South Africans were the most restricted travellers in the world at the beginning of this year, with at least 120 countries imposing restrictions, BusinessInsider notes.
On top of the severe travel restrictions and bans we’ve faced, there were no gorgeous villas, jungles and oceans at the end of many a wanderluster’s long dark tunnels, but lengthy quarantine periods that evoked a sense of off-put and a nation-wide response of “hectic”, our go-to for any situation that is actually dire.
However, with our albeit slow vaccination rollout underway, coupled with concerns over the Delta variant, those longing to travel are wondering where Mzanzi locals can actually travel to if we are vaccinated.
As per Business Insider, “countries with moderate restrictions on South African travellers, including mandatory quarantine periods have dropped by around 70%.”
This means that 43 nations are now requiring a negative Covid-19 test, the publication notes.
Where can we go?
The more relaxed regulations are in the African and Central American regions. Much of Europe, Asia and North and South America are still a no-go.
But if going to Europe has always been a dream of yours, it’s not a complete nightmare.
The Covid-19 passport
According to Sherpa, following the EU’s opening of borders across European Union states, which included the Covid-19 passport, fully vaccinated EU residents and visitors from abroad were allowed to travel in Europe, but the cost was a jab or two.
The Covid-19 passport essentially is ‘awarded’ to those who have received two shots of a multi-dose vaccine (Pfizer) or the single jab Johnson & Johnson.
If travellers have completed their full course and received a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency, they are dubbed fully vaccinated.
However, with the rise of the third wave, the opening of travel to countries like ours became a somewhat askew venture. Nonetheless, not all European countries have adopted the Covid-19 passport.
The following European countries are accepting fully vaccinated South African visitors:
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- Moldova
- Romania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Montenegro
- Lithuania
- Estonia
- Iceland
- Norway
It is important to note that some of the aforementioned countries may still require a negative Covid-19 test certificate “but do not require fully vaccinated travellers to quarantine,” writes Business Insider.
Unvaccinated visitors
Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ukraine, are allowing unvaccinated visitors but additional Covid-19 testing and additional mandatory travel insurance are required.
Albania and North Macedonia are permitting travellers who have not been fully vaccinated.
As for the UK, the country is off-limits, despite vaccination. South Africa is still on the red list under the UK’s “traffic light” travel system, which is the highest colour of restriction.
The Uk updates the “traffic light” travel system every three weeks after risk profiling.
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