What does it mean to be “fully vaccinated” for travel? On this episode of COVID Travel Explained we answer some of the most common questions we've been getting from our clients
Do you need to be fully vaccinated to travel?
This depends on where you are traveling to. A few countries have completely removed covid entry restrictions, such as Mexico and Iceland. Some countries, such as Israel allow unvaccinated travelers to enter but requires pre and post entry tests and temporary quarantine. Other countries, such as Italy, will allow unvaccinated travelers to enter however they will be unable to get the “Super Green Pass”, which allows entry into hotels, restaurants, museums, really anyplace a traveler would want to visit. More and more countries are dropping testing and quarantine procedures for vaccinated travelers, but keeping them in place for unvaccinated.
How soon after vaccination can you travel?
14 days. Most countries require at least 14 days between final dose and travel. If you’re planning on getting the COVID vaccine before a trip make sure you leave enough time between vaccination and departure. As a rule, sooner is usually better in getting the vaccine for travel. If you travel with less the 14 days between the previous dose and your departure flight you might be subject to additional testing and or quarantine. We mentioned Italy earlier, not meeting the timeframe between vaccination and departure can disqualify you from getting the “Super Green Pass” which means you can’t stay in a hotel, or ride public transportation. Make sure you are up-to-date on the current rules for any country you plan to visit.
What’s the definition of fully vaccinated?
There is not single definition, each country has their own definition for fully vaccinated. The most consistent definition of fully vaccinated is having received the most recent dose of the vaccine within the previous 9 months, and more than 14 days before departure. Some countries have a more strict definition, such as Italy which requires the final dose to be administered within the previous 6 months. And some destinations are more lax, Hawaii for example does not require a booster to be considered fully vaccinated.
Can I be unvaccinated and travel?
Currently traveling as unvaccinated can be difficult and restrictive. A few destinations have opened to all travelers with no restrictions, but there are only a handful at the moment. Some countries won’t allow unvaccinated to enter at all. France, for instance, requires a compelling reason to allow an unvaccinated traveler to enter. The Bahamas will not allow any unvaccinated traveler over the age of 12 to enter. If you want to be an unvaccinated traveler you will need to carefully consider your destination, not only to make sure you will be allowed to enter, but also not be required to do lengthy quarantine or have other restrictions put on your trip.
I’m unvaccinated but I had COVID.
This is an interesting situation for travel. Some countries consider those that have recovered from COVID to be the same as fully vaccinated. This requires proof, and has to conform to whatever timeframe the country has put in place.
We are still seeing changes to entry requirements for many countries, so please check with your Travel Advisor for the most up-to-date information for any country you plan on visiting. Many countries are starting to phase out COVID entry requirements, or removing them all together. If the trend continues we could see a lot of changes over the next few months. Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date.
