Today it has become increasingly hard to travel abroad. Various restrictions have made many countries almost completely closed for tourists. Many countries need proof that you do not have the virus, or that you are vaccinated. It is also very important for you to know what the situation in a certain country is, and thus see whether you will go abroad at all. The times are really tough, but hopefully, this article will help you prepare for any travel you want to undertake, decide what you need to do and how to act.
Council Recommendation
If you plan to go overseas, especially to EU countries, you should be aware that in reaction to the Covid-19 epidemic, the EU Member States issued a Council Recommendation on a coordinated strategy to deal with restrictions on free movement. The Recommendation identifies four key areas where EU countries will coordinate their efforts: they will develop a common color-coded mapping system (green, grey, orange, and red), there will be a uniform criterion for the Member States to use when deciding whether or not to implement travel restrictions, better clarity on the actions taken against passengers from high-risk locations, and timely communication. All EU member states are encouraged to implement the Recommendation.
The EU Approach To Travelers
In view of the difficult epidemiological situation, Member States have categorized different areas with a certain color, green being the best and dark red having the worst rating, thus the EU encouraged that every travel that is not essential from one red zone to another should not be done. The Member States have decided that there will be no tests or quarantine for those that come from green areas. Those Member States that think that they want to implement restrictions to movement are advised to implement testing or quarantine before and after the travel.
It is up to the Member States to decide what precautions they wish to put in place for people going from high-risk areas to their territories, such as whether an RT-PCR test, fast antigen test, or lateral flow test for travel is required. You can enter these countries with a lateral antigen test from the UK:
- Albania
- Andorra
- The Bahamas
- Belize
- Bulgaria
- Cape Verde
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Italy
- Indonesia
- Jamaica
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Portugal
- Slovenia
- Switzerland
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Ukraine
- United States
What About The Rest Of The World?
Again, it depends on your destination. Some will let you in with a negative lateral flow/antigen test, while others may need a PCR test. The laws frequently change depending on whether you’ve been vaccinated or not, with many nations not requiring any testing if you’ve been double-jabbed, so double-check. Travelers to Italy who have spent the preceding 14 days in the United Kingdom must submit a negative PCR or antigen test performed within 48 hours of their arrival. Currently, Spain requires a negative PCR test within 48 hours of arrival. The Balearic Islands, which are now on the green list, are no exception. Antigen testing, which is less expensive than PCR tests and generally costs under £40, is accepted in France, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. Passengers traveling from the United Kingdom must have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival in Turkey.
Can I Travel With NHS Covid Tests?
Yes. But not for free. Travelers entering the UK have been able to obtain day two and day eight tests from the NHS since the government established its traffic light system for arrivals. However, because the costs have always been so expensive, most people will choose a private examination. The Department of Health and Social Care stated that testing prices had been reduced from £88 to £68 for a day two test and from £170 to £136 for a day two and day eight package, in order to appear as if they were doing anything to make travel simpler and testing cheaper. However, the tests are up to £23 more expensive than those offered by commercial providers, implying that it will have little influence on the expense of a vacation for most people.
There is a lot to consider when it comes to traveling nowadays, but being informed is the most important aspect of it all. Before you decide to go anywhere, check beforehand whether you meet the requirements of the country you are traveling to. Keep note of what they require and remember that your country probably has some requirements when you come back. Sometimes it is better to stay put than later having to meet all the requirements forced on you.
