Looking for easy places to travel from the UAE? Since the beginning of 2020, international travel has become challenging with PCR testing, mandatory quarantine and vaccination requirements for travellers to contend with.
Some countries have recently announced the easing of travel restrictions, which makes travel easier and less expensive for those who are looking to take a vacation or return to their home countries.
There is a growing number of easy places to travel from the UAE. Many of the following countries require no PCR test on arrival for vaccinated travellers.
Travel requirements are always changing, so be sure to double check with your destination country before booking your flight. And keep checking back regularly as we update the list and COVID-19 restrictions ease.
Austria
You can now travel to Austria without a pre-departure PCR test as long as you are fully vaccinated. Your vaccination certificate must be in German or English. Children 12 years old and younger are exempt from COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements. Accepted vaccines include Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm.
Bahrain
Visitors to Bahrain are no longer required to take a PCR test on arrival and do not need a negative PCR test before travelling out of the kingdom, regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated passengers will need to quarantine on arrival in Bahrain for seven days, while vaccinated passengers do not. While you are in Bahrain, if you are in contact with a positive case, you will also no longer be required to undergo mandatory isolation.
Canada
Starting Friday April 1, Canada is dropping pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements. If you are travelling to Canada you will need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination through the ArriveCAN app at least 72 hours before boarding. You may be randomly selected for a COVID-19 test on arrival; these selections are random and you won’t need to quarantine while waiting for the test results.
Cyprus
To travel to Cyprus, fully vaccinated passengers or those who have recently recovered from COVID-19 will not be required to undergo any tests, however you may be randomly tested on arrival. You will also need to complete the application form and obtain a Cyprus flight pass within 48 hours of your final flight to Cyprus. You are only considered fully vaccinated if you have received a booster. Accepted vaccines include Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Pfizer/Biontech, Moderna and Sinopharm
Denmark
Denmark was the first EU country to lift all COVID-19 restrictions inside its borders and the spot has also eased restrictions for travellers. Vaccinated tourists and those who have recovered from COVID-19 can enter Denmark from anywhere without testing or quarantining. You are considered vaccinated if you have a complete dose of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency or World Health Organization. Vaccines are valid for 270 days from the date of completion. After that, you’ll need a booster to travel to Denmark without testing.
France
Vaccinated visitors to France from green list countries are no longer required to present a negative PCR test. If you are vaccinated you will need to provide proof of vaccination. If you are not vaccinated, you need to present a negative COVID 19 test taken less than 72 hours before departure. All children under 12 are exempt from testing. France recognizes Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Etihad airways recently launched twice-weekly seasonal flights to Nice starting in June.
Germany
Thinking of traveling to Germany from the United Arab Emirates? The UAE has recently been taken off Germany’s red list, meaning travellers will not need to quarantine on arrival. You will now only need to show proof of vaccination in English, German, French, Italian or Spanish, to enter. Your proof must show that a complete dose has been taken at least 14 days before travel. Germany only recognises vaccination certificates for jabs taken in the past 270 days, so you may need a third or fourth dose if you haven’t received your booster yet.
Greece
Greece has been one of the easy places to travel to from the UAE for a while now, since fully vaccinated passengers travelling from certain countries (including the United Arab Emirates) can travel without a negative PCR test. You will need to complete a passenger locator form before travelling to Greece in order to be accepted for travel. Passengers may be randomly selected for COVID-19 testing on arrival. If you test positive, you will need to quarantine for five days at home or at an assigned residence.
From Monday May 2, things will be even easier because Greece is lifting current travel restrictions so tourists will no longer need to present vaccine passports, PCR test results or any other COVID-19-related documents to enter the country.
Etihad is also launching a direct Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to Crete this summer from June 15, making travel from the capital to Greece even easier.
Hungary
All COVID‑19 restrictions for travel to Hungary have been lifted. You will no longer need a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or negative COVID-19 test result, and do not have to complete a passenger locator form to enter the country. Quarantine restrictions have also been lifted.
Ireland
Fully vaccinated travellers coming into Ireland are no longer required to present a negative PCR test as long as they have proof of vaccination. In order to be fully vaccinated you need to have received your last dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine no more than 270 days ago. Approved vaccines include Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm. You will also need to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form 72 hours before your arrival. Children under 18 years of age are exempted from the locator form requirement.
Italy
Fully vaccinated passengers travelling to Italy do not need a negative PCR test to enter the country. You are considered fully vaccinated if not more than six months have passed since you received the last required dose of an approved vaccine, or if you have received a booster dose. Approved vaccines include Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. You will also need to complete a Digital Passenger Locator Form with one form per adult. Completing the DPLF will produce a QR code to present at boarding.
Jordan
Jordan is set to abandon all remaining COVID-19 restrictions, apart from vaccination, soon. PCR tests will no longer be required to enter the country and limits on gatherings will be lifted. The green pass proving vaccination will still be required to enter businesses and government departments in Jordan. The changes are set to take place soon, and Wizz Air has just announced new direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Jordan, too.
Lebanon
If you are fully vaccinated and travelling to Lebanon you do not need to complete a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test. You are considered fully vaccinated if you’ve received a second or third dose of any COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of a single dose vaccine not more than six months before travel. You must register on the MOPH PASS platform of the Ministry of Public Health to apply for a MOPH PASS for entry to Lebanon.
Maldives
If you’re planning to travel to Maldives from the UAE, there’s good news. COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted and you are no longer required to have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country. You must have a confirmed hotel reservation for your stay and complete the online Immigration and Health Self Declaration Form within 48 hours of travel.
Mauritius
The Republic of Mauritius has dropped pre-departure testing for vaccinated passengers as of Saturday March 12. Previously, fully vaccinated passengers had to present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure. At least 14 days must have passed since you received the last required dose of any of the following vaccines: AstraZeneca, Covaxin, Moderna, Pfizer BioNTech, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Sputnik V. You will also need to submit a pre-departure health form and show proof of health insurance that covers COVID-19.
Mexico
COVID-19 tests are not required for passengers travelling to Mexico regardless of vaccination status. All passengers must complete a health declaration form by registering on the Vuela Seguro website upon arrival in Mexico. Once completed it will generate a QR code. All passengers must complete a health declaration form before departure from Mexico. Once completed the confirmation QR code must be presented at check in.
Norway
Since Saturday February 12, the Norwegian Government has removed all entry restrictions related to COVID‑19. This includes testing, vaccinations and the completion of entry forms prior to entering Norway.
Oman
As of Sunday (May 22) the Sultanate of Oman has lifted all COVID-19 precautions in public places. This means residents and tourists alike no longer need to wear face masks or socially distance. However, all non‑Omani passengers above 18 years old who are arriving to the Sultanate are required to present a COVID‑19 vaccine certificate with a QR code stating that they have received two doses of any COVID‑19 vaccine approved in Oman. The last dose must be administered not less than fourteen days before the estimated time of arrival.
Portugal
Fully vaccinated passengers from the UAE travelling to Portugal no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 test on arrival. All visitors to Portugal must still fill in a Passenger Locator Form and will receive a corresponding QR code before being allowed to board flights to the country. Portugal recognizes Janssen, AstraZeneca (but not the AstraZeneca produced in India), Moderna, Pfizer, Nuvaxovid and Novavax.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently eased many COVID-19 related restrictions for vaccinated travellers. If you are fully vaccinated you no longer need to take a pre-departure PCR test or antigen test on arrival. Face masks are no longer required in outdoor spaces and social-distancing measures have been relaxed. KSA has approved four COVID-19 vaccines: AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. If you’ve been vaccinated with Sinopharm, you can travel to KSA once a booster shot from one of the four recognised vaccines has also been administered.
Headed to Riyadh? We’ve got everything you need to know about the incredible city at Time Out Riyadh. And if you’re travelling to Jeddah, we’ve got you covered there too with the recently launched Time Out Jeddah.
Seychelles
If you are fully vaccinated and are travelling to Seychelles, you are exempt from COVID-19 PCR testing requirements. Travellers who are 18 years old and above are considered fully vaccinated when they have received two doses of a vaccine plus a booster shot if six months have passed since their second dose. Those between 12 and 18 are only required to take two doses and children below 12 are exempt from vaccine requirements. You will also need to submit a Health Travel Authorisation (HTA) document before travelling and will need travel health insurance that covers COVID‑19 testing, related isolation, quarantine and clinical care.
Spain
If you are travelling to Spain from the UAE, you “can travel regardless of having any vaccination, diagnostic or recovery certificate”. Prior to travelling (even in transit), you must fill out a Health Control Form then show the generated QR code to authorities.
Sri Lanka
Fully vaccinated travellers are not required to take any COVID‑19 tests before travelling to Sri Lanka. The recommended doses must be completed 14 days before travel and travellers must present a valid vaccination certificate. Children below 12 years old are exempt from the pre‑departure COVID‑19 testing requirement regardless of vaccination status.
Turkey
Speaking of easy places to travel from the UAE, fully vaccinated travellers to Turkey no longer need to show a PCR test on arrival. Anyone over the age of 12 needs to be double-vaccinated. There is also an online health form for travellers to fill out, which needs to be done a maximum of 72 hours before travel.
United Kingdom
The UK recently lifted all restrictions for vaccinated travelers and as of Friday March 18, all restrictions for non-vaccinated travellers too. Passengers will no longer need to complete a passenger locator form (PLF). England also announced that it will be lifting all COVID-19 measures, including the end of mandatory isolation for positive cases, from Thursday February 24. Click here to read more.
