Travel insight and advice: testing requirements for going abroad this summer holiday
Don’t fall foul of Covid travel requirements this summer
Make sure you plan early for your family summer holiday
Qured, the UK’s leading travel testing and healthcare provider is advising British holidaymakers to check the entry requirements of their holiday destination as some countries continue to have special Covid measures in place.
Many European countries have scrapped their Covid travel entry requirements, such as Portugal, Italy, Greece and Cyprus. However, Spain and France, the two most popular holiday destinations for Brits, continue to have Covid restrictions in place.
Spain:
Those aged 18 and over need to provide proof they are fully vaccinated. If you do not have a booster, you must have received your second dose of the vaccine within 270 days of travel to be deemed fully vaccinated. For those aged 12-17, proof of two vaccinations is required and there is no need for a booster. For those aged 12 and under there are no restrictions. If you are not vaccinated, you will need to present a negative Covid test result. An Antigen LFD Covid test can be taken within 48 hours pre-departure.
France:
Those aged 12 and over must be fully vaccinated. If you are only double vaccinated, you must have received your second dose of the vaccine within the past 270 days of travel, otherwise you will be deemed unvaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, you will need to provide proof of a negative Covid test. An Antigen LFD Covid test can be taken within 48 hours pre-departure.
Covid travel requirements are also valid for several other popular worldwide travel destinations including:
USA:
Anyone over the age of 18 is required to be fully vaccinated to get into the country. Children aged 17 and under are exempt from this requirement.
Dubai:
You are required to present a certificate for full vaccination or a negative PCR test result, with the test taken within 48 hours of departing for Dubai. Children aged under 12 are exempt.
Morocco:
Anyone over the age of 12 must be fully vaccinated or be able to show a negative result from a PCR test. PCR tests must be taken within 48 hours of departing for Morocco.
Thailand:
Anyone over the age of 18 is required to provide proof they are fully vaccinated, or a negative PCR Covid test taken within 48 hours of departing for Thailand.
Commenting Alex Templeton, CEO of Qured, said: “The requirements for travel testing continue to change on a weekly basis. Whilst many countries have dropped any entry requirements related to Covid, others are implementing new measures following an increase in the virus. It is expected that Indonesia, including Bali, will bring back a testing requirement for those who have not had a booster vaccine, and this is likely to be in place before the end of July.
“There would be nothing more disappointing than finding out the day before you are due to travel or on the day you are setting off that there is a travel testing requirement. Just as holidaymakers are planning for baggage and security checks, they also need to plan for travel testing. If the destination you are travelling to requires a test, make sure you allow enough time to arrange the test, to take the test, and to have the result back in time for your flight.”
Qured is a UK government approved Covid test provider and a founding member of the Laboratory and Testing Industry Organisation (LTIO).
Travel testing requirements can change at any time, so anyone travelling from the UK to another country should check the foreign travel advice on the UK Government website regularly before they travel at: https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/travel-abroad for advice on changes to travel.
