Worldwide Travel Update – COVID-19

The EU, whilst trying to co-ordinate a united approach, is made up of 27 countries, plus Switzerland is located slap-bang in the middle but is an independent country, and then there is the UK which is no longer part of the EU...

Therefore, it hasn’t quite achieved that “unified approach” just yet, but the will is there and with the final positive announcement on travel from Switzerland yesterday I think we can provide you with an overview for travelling into Europe this summer.

COVID-19 Traffic Light System

The traffic lights system is in operation for ALL the countries mentioned above and although they have slight differences, essentially:

GREEN Countries – You can travel vaccinated or unvaccinated without the need to quarantine (usually without a PCR or antibody test)

AMBER countries – You can travel vaccinated without the need to quarantine, usually with a PCR or antibody test

RED Countries / AMBER with a variant of concern – You cannot travel for tourism because you have to quarantine.

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TRAVEL OVERVIEW

This is useful for those travelling to and from Europe AND people from third countries travelling around Europe after arrival.

  • If you are fully vaccinated you can freely travel through EU/Schengen countries without the need of a test
  • If you are not vaccinated you can travel freely, but need a PCR or Antibody test

USA & CANADA TRAVEL OVERVIEW

  • France opened its borders to Americans and Canadian tourists first
  • The EU has followed suit
  • Switzerland finally announced that from the 28th June their borders are open for American Tourists

USA & Canada Vaccinated Travel

  • You can fly to France, Italy and Switzerland without the need to quarantine.
  • You need vaccination proof (2nd vaccine no later than 2 weeks before flying)
  • You do not need a PCR or antigen test to fly into Switzerland, you DO to fly into France or Italy

USA & Canada non-vaccinated travellers

  • You can fly into Italy, Switzerland and France with a negative Pcr test taken up to 72 hours before departure.
  • You can also fly into Switzerland with a recent antigen test or a medical certificate that proves you are unable to take a COVID test for medical reasons

UNITED KINGDOM TRAVEL OVERVIEW

  • The UK is an AMBER country with a “variant of concern”
  • France, Switzerland and Italy have opened their borders to tourists from the UK, according to vaccination status

UK Vaccinated Travel

  • You can fly to France, Italy and Switzerland for tourism without the need to quarantine.
  • You need vaccination proof (2nd vaccine no later than 2 weeks before flying)
  • You need a PCR or antigen test for France and Italy, you do not need one for Switzerland

UK non-vaccinated travellers

  • You cannot fly into Switzerland, Italy or France for tourism

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL OVERVIEW

  • Oz and NZ are GREEN countries
  • France, Switzerland and Italy have opened their borders to tourists from the Australia and New Zealand with rules according to vaccination status

Oz and NZ Vaccinated Travel

  • You can fly to France, Italy and Switzerland for tourism without the need to quarantine.
  • You need vaccination proof (2nd vaccine no later than 2 weeks before flying)

Oz and NZ non-vaccinated travel

  • You can fly to France, Italy and Switzerland for tourism without the need to quarantine.
  • You need a PCR or antigen test

COVID-19 TRAVEL FACT CHECKERS

We recommend you use your own country's information to verify the above. However, these sites are very helpful in addition to your own countries service (as below)

Switzerland Travel Checker
RE Open the EU

Travel Advice from YOUR country: