UK Foreign Office issues international travel advice for some parts of Europe. While the pandemic situation in the UK looks fairly optimistic, the Covid-19 situation is still roaring across Europe and beyond.
This means countries are still going into further lockdowns, such as Austria, and international travel rules remain very strict.
Therefore, travellers going abroad must be aware of the travel advice and regulations that must be followed, or they could face costly fines or even be turned away from their flights.
Covid infection rates are on the rise across the continent, with PM Boris Johnson warning that “storm clouds are gathering”.
Despite this, the rules for returning to the UK are universal as there aren’t any countries on the ‘red list’.
The requirements for travellers who are double vaccinated are:
- Book a day 2 test before departure
- Take it on or before day 2 or your return to the UK
- Fill in a passenger locator form
The requirements for travellers who aren’t double vaccinated will have to:
- Take a Covid test in the three days before travel
- Quarantine for 10 full days
- Book a test on day 2 and day 8 before travel
- Take the tests on the required day
- Complete a passenger locator form
Below is the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign Office for Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.
Poland
Fully vaccinated travellers must show proof of vaccination when entering Poland. (This involves two doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, completed 14 or more days before travel)
Unvaccinated travellers will need to quarantine for ten days on arrival but can leave after seven if they receive a negative test.
Travellers will not need to self-isolate if :
- you have self-isolated or have been hospitalised after testing positive for Covid in the past six months
- you have one of a select few jobs such as aircraft crew, public transport driver, or lorry driver
- the holder of an air ticket confirming you will leave Poland in less than 24 hours from the time you arrive in Poland
Czech Republic
Fully vaccinated travellers can enter the Czech Republic for reasons such as tourism and needing to isolate or take a pre-departure PCR test.
For travellers who haven’t been vaccinated, they won’t be able to enter the country unless it’s an essential reason, such as medical treatment.
Unvaccinated travellers must also:
- present a negative PCR test taken in the 72 hours before departure
- take a further test between 5-7 days after arrival
- wear an FFP2 mask until you receive the negative test result
- fill out a Passenger Locator Form
Romania
The UK is on Romania’s red list of countries.
Everyone will need to quarantine unless:
- travellers have competed for a vaccination course
- they have a confirmed positive Covid test in the 180 days before entry into Romania
- children aged 12 or under will be exempt from quarantine
- children between 12 and 15 can present a negative PCR test in the 72 hours before travel
Bulgaria
The UK has been listed as a ‘red zone’ country by Bulgarian authorities.
This is the highest level of restrictions and means travellers need to provide:
- a negative test result, taken 72 hours before travel
- a vaccination certificate or proof of recovery from Covid
If this can’t be provided, travellers will have to isolate for 10 days which can be shorted if they present a negative PCR test within 24 hours.
Hungary
According to the latest FCDO travel advice, travellers can enter Hungary without epidemiological restrictions, regardless of their nationality and coronavirus immunity.
Double vaccinated UK citizens can enter Hungary without any restrictions.
Unvaccinated travellers will need to show a negative PCR test conducted 72 hours before arrival.
