France updated entry requirements from Green, Orange, and Red counties last week (read more here and here).
The country has now moved both United States and Canada from Orange to Green which means that travelers from these two countries need to be either fully vaccinated OR have PCR or antigen test performed 72 hours before departure.
Finland is relaxing entry requirements from Schengen and EU countries from Monday next week for those coming for work or on a business trip or leisure travelers.
Finland has had one of the strictest entry requirements for even intra-bloc arrivals since March last year that had not applied to nationals, including myself and residents of the country. Life during the pandemic has been mostly normal, with some early restaurant and bar closures but no curfews like in many countries in Central Europe.
European Union Ambassadors on Wednesday have decided to add six countries to the Safe List from which non-essential travel to the bloc, at least theoretically, would be allowed, according to Reuters and AFP.
However, each member state can decide who to let in, and there could be prearrival Covid-19 testing requirement, proof of vaccination and/or quarantine.
The US airline regulator FAA has ordered domestic airlines to adequately consider passenger and baggage weight, both that have been growing in recent years.
Airlines need to use this information to fuel the plane adequately and be within guidelines to take-off weight. The estimated weight of passengers and their luggage is expected to rise by 5% to 10%.
Canada started to require mandatory hotel quarantine while waiting for negative Covid-19 results in January (read more here) from those arriving by air.
Some Canadians found out that it was cheaper to skip the quarantine that sometimes cost more than C$3,000 by merely paying a fine (read more here) or entering by ground (read more here). Paying for three-night quarantine was essentially a scam because the result came in a day (read more here).
In May, the president of France announced that the country would welcome vaccinated tourists outside of the EU/AA from June 9, 2021, and last week issued guidelines on what is required and has now released them in ENGLISH.
France categorizes countries as Green, Orange, or Red, and a different set of rules applies to each. Fully vaccinated from Orange countries such as the United States or the UK need to do a PCR-RT or antigen test before their flight to France.
Last week, Denmark changed the entry requirements to country depending on whether visitors are vaccinated and from where they are coming from.
Denmark categorizes countries as Yellow (ideal situation), Orange (the case is under control), Red (situation difficult and most travels to Denmark banned). Vaccinated tourists are welcomed from EU/Schengen/OECD and Yellow countries without additional tests or isolation requirements.
Spanish Prime Minister announced in mid-May that the country would welcome vaccinated Brits from May 20th and visitors from all other countries from June 7th, 2021.
There has been some confusion around this because the Spanish government hadn’t made the entry rules clear or published any additional information until Saturday.
In May, the president of France announced that the country would welcome vaccinated tourists outside of the EU/AA from June 9, 2021, and yesterday issued guidelines on what is required.
France categorizes countries as Green, Orange, or Red, and a different set of rules applies to each. Fully vaccinated from Orange countries such as the United States or the UK need to do a PCR-RT or antigen test before their flight to France.
Unlike Playa del Carmen or Tulum, there are no conveniently located tents for Covid-19 testing in Puerto Vallarta for visitors to use when they need tests for travel purposes.
As I have been in and out of Puerto Vallarta several times this year, I have seen the tent right outside of the airport several times and decided to try it out earlier this week as I needed a PCR-RT test to enter Brazil.
England today updated its Green, Amber, and Red countries list that is valid from 4 AM next Tuesday (June 8). There are no additions to the Green, although there were hopes for more holiday destinations opening up for Brits to visits without having to quarantine upon return.
Portugal is moving from Green to Amber (self-quarantine required) and seven countries from Amber to Red (10-night mandatory hotel quarantine).
European Union has tried to safely restart the tourism sector crucial to the Southern member states (Portugal, Spain, Italy & Greece). Some have already opened up for non-bloc arrivals.
In mid-May, the EU decided that the bloc would allow fully vaccinated visitors and those coming from low infection rate countries to enter sometime this summer. There was supposed to be a list of these released in late May, but it has now been delayed until mid-June.
Netherlands was one of the first countries to introduce PCR-RT test requirements for transit passengers (often you needed two) that some other countries followed with less time-consuming and cheaper tests.
The Netherlands has removed the negative test requirement from transit passengers effective today. However, you need to ensure that you fulfill the destination country’s entry requirements, including possible test(s).
European Union and member states have been working on a commonly accepted Digital Green Certificate, now called the EU Digital COVID Certificate, since early 2021 to facilitate the freedom of movement within the bloc.
The European Commission has today updated its proposals that all member states should accept from July 1, 2021. The keys to verifying these digital documents at the EU level will go live tomorrow (June 1st).
