Updated 6/29/21: Bali, Indonesia had planned to reopen three tourist areas (Ubud, Sanur, and Nusa Dua) to vaccinated travelers with a negative COVID-19 test result on August 17, 2021 (Indonesia's Independence Day). Unfortunately, due to a recent rise in new cases, Bali has shelved these plans and will wait until there are only 30-40 new cases per day. About 70 percent of Balinese have received their first dose of vaccine, and the expectation is fully vaccinate at least 70 percent of the island's population by the end of July 2021. Bali resorts have been vaccinating their staff since March 2021 using the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Belize

Belize is allowing travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to visit, as long as the final vaccine shot occurred at least two weeks prior to arrival. Fully vaccinated travelers do not have to take a pre-travel COVID-19 test. Unvaccinated travelers may visit if they have negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within the 96 hours prior to arrival; a COVID-19 test may also be taken upon arrival.

Kids: Children age 4 and under do not need to be tested. Children 5 and and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result as above.

Fully Vaccinated Travelers May Visit Belize Without COVID-19 Testing

Canada

Canada will reopen to fully vaccinated Americans on August 9, 2021, although a negative result from a pre-travel COVID-19 PCR test taken within the 72 hours prior to flight departure (or arrival at the land border) is required.

Czech Republic

As of June 21, 2022, U.S. travelers may visit the Czech Republic without needing to be tested for COVID-19 or needing to quarantine, although for practical purposes, since restaurants, hotels, museums etc. require either vaccination or a negative PCR test less than 3 days old, travelers will want to be vaccinated.

US travelers may enter the Czech Republic without restrictions, due to the U.S.'s current green, low-risk entry status. In order to dine at a restaurant (indoors and outdoors), enter a museum, or check into a hotel, travelers will need to show one of the following:

a negative PCR test less than 3 days old
a negative antigen test less than 24 hours old
single-dose vaccines: proof of 14 days past dose, within the last 9 months
double-dose vaccines: proof of 22 days after 2^nd dose, within the last 9 months
medical proof of recovering from COVID-19 in the last 180 days

Take a mini vacation to the Four Seasons Prague with our Review:

Denmark

As of June 4, 2021, fully vaccinated Americans may visit Denmark with no need for pre-travel COVID-19 testing or quarantine. Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the update, noting that the vaccine must be one approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the traveler must have received all required doses at least 14 days prior to travel. The exemption applies not only to Americans, but also citizens and permanent residents of OECD countries, as long as they're not on Denmark's “red list.”

Kids: Kids, pregnant women and breastfeeding women are exempt from quarantine if traveling with a fully vaccinated national who is exempt, but they still are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result prior to travel. See Denmark's COVID-19 Country Categories.

Denmark Reopened to Fully Vaccinated Americans 2021

Ecuador and Galapagos Islands

As of March 22, 2021 Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands, allows fully vaccinated travelers with a valid vaccination card (as well as travelers previously diagnosed as COVID-19 positive, after at least one month since the onset of symptoms and with a medical certificate attesting to their full recovery and good health) to avoid pre-travel COVID-19 testing and quarantine. See the Ecuador Entry and Exit Requirements on the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador page.

Ecuador Open to COVID-19 Vaccinated Travelers

French Polynesia, Including Tahiti and Bora Bora

French Polynesia, including Tahiti and Bora Bora, permits vaccinated travelers who have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from a test taken with 72 hours prior to departure are able to bypass the otherwise mandatory 10 day quarantine. Note that travelers must complete a health form 30-6 days prior to their trip, and a rapid antigen test is administered on arrival.

Kids: Note that unvaccinated kids ages 6-11 are subject to French Polynesia's 10 day quarantine requirement, so Tahiti and Bora Bora are likely not in the cards for families with children this age. Children age 5 and under are not subject to quarantine if traveling with fully vaccinated parents.

Georgia

As of Feb. 1. 2021, citizens from all countries are permitted to enter Georgia if fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Documentation is required. While not written as a requirement, we recommend allowing 14 days after receiving your second shot before arriving in Georgia, if your COVID-19 vaccine is of the type that requires a two shot regimen. Georgia is one of the few ex-Soviet countries we've yet to visit, known for its hospitality and wonderful wine and cuisine, including, of course, khachapuri.

Germany

As of June 20, 2021, Germany is open to fully vaccinated Americans and visitors of several other non-EU countries and regions such as Albania, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, North Macedonia, Serbia and Taiwan). Per the German Mission in the U.S. site, travelers must have received the last and final vaccine dose (it must be a vaccine approved by the EMA, such as Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or AstraZeneca) at least 14 days prior to entering Germany, and provide written or digital proof of vaccination, for example the original vaccine card (cell phone photos are NOT acceptable for digital proof). Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative COVID test prior to departure of the Germany-bound flight. PCR test must be taken no more than 72 hours prior to entering Germany.

Greece

Greece is open to fully vaccinated Americans, as well as visitors who provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 72 hours prior to arrival, in order to avoid the country's otherwise mandatory 7 day quarantine.

Kids: Unvaccinated kids, similar to unvaccinated adults, must present results from a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 72 hours prior to arrival in Greece. Kids 4 years and younger are exempt from this requirement.

Iceland

Iceland is open to all fully vaccinated travelers, as well as travelers who have documented laboratory results showing a prior COVID-19 infection that they have completely recovered from, who meet the documentation rules. See Iceland Reopens to All Vaccinated Travelers. Qualifying travelers do not need to take a pre-flight COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival.

Kids: Note that there is no exemption for unvaccinated kids, even if their parents are vaccinated, if the trip is for tourism. Only foreign citizens who are entitled to exemption from travel restrictions due to essential travel (e.g. involved in Icelandic healthcare services, transportation of goods/services, diplomatic travel, etc) may bring their minor children if necessary.

Iceland Reopens to All Vaccinated Travelers

Ireland

Updated: Ireland will reopen on 7/19/21 to fully vaccinated visitors from the U.S., with no requirement to take a COVID-19 test or to quarantine. Under Ireland's plan, vaccinated passengers from the U.S. won't need to quarantine, although unvaccinated U.S. adults will both need to have a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel, be tested on arrival, and be required to quarantine for 14 days. Note that all arrivals must complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form.

Kids: From July 19, 2021, unvaccinated children aged between 12 and 17 must have a negative coronavirus test taken within the 72 hours before arriving in Ireland. If both parents are fully vaccinated, children are not required to quarantine. However, if one adult needs to self-quarantine due to not being fully vaccinated, all accompanying children must also self-quarantine.

Ireland Opens to Vaccinated U.S. Travelers July 19, 2021

Israel

Israel plans to only open to individual travelers starting in July 2021. Vaccinated travelers will still need a negative COVID-19 PCR test result prior to boarding a flight to Israel, and on arrival a blood test will be conducted to verify vaccination. The country is still considering a vaccine certificate that would be secure and replace the need for serological testing on arrival.

Italy

Effective May 16, 2021, Italy has reopened to Americans (including kids) arriving on COVID-Tested flights, which require negative COVID-19 test results prior to travel. See Italy Reopening.

Maldives

The Maldives is now open to fully vaccinated travelers who arrive at least 14 days after their final vaccine dose. As of May 3, 2021 even vaccinated visitors must present negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours prior to their first flight's departure en route to the Maldives.

Kids: Unvaccinated kids as well as adults are permitted, but all kids except those less than 1 year old must have negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test.

Morocco

As of June 15, 2021, Morocco reopened to fully vaccinated visitors from the U.S., Canada and the UK without testing restrictions. Unvaccinated visitors from Morocco's A List (United Nations countries that are NOT on the B list) may visit if they have negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within the 48 hours prior to arrival.

Netherlands

The Netherlands has reopened to visitors from the U.S. and other safe countries/regions (see the Netherlands list of safe countries/regions). No negative test or self-quarantine is required, but each passenger must complete the health declaration form and carry a copy.

Portugal

As of June 15, 2021, Portugal is open to international visitors who have a negative result from a COVID-19 NAAT test performed within the 72 hours prior to boarding the flight to Portugal, or a rapid antigen (TRAg) test taken with the 24 hours prior to boarding. The requirement applies to all arriving passengers 2 years and older. Arrivals from South Africa, Brazil, India and Nepal must quarantine for at least 14 days.

Earlier, Portugal Economy Minister Pedro Siza Vieira announced that he expected Portugal to reopen to fully vaccinated U.S. visitors (at least 14 days past their final dose of an EMA approved vaccine, such as Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca) and noted that the reopening was expected sometime “next week,” referring to the week of June 14-20, 2021, although given the June 15 reopening it may be some time until fully vaccinated travelers are exempted from pre-travel testing.

Seychelles

As we wrote in Seychelles Reopening to Vaccinated Travelers, vaccinated travelers from anywhere in the world may avoid quarantine, although they'll still have to produce negative test results from a COVID-19 test taken within the 72 hours prior to departure. Note that as of May 12, 2021, there's been a surge in new COVID-19 cases in the Seychelles, and 37% of recent cases had received two doses of vaccine (the Seychelles vaccinated its population with Sinopharm and Covishield/AstraZeneca).

Spain

Updated 6/26/21: Spain has eliminated the vaccine requirement for U.S. visitors. All visitors do still need to complete a health questionnaire before departure, at Spain Travel Health Portal and obtain a QR code. Effective June 7, 2021, Spain reopened to vaccinated travelers from all over the world, including fully vaccinated Americans, who received their final vaccine dose at least 14 days prior to entering Spain.

Kids: U.S. kids, similar to adults, no longer need to be vaccinated or to test prior to visiting Spain.

St. Barths

St. Barthelemy (also known as St. Barts and St. Barths) has reopened to fully vaccinated travelers from all countries except Brazil. It's still required to have negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within the 3 days prior to arrival in St. Barths.

Sweden

From 6/30/21-8/31/21, Sweden is lifting its entry ban for visitors from the U.S., as well as other countries such as Albania, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macao, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Taiwan. U.S. visitors must present a negative COVID-19 test conducted within 48 hours prior to arrival.

Switzerland

Switzerland has confirmed it will reopen on June 26, 2021 to fully vaccinated international visitors as well as those who have fully recovered from COVID-19 or who have a negative result from a PCR test. U.S. and Canadian visitors who are fully vaccinated (two weeks past their final vaccine dose) won't need to take a COVID-19 test or quarantine. Social distancing rules will also be relaxed, enabling more guests in restaurants and at events.

Thailand

Thailand has adopted a phased approach to reopening. Starting July 1, 2021, Phuket will open to fully vaccinated international visitors, with no need to quarantine. Starting October 1, 2021, fully vaccinated visitors will be permitted in Krabi, Phang Nga, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Pattaya, with no need to quarantine. Would-be fully vaccinated visitors to other parts of Thailand will need to wait until January 1, 2022. Note that even vaccinated visitors will need to have a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within the 72 hours prior to arriving and must activate the “Thailand Plus” app on their phone that shares their location throughout their stay. Each booked hotel, restaurant and activity must be certified by the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Safety and Health Administration.

Kids: Unvaccinated kids under age 12 may accompany vaccinated parents, but do need to have taken a COVID-19 PCR test prior to arrival. They will not be tested on arrival at the airport. Kids age 12-17 who are traveling from medium to low risk countries with their parents must both take a COVID-19 PCR test prior to arrival and must take rapid antigen test on arrival at the airport in Thailand.