Can I travel to Spain, Greece and Portugal?

In light of the response to the slow-down in spread of Omicron and the fact that the virus is seen as a milder form of Covid-19 many of the popular holiday destination countries have begun to relax their entry rules in preparation for the influx of holidaymakers desperate to return to normal times.

Currency Online Group likes to keep all its readers and followers up to date on the rules and try to give things in the most summarised version, as we appreciate how confusing things can be right now in understanding what will be required on departure and arrival into these holiday hotspots. Nobody wants to be turned away for not having the correct details!

Spain (Including Canary Islands and Balearic Islands)

Only permit Brits to enter if they can prove they were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 within the last 270 days.

Means all adults who received their second dose more than 9 months (which is on or before May 7th 2021) must have had booster jab to qualify as fully vaccinated.

The booster must also have been administered 14 days prior to travel.

The need to be fully vaccinated also applies to those aged between 12 and 17.

All passengers will be required to fill out a pre-departure health form and show the issued QR code from this on arrival into Spain

Unvaccinated?

If you are travelling to Spain for tourism reasons and you are not fully vaccinated you cannot currently enter Spain and its islands.

Portugal

From 7^th February the rules changed slightly in terms of gaining entry to Portugal for those fully vaccinated.

Those who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 within the last 270 days are no longer required to provide a negative covid test on arrival into Portugal.

‘Fully vaccinated’ means all adults who received their second dose more than 9 months (which is on or before May 13th 2021) must have had booster jab to qualify as fully vaccinated.

The booster must also have been administered 14 days prior to travel to Portugal.

The need to be fully vaccinated also applies to those aged between 12 and 17.

Passengers who can show recovery status via digital certificate within 180 days are also permitted to enter without the need to produce a negative covid test

Unvaccinated?

Unlike Spain, Portugal is happy for those unvaccinated passengers to enter providing a negative covid test is shown on arrival.

This can be a PCR test (within 72 hours of arrival) or a private rapid antigen which must be performed within 48 hours of touching down in mainland Portugal.

All those aged 11 and under are not required to test.

As with Spain a Passenger Locator Form is required by the Government of Portugal.

If you are traveling to one of the islands of Portugal, be sure to check out the Gov.UK guidance on entry to these as the rules above apply to mainland Portugal.

Greece

As with Portugal, Greece adopted the same rule change on February 7^th 2022 that fully vaccinated passengers no longer need to produce a negative Covid-19 test on arrival.

Those who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 within the last 270 days are no longer required to provide a negative covid test on arrival into Portugal.

‘Fully vaccinated’ means all adults who received their second dose more than 9 months (which is on or before May 13th 2021) must have had booster jab to qualify as fully vaccinated.

The booster must also have been administered 14 days prior to travel to Greece and its islands.

The need to be fully vaccinated also applies to those aged between 5 and 17.

Passengers who can show recovery status via digital certificate within 180 days are also permitted to enter without the need to produce a negative covid test

Unvaccinated?

Greece is happy to welcome those unvaccinated passengers providing a negative covid test can be shown on arrival.

This can be a PCR test (within 72 hours of arrival) or a private rapid antigen which must be performed within 48 hours of touching down in mainland Portugal.

All those aged 5 and under are not required to test.

As with the above countries a Passenger Locator Form needs to completed with QR code issued, to be shown on arrival.

Remember if you are visiting any of the above countries then be sure to check out Currency Online Group for the best rates on your currency exchange. We offer next day home delivery, free on orders over £750, if ordered before 12pm. We have over 10,000 five-star reviews on Compare Holiday Money making us one of the most trusted currency providers on the market. Prefer to collect in person? We have a new discreet and secure office location within at Scott House (within London Waterloo Station) opposite platforms 20-26.

Need more info then get in contact

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© Currency Online Group

9^th February 2022

2022 HOLIDAY DESTINATONS – WHAT ARE THE CURRENT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?

PART 1

GREECE

Regardless of vaccination status travellers from the UK must complete a Passenger Locator Form before arrival into Greece or the Greek Islands

All travellers above the age of 5 will also need the following:

• Proof of a negative PCR test within the 72-hour period of in arriving at your Greek destination OR

• Proof of a negative rapid antigen test from a private/authorised provider within the 24hr period of arriving in Greece/Greek Islands

You may be asked to take an antigen test at random on arrival by the Greek authorities. If the test is positive, you and those you are travelling with will be required to complete a period of 5-day quarantine at home or in a hotel provided by the Greek state. If after 5 days you have no symptoms or your symptoms have improved (you have had no fever within the previous 24 hours period), you can leave isolation.

SPAIN

Before travelling to Spain, all passengers (including children) must complete an online Health Control Form.

On completion of the form, you will be issued with a QR code that will need to be shown at your point of arrival into Spain.

If you are over 12 years old and travelling to Spain for the purpose of tourism the following must be shown:

• Must show proof of being fully vaccinated (both doses of a two-dose vaccine and one of a one dose vaccine) 14 days prior to arrival into Spain (date(s) must be specified).

Additional checks such as temperature monitoring, visual assessment or the request to take a Covid test can take place at the border of entry.

Passengers arriving into Spain can be contacted up to a 48-hour period and requested to take a PCR, antigen or LAMP by the Spanish authorities if they feel there is a need to do so.

At present unvaccinated travellers, unless exempt or under 12 cannot enter Spanish borders.

ITALY

When arriving in Italy passengers from the UK must be able to demonstrate one of the following:

• The UK’s proof of recovery from Covid-19 or vaccination status (currently known and used as COVID pass)

• Proving you are fully vaccinated means you will not be required to complete a period of isolation on arrival

If you are fully vaccinated the additional information is still currently needed to gain successful entry to Italy:

• Passenger Locator Form (QR provided on completion to show to border staff)

• A negative PCR Covid test taken within the 48hr period prior to arrival OR

• A negative rapid antigen test taken within the 24hr period prior to arrival

There may be further requirements for specific regions within Italy so be sure to make sure you check this out prior to departure.

For those passengers who are not vaccinated the following will be required:

• Passenger Locator Form (QR provided on completion to show to border staff)

• A negative PCR Covid test taken within the 48hr period prior to arrival OR

• A negative rapid antigen test taken within the 24hr period prior to arrival

• notify the Prevention Department of the local health authority of your entry into Italy. See COVID-19 regional telephone numbers for the contact details of local Italian health authorities

• Travel to your final destination via private transport

• Remain in self isolation for 5 days

• Take another PCR or lateral flow test at the end of the 5-day period and if negative end the quarantine can end

Those children 17 or under do not need to quarantine when travelling with a fully vaccinated parent. Only those over the age 6 and over will be required to present a negative test result on arrival.

TURKEY

All passengers over the age of 6 (including Turkish citizens and residence holders) must complete a form prior to arrival. This is to gain entry and can be done up to a maximum of 72 hours before.

You do not need to complete this if you are transiting through Turkey to another destination country.

All arrivals over the age of 12 from the UK must have one of the following:

• Proof of full vaccination status within 14 days prior to arrival

• Recent recovery from Covid-19 (can be done via your NHS Covid pass) 

• A negative Covid-19 PCR test result within 72hr period of arrival

• A negative Covid-19 antigen test result within 48hr period of arrival

Children 11 or under do not need to test or present vaccination status.

Travellers may also be required to undergo extra random checks on arrival, including temperature monitoring, visual assessment or asked to undertake a Covid-19 test.

ARRIVAL INTO THE UK

At present arrival back into the UK now requires no pre-departure test from those countries considered Green. A private lateral flow test needs to be taken on or before day 2. There is no longer the need to isolate on arrival until a negative test result has been received.

In part 2 we will cover some more popular holiday destinations and try to give all our readers a summarised view of the most up-to date entry rules.

© Currency Online Group

14^th January 2022