Which countries can I enter if I have been vaccinated against Covid-19?

As of mid-February 2021, seven countries were welcoming visitors who had received the Covid-19 vaccine: the Republic of Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Poland, Romania, and the Seychelles. Currently, more countries are implementing new plans to welcome vaccinated international visitors.

The government of the Central American island nation of Belize is allowing entry to tourists who have been vaccinated against Covid-19, without requiring a negative test result. These tourists now only need to present a certificate proving they have received all doses of the vaccine at least two weeks prior to arriving in Belize.

Guatemala officially welcomed tourists who had been vaccinated against Covid-19 in late February. Visitors are allowed to travel freely without testing or a two-week quarantine if they have received two doses of the vaccine, with the second dose administered at least two weeks before departure.

Lebanon also announced that vaccinated travelers with a certificate will not be required to quarantine upon entry. All international visitors will be allowed entry through the country's normal visa procedures. However, in addition to vaccination, travelers must have a negative Covid-19 test result within 96 hours before departure. At the airport in Lebanon, travelers will have to undergo a second test at a cost of $50 USD payable to the airline, and quarantine for 72 hours.

Lithuania waives Covid-19 testing and quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travelers. However, this policy only applies to tourists from countries permitted to enter Lithuania, including European Union (EU) members and seven third-party countries proposed by the EU.

Moldova has also started welcoming visitors who have been vaccinated against Covid-19, waiving the 14-day quarantine, while Slovenia allows EU citizens to enter without testing or quarantine, provided they have been vaccinated.

Alongside many countries that have already begun accepting Covid-19 vaccinated tourists, some places are gradually preparing for plans to welcome international visitors.

In the US, Hawaii is the first state hoping to welcome vaccinated visitors without quarantine. Those who have been vaccinated will receive an electronic code allowing them to travel around the state's islands. The program is expected to begin on May 1st, initially for local workers, followed by allowing US citizens from mainland states to travel to the islands after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. After that, plans to welcome international visitors will be gradually implemented.

Thailand will welcome vaccinated tourists but will still apply short-term quarantine, aiming to eliminate it altogether. Yuthasak Supasorn, Director-General of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the program to welcome vaccinated tourists will be implemented in stages.

The first step involves reducing the quarantine period from 14 days to 7 days, and then gradually eliminating it entirely. While no start date has been announced, the director-general shared that the plan will be implemented very quickly because Thailand wants to welcome international tourists back as normal by the third quarter.

The Danish and Greek governments are considering easing restrictions for vaccinated travelers. Israel is at the forefront of the Covid-19 vaccination race, with more than 50% of its population having received two doses. Sharon Bershadsky, Director of the Israel Tourism Office in the UK, said: "Israel is working hard to open its borders to tourists as soon as possible."

Huong Thao