Countries Requiring American Travelers Be COVID-19 Vaccinated for Entry

Places Where Vaccination Is Your Entry Pass
Every COVID-19 vaccinated individual has his or her own set of reasons for getting the jab. You or someone you love may be immunocompromised, or maybe you just dread the idea of getting profoundly sick for an extended period. But, after 19 months of staying close to home, it’s likely that being able to travel safely again is also on the list of motivators for many Americans.

Now that international travel is opening up again, slowly but surely, vaccination not only provides peace of mind for your own personal health reasons but also increasingly enables you to enter foreign countries that you otherwise couldn’t. Note that it’s often the case that travelers can alternatively provide documented proof of recent recovery from the virus as evidence of immunity, in place of proof of vaccination.

Here are some of the world’s popular destinations that are granting entry to American visitors only if they’re vaccinated.

Anguilla
As of July 1, the only U.S. travelers permitted to visit Anguilla are those who provide proof that they received their final dose of a vaccine protocol at least three weeks prior to arriving in the Eastern Caribbean country.

You’ll also need to apply for entry and upload a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 72 to 120 hours (three to five days) prior to travel.

A post-arrival test is also required on Day Four of your visit and you must quarantine at your hotel, resort of licensed villa rental until you receive negative results.

Belgium
Only fully immunized American travelers who produce proof of vaccination can visit Belgium’s storied and picturesque cities, such as Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp. You must also complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) within six months of your departure.

Canada
Since August 9, fully vaccinated American travelers have once again been allowed to enter Canada for nonessential purposes. Visitors will need to submit their proof of vaccination electronically through the ArriveCAN app. They’ll also need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test performed no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. Passengers are chosen at random for another test upon arrival at the airport. Be forewarned that anyone attempting to falsify vaccination records face a fine of up to $750,000 and potential jail time.

Chile
Chile has reopened to fully vaccinated non-resident foreigners with the added provision that they present proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding their flight. Would-be visitors will need to upload their vaccination documentation, fill out the ‘Affidavit for Travelers’ form online up to 48 hours before departure and purchase their own travel health insurance with a coverage minimum of $30,000, which specifically covers any medical costs related to COVID-19. Lastly, all international travelers entering Chile are required to remain in isolation for the first five days of their trip.

Denmark
Fully vaccinated foreign travelers who have received their final dose of an approved vaccine protocol at least 14 days prior to travel are allowing to enter Denmark. Vaccines used must be one of those approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), namely Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson. Children who haven’t been vaccinated will need to supply proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Unvaccinated foreigners seeking to enter Demark must qualify as having a “worthy purpose”.

Estonia
Estonia only grants entry to fully vaccinated tourists and stipulates that no more than 12 months can have elapsed since an individual’s inoculation series was completed. Unvaccinated travelers may be accepted for the purposes of work, study, family reasons or with the issue of a special permit. Quarantine and testing requirements for unvaccinated visitors are reassessed weekly and posted here.

Finland
Finland is now welcoming fully vaccinated travelers from all countries, including the United States. As per usual, 14 days must have elapsed since you received the final dose of a valid brand of COVID-19 vaccine before you’re considered fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated travelers can only enter the country for essential purposes if they are given authorization. by the Finnish Border Guard.

France
The United States currently falls into France’s ‘orange’ category. Fully vaccinated travelers are welcomed without any testing or quarantine necessary. CDC-issued paper vaccination cards serve as sufficient proof of immunization. Those who aren’t fully vaccinated would need to fall into one of some select categories of travelers and must provide a compelling reason for entry into France to receive an exemption.

Grenada
All foreign travelers to Grenada must be fully vaccinated, but that’s not the only safeguard measure the island’s government has put in place. Everyone entering the country must have a Pure Safe Travel Certificate, which an authorization that grants the approved applicant authorization to travel to Grenada.

All visitors over the age of five must also submit a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel. They must also have a confirmed reservation for a minimum seven-day stay at an ‘Approved Accommodation’ and remain on the property until they receive the results of another PCR test to be taken on Day Five—which they must pay for in advance of applying for their travel authorization certificate.

Germany
U.S. travelers to Germany must either be fully vaccinated or provide proof of prior recovery from the virus in order to bypass the otherwise mandatory 10-day quarantine requirement. Proof of vaccination can be either electronic or an original paper document, but a photo of a paper vaccination document will not be accepted.

Even vaccinated visitors are required to present a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours of entry into Germany or, alternatively, an antigen test that was taken no more than 48 hours before entry.

You’ll also need to fill out a registration form upon arrival, and provide your confirmation to the air carrier and/or border control agents.

Unvaccinated visitors much demonstrate an important need to travel and receive special dispensation to enter the country.

Latvia
Travelers from the U.S. who are fully vaccinated are permitted to enter Latvia by showing either their paper CDC vaccination card or an electronic certificate. Unvaccinated Americans can only enter this Baltic country if they can prove they have an essential purpose for traveling to Latvia, receive government approval, supply a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their arrival, take another test within 24 hours following their arrival and self-isolate for 10 days. As there are no direct flights between the U.S. and Latvia, travelers must also research the requirements of the countries they may be transiting through.

Malta
Since July 14, only fully vaccinated foreign visitors have been welcomed in the Mediterranean archipelagic destination of Malta. The government requires CDC vaccination cards to be verified through the VeriFLY app to be considered a valid vaccination certificate. Any international passengers who arrive without a valid vaccination certificate will be subject to a mandatory PCR test and 14-day quarantine in a government-selected hotel at their own expense.

The Netherlands
The Netherlands currently considers the U.S. to be a high-risk area, which means that American travelers aged 12 or over must be fully vaccinated to bypass a ban on non-essential foreign visitors. Those who are unvaccinated, but fall into an exemption category must provide a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure for The Netherlands or a negative antigen test taken within 24 hours of boarding their flight.

St. Kitts and Nevis
Only fully COVID-19 vaccinated American travelers can visit the twin Leeward islands of St. Kitts & Nevis. Children under the age of 18 who are traveling with fully vaccinated parents are also permitted to enter. The dual-island Federation accepts all three of the vaccine types used in the U.S. (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson), and allows for a mix of the two-dose regimens.

All travelers must also provide a negative PCR test performed at an accredited lab within 72 hours of travel in order to enter the country. Regardless of age, all passengers must complete an embarkation form, where they’ll need to upload vaccination proof, test results and other supporting documentation no later than 24 hours prior to their flight.

Furthermore, foreign visitors must submit proof of a confirmed reservation at a ‘Travel Approved’ tourist accommodation and remain on that property for 24 hours pending the results of a post-arrival PCR test, which are now being administered at the government-approved hotels. With the return of negative results, visitors are allowed to fully integrate into the community, and enjoy all sites and attractions.

Saudi Arabia
Only fully vaccinated foreign nationals are permitted to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and all air passengers are required to provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their flight’s departure. A web portal is available for travelers to register their vaccination status in advance.

The Middle Eastern nation has upgraded ‘Tawakkalna’—its contact-tracing app—to allow temporary visitors to register with their passport details. As of October 10, essentially all indoor establishments and public buildings are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination via the Tawakkalna for access.

Slovenia
The Central European country of Slovenia allows Americans traveling for non-essential purposes to enter only if they’re fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 within the previous six months. Children under the age of 15 who are accompanying their vaccinated parents can enter the country without quarantine or testing. U.S. travelers who can prove they’re visiting for essential reasons can enter with only a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours of travel or antigen test performed within 48 hours.

Singapore
The East Asian city-state of Singapore has established a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) program with the U.S., which took effect October 19. All adult American travelers must be fully vaccinated, while unvaccinated children aged 12 and under can travel via the VTL if accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.

There’s no quarantine, but travelers must provide a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of their departure for Singapore and take another PCR test upon arrival, then remain in self-isolation pending the results.

Short-term visitors, such as tourists, must also have purchased medical travel insurance that covers any COVID-related costs that might arise, with a coverage minimum of SGD$30,000 (US$22,268).

Visitors over the age of 12 need to submit a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) application anywhere from seven to 30 days ahead of their intended date of entry into Singapore.

Tourists are also required to download and register on the TraceTogether app for contact-tracing purposes.

Spain
Since September, tourists from the U.S. have been permitted to visit Spain as long as they can supply proof of vaccination. Some unvaccinated Americans may be allowed to enter Spain for essential purposes (e.g., for work, studies or imperative family reasons) with a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or an antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival.

All passengers must also complete a Health Control Form prior to their departure for Spain to obtain a QR code, which must be presented upon boarding their flight and at health control checkpoints upon arrival.

Switzerland
Switzerland is only granting entry to fully vaccinated U.S. adults and children under the age of 18 who are traveling with fully vaccinated adults. Switzerland considers vaccinations valid for 12 months from the date the series is completed. Tourists who can prove that they’ve recovered from the virus within the previous six months are also permitted.

All foreign visitors must also fill out an entry form, which can be completed 48 hours before entry, at the earliest. Your passport must also be valid for three months beyond your date of departure from the Schengen zone.

Note that a COVID certificate is currently required in order to enter most indoor public establishments, as well as large-scale events with over 1,000 people.

You can use the Travelcheck tool to determine which measures will specifically apply to you based on your situation.

Tahiti
As of October 21, fully vaccinated foreign travelers can visit the Islands of Tahiti/French Polynesia without quarantining as long as they also provide a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their plane. PCR tests must have been performed within 72 hours of departure for Tahiti, while antigen tests must have been taken within 48 hours. Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 who are traveling with a vaccinated parent or legal guardian are also welcomed, but must take additional tests on Days 4 and 8 of their stay.

Foreign travelers must also submit an application on the ETIS platform between 30 and six days prior to travel and bring a printed copy of their Sworn Statement. Unvaccinated non-nationals must provide a compelling reason for wanting to travel to Tahiti, and must test negative before boarding their flight, upon arrival, on Days 4 and 8, as well as complete a 10-day quarantine.

Thailand
Thailand’s restrictions seem to be constantly fluctuating as it attempts to execute a phased reopening to foreign tourism. Currently, vaccinated Americans can only visit select popular vacation spots that are part of the country’s ‘sandbox program’, including Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phagnan and Koh Tao.

U.S. travelers and foreigners from a list of other approved countries must supply proof that they’re fully COVID-19 vaccinated; a negative pre-arrival PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival; travel health insurance that covers COVID-related costs up to at least $100,000; an approved Certificate of Entry (COE) or Thailand Pass issued by the Thai Embassy/Consulate; reservations a Safety and Health Administration Plus (SHA+) approved hotel for at least seven nights.

Thailand’s prime minister recently announced that fully vaccinated U.S. travelers will be able to enter the country without quarantine requirements starting November 1. At that point, unvaccinated American tourists will also be able to visit, but will have to quarantine at an approved hotel for 10 days, and comply with pre- and post-arrival testing requirements.

Turks and Caicos
Last month, the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos began requiring all foreign tourists aged 16 and over to be fully vaccinated. There’s no quarantine requirement, although travelers must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel (children under age 10 are exempt). Visitors must also have proof that they’ve purchased travel health insurance that covers the cost of any COVID-related treatment, up to and including full hospitalization, quarantine accommodations or air ambulance transport.

You’ll also need to obtain a travel pre-authorization through the TCI Assured Portal prior to boarding your flight for the islands. The good news is that U.S. travelers don’t have to obtain a visa to visit Turks and Caicos, once you’ve fulfilled all of the entry requirements, you’re issued permission to stay up to 90 days.

Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago’s borders reopened to American tourists in mid-July, but only fully vaccinated foreign travelers are being allowed entry at this time. Prospective visitors need to be considered fully vaccinated by the time they apply for their TT Travel Pass, which they can begin filling out 72 hours prior to their arrival on the islands. All passengers must also submit proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their arrival. Note that there are some restrictions on travel within the country and that a nationwide nightly curfew is in place from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.