Travelling to Europe after
receiving your COVID-19
vaccine

21 June 2021

With the vaccine rollout increasing throughout EU member states, the prospect of travel for summer 2021 returns. The tourism industry have high hopes of welcoming visitors, and countries like Spain and Italy that produce high return from tourism are at the forefront of benefiting from the lift of travel restrictions.

A joint campaign by four airlines’ associations has been launched to facilitate the return to normal travel for EU citizens. The aim of the campaign is to return to free movement alongside the implementation of a digital COVID-19 certificate to end quarantine requirements with widespread testing and resuming non-essential international travel.

What are the proposals?

Brussels recently proposed that it will be possible to lift all travel restrictions from 1 July for EU residents who are fully vaccinated. This would mean the lifting of quarantine and all testing requirements for vaccinated adults and their children who will also be exempt. Although some countries will still apply their own rules, the new guidelines will be provided as a general principle.

The prospects of returning to hassle-free travel was proposed in advance of the launch of the EU digital COVID-19 certificate on Tuesday 2 June. The certificate is designed to provide quick proof of recovery, vaccination or a negative test result for COVID-19. The European commission also announced an ongoing talk with non-EU countries for mutual recognition of these certificates for travel.

So, how will this effect travellers from third countries coming to European countries?

Certain countries have announced their willingness to exempt vaccinated travellers from quarantine and testing restrictions. It should be noted country specific exemptions do apply. European countries where getting a vaccine can make a difference in your travel include Ireland, Portugal, Iceland, France, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Estonia, Poland, Sweden and Romania.

To give a country perspective, Spain announced that exceptions will apply for vaccinated travellers in respect to restrictions that were put in place for non-essential travel from countries outside the EU and Schengen area. An announcement on 5 June set forth that persons with a vaccination certificate recognised by the Ministry of Health in Spain will be able to enter without restrictions. The certificates can be issued by the country of origin and will be valid 14 days after the person received the final dose of the jab.

The certificate is required to include the following information;

  • First name and last name of the person.
  • Date of vaccination and date of last dose received.
  • Type of vaccine administered.
  • Number of vaccine doses received.
  • Issuing authority.
  • Identification of issuing body.

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