Tulum, Mexico
As vaccines become more widely available throughout the United States and the world, some countries are loosening restrictions and allowing American tourists to visit as soon as June. From the European Union to beach destinations around the world, your vaccination card really does become your passport.
While the United States is still requires all travelers, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival regardless of destination or vaccination status, vaccinated travelers are exempt from post-arrival quarantine requirements in certain states.
As for abroad, tourism may not look exactly like pre-pandemic times. Many countries continue to enforce local masking and capacity restrictions, and nightlife around the world is not yet quite open. Expect to travel with your mask and hand-sanitizer on hand.
See also: Discover These Dog-Friendly Travel Destinations Across America
After a devastating year and a half, these countries are finally opening their borders as a small step in the long road to normalcy. Many are still battling COVID-19 cases of their own, and some don’t yet have enough vaccines for their own populations. Locals may fear rising COVID-19 cases with an influx of tourists, so remember to respectfully enjoy your much-missed wanderlust.
Just in time for summer vacations, here are the countries opening up to US travelers.
This list was last updated on May 3rd. Please check local and airline restrictions before you plan your next vacation.
United States citizens need to use the government application portal to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test. This test needs to be completed 3-5 days prior to the travel date, and it includes a fee which will change depending on the number of people in the party. From July 1, travelers who are fully vaccinated and can provide proof of immunity three weeks prior to their arrival can be exempt from the fee and quarantine.
As of May 1st, fully-vaccinated visitors do not have to show proof of negative COVID-19 test to enter the beloved Caribbean island. However, all travelers aged 18 and older must purchase a “Bahamas Health Visa” and must upload test results or vaccine documentation into the portal before arrival.
Individuals who are vaccinated can visit Barbados with a proof of vaccination as well as a negative coronavirus test, which needs to be completed less than 72 hours prior to arrival. At Barbados, travelers will be tested a second time at the airport or accommodation. Their quarantine period will last one of two days, until the second test results come back negative.
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Travelers need proof of vaccination (of the second dose), and they need to have been vaccinated two weeks prior to travel. These records will be submitted when entering the country. The proof of vaccination also allows travelers to skip the coronavirus test requirement. Moreover, everyone must download the Belize Health App and fill out relevant forms no more than 72 hours before arrival. Belize also accepts vaccine cards with proof of vaccination for more than two weeks instead of a negative PCR test upon arrival.
American travelers who are fully vaccinated have a reduced quarantine period when visiting the British Virgin Islands, despite having to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken 3-5 days prior to arrival. They will be subject to two COVID-19 tests. If the second result is negative, they are free to travel.
As close as the United States is to the Canadian border, traveling to the country was almost as difficult as traveling halfway around the world due to restrictions, but starting July 6, Canada will allow individuals who have been vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival to enter the country. Of course, travelers will need to provide proof of vaccination to enter the country.
After completing a health pass form, U.S. visitors can enter the Central American country with proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test. You are also required to show proof of travel medical insurance.
The Dominican Republic no longer has any entry requirements, and required pre-arrival tests are now administered through spot-testing of about three to 15 percent of arriving visitors. Once on the island, however, local curfews from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the weekends) are still in place.
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Ecuador is now open for tourists with either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test. If you plan to visit the Galapagos islands, additional requirements are needed for your visit. A negative COVID test result and a “salvaconducto” by your tourism agency are required before you leave the Ecuadorian mainland and explore the flora and fauna at the Galapagos.
Instead of providing evidence of a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before travel, vaccinated individuals are able to substitute the test results for their proof of vaccination.
Although all individuals entering Grenada will need to submit evidence of a negative COVID-19 test, unvaccinated individuals will go through restrictions and questioning. Vaccinated individuals simply need to quarantine for 48 hours.
Perfect for both wildlife and history junkies, Guatemala is now open to fully-vaccinated U.S. visitors with no required quarantine. Travelers need to provide proof of vaccination, and must have received the vaccine at least two weeks prior to travel. Those who have not been vaccinated need to submit results from a negative coronavirus test less than 72 hours prior to travel. There are no curfews or restrictions, although the airport may have health screenings.
Mexico has been open to tourists since June of 2020. Perfect for beach destinations like Cancún and Tulum, metropolitan areas like Mexico City are now also open for tourists. Visitors are not required to show any sort of vaccination or negative PCR test to enter the country, but the U.S. requires all travelers entering the country from Mexico to show documentation of the above.
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As the country enters its fourth phase of an economic recovery plan, Peru now accepts visitors from the United States. All visitors must show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, and a local Antigen test is required to be exempt from the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Machu Picchu, the country’s most popular tourist destination, is currently open and accepting visitors with heavy social distancing and capacity restrictions. However domestic flights from Lima to Cusco are few and restricted, and local nightly curfews continue to be in place.
In order to travel to Puerto Rico, Americans can replace a negative coronavirus test result with their proof of vaccination.
Opened for tourists with a negative COVID-19 test as well as a completed Health Travel form, the U.S. Virgin Islands is once again welcoming visitors. No quarantine is required for healthy visitors, and those who are not must quarantine at their own expense. The islands os St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island still require masks even when outdoors, and social distancing is encouraged on public beaches. Tourists returning from the U.S. Virgin Islands are exempt from testing for re-entry back into the United States.
All 27 members of the European Union will start to accept U.S. travelers with vaccination cards. All three vaccines available in the United States—Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson—have been approved by the EMA and will be accepted upon arrival. While no exact date or timeline has been established by the European Commission, current U.S. efforts for mass vaccination are on track for achieving herd immunity by mid-June.
If the traveler has received a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine two weeks before arrival, Americans can visit Bulgaria and go through no quarantine requirement. Non-vaccinated travelers can also travel with evidence of a negative COVID-19 test 3-5 days prior to arrival.
Open to all visitors, Croatia requires tourists to have proof of accommodation paid in full. As for entry requirements, all visitors must show either a negative COVID-19 PCR test, proof of full vaccination, or a certification of recovery from COVID-19 older than 11 days but not older than 180 as of arrival in Croatia.
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The small island nation off the coast of Turkey is now open to U.S. travelers. All tourists must upload proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test result before arrival. Museums, galleries and archeological sites are open but require face-coverings be worn at all times. A local 9 p.m. curfew is still in place, and restaurants and bars are open for outdoor and takeout services only. Vaccinated travelers will be exempt from the testing and quarantine requirements. This will require proof of vaccination. Even vaccinated individuals, however, will need to complete a Cyprus Flight pass, which contains each individual’s personal information. Also, certain people (vaccinated or not) may be tested randomly.
For individuals who have received the Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine, U.S. citizens can travel to Denmark. They must have received the final dose at least two weeks prior to arrival. If there are children in the family who have not received the vaccination, they must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
Estonia will permit Americans who provide proof of vaccination (of all nine global supplier vaccines). However, the proof must include the following in English, Estonian, or Russian: vaccine manufacturer and batch number. The individual must have received this vaccine less than six months ago.
One of the most tourist-heavy countries, full of museums and destinations, that we all miss and hope to visit, France finally reopenes its gates to visitors and tourists who have been fully vaccinated and can provide proof of vaccination at the airport. Unvaccinated travelers are also permitted to travel if they provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to arrival.
At the geographical and cultural crossroads of the Caucasus Mountains, U.S. visitors to Georgia who are fully vaccinated can now enter with valid documentation.
U.S. citizens who are both vaccinated or not can enter Germany. Tourists can submit a proof of vaccination or results showing a negative coronavirus test taken 72 hours prior to arrival in Germany. However, those who have been vaccinated will be exempt from quarantine requirements.
One of the countries who pushed for the EU to lift travel restrictions, Greece is open to fully vaccinated U.S. visitors. Once in the mediterranean country, Greece continues to be under lockdown and curfew restrictions. As of May 3, restaurants and bars will open to outdoor dining. People over the age of 5 who have not been vaccinated must present results from a negative coronavirus test. All travelers, vaccinated or not, must complete the Passenger Locator Form prior to entry.
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Travelers must submit official proof of vaccination in the following languages: Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, English or Icelandic. The individual must have received one of four vaccinations: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or AstraZeneca. With proof of vaccination, one can travel without testing. Moreover, there are no restrictions in the country upon arrival if vaccinated.
Travelers who have been vaccinated will be exempt from quarantine requirements as well as mandatory evidence of a negative coronavirus test.
The Balkan nation allows U.S. travelers into their country with either a negative COVID-19 PCR test, or proof of a second dose vaccine received no sooner than seven days ago. Individuals who are not vaccinated will need to go through testing requirements upon entry. All individuals must observe a curfew and restrictions. Stores and restaurants will also be closing at earlier times.
Individuals will be exempt from the 10-day quarantine with a proof of vaccine.
Americans who have been vaccinated do not need to quarantine when they travel to Romania with a proof of vaccination, issued by whoever administered the vaccine. Visitors must have received the vaccine at least 10 days prior to travel.
U.S. citizens who provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination can travel to Slovenia and be exempt from quarantine. However, these individuals need to show that their second or final dose was given to them a week to three weeks before the travel date. This will depend on the type of vaccine the individual has received.
Already open to members of the Schengen travel zone, Spain has announced it will open as early as June for U.S. and U.K. travelers. Requiring either proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 PCR test, or recovery from COVID within the past 90 days, you can visit the home of tapas, paellas and sangria. While the borders may be open, local capacity restrictions are still present, and masks are required at all times outdoors. United States citizens must obtain a QR code from the Spain Travel Health portal online in order to enter the country.
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While technically open for tourists, the country has entered another national lockdown that restricts the movement of locals—but not tourists—until May 17th. Due to a recent rise in cases, Turkey has restricted shop hours and limited restaurants to delivery-only.
The home of the Pyramids of Giza is currently open for U.S. travelers. With a negative COVID-19 PCR test result no older than 96 hours before arrival, tourists can once again visit the historical sites of the country. Masks and social distancing guidelines are still in place, and failure to comply with local regulations can result in fines.
The West African country known for its beaches and music is currently open for U.S. tourists. To enter, you must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test less than five days old.
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These Indian Ocean islands are now open for tourists. Regardless of vaccination status, the islands require all visitors to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to traveling, and proof of health insurance. You must also fill out an authorization form online before you can enjoy the island’s beautiful ocean views.
A popular destination for safaris and beaches, Tanzania is open to all tourists. Although the country only requires a health surveillance form upon entry, your airline may require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. While Tanzania is open, the US Embassy says 72-hour test results aren’t readily available for U.S. entry requirements, so your trip to hike Mountain Kilimanjaro may have to wait a little bit longer.
Known as one of the top destinations in the world for gorilla trekking, Uganda is now open for all U.S. visitors. No quarantine is required if presenting a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. Though a nightly 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew is still in place, more businesses, like hardware stores and restaurants, are now allowed to open.
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You can now visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe as the country is open to U.S. travelers. With no government-mandated quarantine required, all travelers are required to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result within 48 hours from the date of departure, even if vaccinated. Local curfews still restrict movement from 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. everyday.
Vaccinated U.S. citizens who have been in the United States for at least 15 consecutive days prior to their departure will be exempt from French Polynesia’s 10-day quarantine. In addition to the proof of vaccination, they need to submit a negative coronavirus test result.
Travelers who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 are allowed to travel to Israel. Individuals who aren’t vaccinated nor had COVID-19 must submit a negative coronavirus test 72 hours prior to the flight, and submit an antibody test when they arrive. Vaccinated individuals will be exempt from quarantine requirements. However, it is mandatory for individuals to receive a government-approved permit to enter.
Individuals who are vaccinated will be exempt from any quarantine or testing requirements. Those who are not will need to show proof of negative coronavirus test at least 96 hours prior to arrival, rather than 72 hours. Visitors will also need to quarantine for 72 hours in addition to receiving another test.
Although travelers can go to Nepal with or without the vaccine, individuals who have been vaccinated can skip testing requirements. Travelers must have their own travel insurance in case of an emergency.
This island off the southern coast of India is now open to all travelers. Pack your bags, and don’t forget your negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours within your flight. All visitors will be tested again upon arrival, and all of those not fully vaccinated must quarantine in an approved hotel or result. Once you’ve met all the requirements, be sure to check out the Yala National Park, home to the highest reported leopard density in the world—but there is a quarantine in place, which travelers should keep in mind.
This popular Asian destination is once again open to U.S. passport holders, but still with strict requirements. Prior to travel, individuals must obtain a visa by applying for the STV via the Thai consulate or embassy. Moreover, travelers must submit results from a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from less than 72 hours prior to travel. Upon arrival, travelers may also be subject to another PCR test. In addition, the country still has a mandatory 14-day quarantine, although vaccinated visitors still have to quarantine for a shortened period of seven days.
*For a more extensive list on country-by-country entry policies, visit the US Embassy Website or ThePointsGuy.
Photography by: Spencer Watson / Unsplash
