What Countries Are Open to Vaccinated Travelers?

As more people are able to get vaccinated, countries around the world are starting to loosen travel restrictions for fully vaccinated visitors. Quarantine requirements and negative COVID-19 test mandates are being waived by certain countries for travelers who have been fully vaccinated in an effort to restart tourism.

However, it’s important to note that the United States is still requiring a negative COVID-19 test (or proof of recovery from COVID-19) from all passengers entering the country on an international flight. So even if you’ve been vaccinated, you’ll still need to provide a negative test to return to the U.S. 

Once you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (in most instances, this means two weeks after receiving the last dose of your COVID-19 vaccine), where can you go? The following countries are open to fully vaccinated American travelers right now:

Belize

Belize is now open to fully vaccinated travelers. Unvaccinated visitors will need either proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of travel, or a negative rapid test taken within 48 hours of travel. Or, visitors can opt to take a test upon arrival at the airport in Belize for $50. More details on Belize’s entry requirements can be found on their travel health and safety website.

Croatia

Croatia is now waiving testing and quarantine requirements for all fully vaccinated visitors to the country. American tourists will be required to show proof of paid-in-full accommodations (a booking or deposit will not suffice) in order to enter. Non-vaccinated American tourists will still need to show a negative COVID-19 test or proof of antibodies. Unvaccinated children under 7 are exempt from this requirement.

Ecuador

Visitors to Ecuador must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before entering the country. However, this requirement is now waived for travelers with a valid vaccination card showing that they have received a complete series of the shot. 

Estonia

Fully vaccinated American travelers are now welcome to visit Estonia, provided they can show proof of vaccination (in Estonian, English, or Russian) that includes the vaccine manufacturer, batch number. The final dose of the vaccine must not have been received more than six months ago. Despite the newly relaxed rules, Estonia’s tourism board notes: “Currently the infection rate in Estonia is high. All ordinary tourist attractions are closed until April 25, 2021 and the healthcare system is working at full capacity. All measures aim to bring down the infection rate. We recommend to postpone your trip until everyday life has normalized.”

France

A 2021 summer vacation in France looks like it will be a possibility for fully vaccinated American tourists. French President Emmanuel Macron recently stated that France will begin to lift travel restrictions in May. “We will progressively lift the restrictions of the beginning of May, which means that we will organize in the summer time with our professionals in France for French European citizens, but as well for American citizens,” Macron said.

Macron indicated that some type of vaccine passport would be required for travel to France, saying “We are working hard to propose a very concrete solution, especially for U.S. citizens who are vaccinated, so with a special pass, I would say.”

Georgia

Fully vaccinated American travelers to Georgia can skip the country’s cumbersome testing and quarantine requirements, which include: arriving via air (not land or sea), traveling directly from an approved country, presenting a negative PCR test taken within the past 72 hours, and getting a follow-up PCR test on the third day of a trip in Georgia.  

Greece

Greece has eliminated quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travelers (or those who can provide a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery from COVID-19) for tourists from Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

However, tourists should note that Greece is not yet fully open, with bars and restaurants remaining closed to in-person dining, even for tourists.

Guatemala

Guatemala is open without restrictions to fully vaccinated visitors. All others will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of traveling, or show evidence from a licensed healthcare provider documenting proof of recovering from COVID-19 within the 90 days before traveling.

Iceland

Testing and quarantine requirements are now waived for all fully vaccinated visitors to Iceland. (Previously, the waiver only applied to travelers from Europe.) The exemption also applies to travelers who can show proof of recovery from COVID-19 “in accordance with the requirements defined by the Chief Epidemiologist.”  

Lithuania

Lithuania is open to fully vaccinated American travelers as well as those who can show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel. However, the country is currently in a nationwide lockdown until May 31, 2021 which will limit travel around Lithuania, as well as what is open.

Montenegro

Montenegro is now open to fully vaccinated American tourists, with no other requirements to enter. However, there are still many COVID-19 restrictions in effect within the country, including a curfew.

Romania

American visitors who have been fully vaccinated, or have proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the last 90 days can enter Romania without restrictions. All others must quarantine for a mimimum of ten days upon arrival, even with a negative COVID-19 test.

Seychelles

The Seychelles’ quarantine requirement will be waived for fully vaccinated travelers, but not their testing requirement. Even vaccinated visitors will still need to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel in order to enter. 

Slovenia

Skip Slovenia’s mandatory ten day quarantine requirement by showing proof of vaccination. Slovenia considers visitors to be fully vaccinated only seven days after their second Pfizer dose, 14 days after their final Moderna dose, or 21 days after the second AstraZeneca dose.

The United States

Many states within the United States are following suit and waiving quarantine and testing requirements for fully vaccinated domestic travelers coming from another state. Vermont, for example, mandates either a 14-day quarantine upon arrival to the state or a 7-day pre-trip quarantine at home followed by a negative COVID-19 test, but only for unvaccinated visitors.

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