Updated: Destinations Requiring Covid-19 Booster Shots

Updated 2/8/22: As of February 8, 2022, Hawaii Safe Travels will NOT require fully vaccinated travelers to also have a booster shot. Previously Governor Ige had said that booster shots would be required for visitors. As of February 4, Maui no longer requires a booster shot to be considered fully vaccinated.

As Omicron shifts the idea of what it means to be fully vaccinated, several travel destinations are requiring boosters to enter or fully enjoy the destination, or are making entry easier to those with COVID-19 booster shots. We recommend a Moderna booster if you're eligible for one (see Covid Booster Shot: Moderna or Pfizer) regardless of whether you plan to travel anywhere or not, but here's a roundup of the destinations that you should definitely plan on having had a COVID-19 booster for at least 14 days prior to visiting, or where a booster shot will simplify your entry requirements:

Austria: Booster Shot Eliminates Need for Negative PCR Test

Visitors to Austria need to be fully vaccinated or show proof of recovery from COVID-19, and depending on the scenario, may need to provide negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within the 72 hours prior to entering Austria.

But visitors who have been fully vaccinated and boosted do not need to provide PCR test results:

Vaccinated with 2 doses of BioNtech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Moderna + booster or 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson + booster: no PCR test needed
See all of Austria's COVID-19 entry regulations

France: from 1/15/22

While France isn't denying entry into the country for visitors who haven't had a booster shot, visitors who are eligible for a booster but haven't had one will need to get a negative COVID-19 test every 24 hours in order to be able to obtain a French Health Pass (“pass sanitaire”) that is required for all age 12 and older to enter restaurants, cafes, long distance trains, domestic flights, museums, theaters, etc. Since there are few visitors who won't want to access restaurants during their visit, the French Health Pass is essentially required for a visit to France.

As of 1/24/22, all adults 18 and older who are eligible for a COVID-19 booster must have one, in order for their Health Pass to remain valid. Specifically, a person must have received a booster shot if seven months or more have passed since receiving the second Pfizer or Moderna shot, or 2 months or more have passed since receiving the Johnson & Johnson shot, otherwise they won't be eligible for a Health Pass.

As of 2/15/22, you'll need a booster shot if your last dose from your original vaccine series was over 4 months ago. See France: Vaccine Pass Replaces Health Pass, Booster Required.

Visitors vaccinated outside the EU with an EU-approved vaccine/booster, as is the case for most Americans, must visit a pharmacy that, for a fee, can review your vaccine card record and provide a valid French QR code, in order to obtain a Health Pass.

Greece: Booster Required 7 Months After Vaccination to Enter Indoor Venues

While a booster shot isn't currently required to enter Greece, as of 2/1/22, Greece will prevent those who were vaccinated 7 months or more ago and have not received a booster shot from entering most indoor venues, such as restaurants, bars, museums, theaters, etc.

Note that until 2/7/22 all visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must have negative results from a PCR test taken within the 72 hours prior to arrival or a rapid antigen test taken within the 24 hours prior to arrival. See additional requirements at Greece Protocol for Arrivals.

Israel: Booster Required 180 Days After Vaccination

Israel requires non-citizens to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entering Israel, and to have received a COVID-19 booster shot if more than 180 days will have passed after full vaccination on the day of leaving Israel. Note that the booster shot must have been taken at least 14 days before entering Israel, not including the date of the booster. See Israel's Ministry of Health requirements for entry.

Maui [Booster Shot Requirement Eliminated]

Update: As of February 4, 2022, Maui no longer requires a COVID-19 booster to be considered fully vaccinated

As of 1/24/22 (delayed from the original 1/8/22 implementation date in Maui's Public Health Emergency Rules), all those eligible for a booster (age 12 and up, who are at least 6 months after a second dose of Moderna or Pfizer or at least 2 months past a single dose of Johnson & Johnson) will be required to have one in order to be considered fully vaccinated in order to dine indoors at restaurants and bars or visit shared indoor spaces such as conferences, concerts, indoor sports venues, etc.

Mayor Ige has said that Hawaii Safe Travels will require a COVID-19 booster (target date 2/18/22) to be considered fully vaccinated Such a change would need to be announced several weeks in advance of implementation, to allow visitors with booked trips to get booster shots.

Netherlands: No Quarantine for Boosted Visitors from the U.S., Canada, Australia, UK

As of 2/2/22, fully vaccinated visitors from the U.S., Canada, Australia or the UK who have also received a COVID-19 booster at least 7 days prior to arriving in the Netherlands won't have to quarantine for 10 days. They still must complete a quarantine declaration form and provide proof f their full vaccination and boosted status. Those who are fully vaccinated but haven't been boosted will still be required to quarantine for 10 days. See this article and the Dutch government announcement.

Spain: from 2/1/22

Starting February 1, 2022, U.S. travelers visiting Spain must be fully vaccinated. If their last dose of vaccine was received more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain, they must show proof of having received a COVID-19 booster shot at least 14 days prior to arrival.

Travel Made Easier with a Booster Shot

Austria: Boosted Visitors Don't Need a PCR Test

While as of this writing Austria doesn't require visitors to have had a COVID-19 booster shot, as of 12/20/21, Austria has made it easier for visitors who have been boosted, as they don't have to present negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test. Those who are fully vaccinated but haven't had a COVID-19 booster must have negative results from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours (or no more than 48 hours, for virus variant countries) prior to entering Austria. See Austria Entry Regulations.

Czech Republic: Boosted Visitors Don't Need a PCR Test

As of 12/27/21, all foreign visitors must provide negative results from a PCR test taken within the 72 hours prior to arrival in the Czech Republic, unless they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and received a COVID-19 booster shot. Children under 12 and children 12-18 who have been vaccinated (even if not boosted) are exempt from the PCR test requirement.

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