Travelling to holiday destinations such as Spain, France, Turkey, Portugal, and Greece is now much easier than in summer.
All these countries are no longer on the UK government’s red list, which means the following requirements apply on your return to England:
If you are fully vaccinated, you just need to take one Covid-19 test on or before day 2, which you must arrange beforehand. You will also need to complete a passenger locator form in the 48 hours before arrival.
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If you have not finished a full course of vaccination at least 14 days before you arrive, in addition to the above, you must take two more tests – one in the 3 days before your return and one on or after day 8. You will also need to quarantine for 10 days.
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That’s the UK side. For the requirements to enter each county, as per the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), read on:
Spain
If you are flying to Spain from the UK you will either need to show that you are fully vaccinated or have proof of a negative Covid test. Children under the age of 12 are excluded.
Spain accepts the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination record. You will need to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival in the country.
If you are not fully vaccinated you will need to present a negative Covid-19 test result, which will have to be a ‘nucleic acid amplification test’ – e.g. PCR. Antigen tests can only be used in certain limited circumstances and are not accepted if you are travelling for tourism.
Spain doesn’t currently accept certificates of recovery for UK arrivals.
Everyone, including children, must complete an online Health Control Form no more than 48 hours prior to travel.
Read more on the FCDO travel advice for Spain.
France
Travelling to France is (almost) a breeze if you are jabbed, and a hassle if not.
If you are fully vaccinated, you will need to present proof you’ve had your jabs – France will accept the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination record – and completed ‘sworn statement’ that you don’t have coronavirus symptoms or been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight.
If you are not fully vaccinated you will not be allowed entry without an essential reason – so you can’t go on a holiday.
You will need to complete an International Travel Certificate to confirm your essential reason for travel, a ‘sworn statement’, and take a PCR or antigen test within 24 hours of departure.
You will then need to self-isolate for 7 days after arrival, and take another PCR test when you finish your self-isolation.
Children under 12 years old do not need to take a Covid test.
Children over 12 who travel with a fully vaccinated adult are required to present a negative test result, but do not need to provide an essential reason for travel, or self-isolate. Otherwise, the same applies to adults.
Read more on the FCDO travel advice for France.
Turkey
All UK arrivals must demonstrate evidence that they are either fully vaccinated – with the last dose being administered at least 14 days before entry – have recently recovered from Covid-19, or were tested negative.
You can show either a PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival, or an antigen test, taken within 48 hours.
Children under 12 are exempt from these requirements.
Everyone, including children, must complete an online form a maximum of 72-hours prior to travel – unless they are Turkish citizens or residence permit holders.
Turkey will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record.
Read more on the FCDO travel advice for Turkey.
Portugal
To travel to mainland Portugal, you will need to show that you are fully jabbed, have recovered from COVID-19, or to present a negative test.
You must have completed your vaccination course at least 14 days before you travel. If you have recovered from coronavirus, your recovery certificate must show that your recovery took place no less than 11 days and no more than 180 days prior to when you are due to travel.
Portugal will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record.
Your test can be antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure, or a RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. Children under 12 are exempt.
Everyone must complete an online passenger locator card.
Read more on the FCDO travel advice for Portugal.
Greece
Travellers to Greece from the UK will need need to be either fully vaccinated, recovered from COVID-19, or have a negative test.
The full vaccination must have been completed at least 14 days before travel. You can also demonstrate, via the NHS COVID Pass, evidence of a positive COVID-19 PCR test result taken between 30 to 180 days of your travel dates.
Greece will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record.
Your test can be antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure, or a RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. Children under 12 are exempt.
Everyone must complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF).
Read more on the FCDO travel advice for Greece.
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