Heathrow and Gatwick: Recent travel advice for France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and Sweden
With the new variant of the corona virus, Omicron, which is causing concern around the world, many countries are tightening their restrictions on arrivals from abroad.
As Omicron cases have been detected in the UK, some countries have introduced even stricter restrictions on UK arrivals to protect themselves from the new variant.
Here is a breakdown of Covid travel requirements for France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and Sweden as we approach the Christmas weekend.
READ MORE: When is the next travel review and the 10 countries that are currently on the red list
France
From Saturday 4 December, fully vaccinated travelers over the age of 12 must present a negative PCR or antigen test performed less than 48 hours before departure.
Self-administered tests and those through the NHS are not considered valid.
Fully ill arrivals must also present proof of their vaccination status and a completed “sworn statement” certifying that they are not experiencing any symptoms of the coronavirus and that they have not been in contact with a confirmed case for two weeks.
Travelers who are not fully vaccinated and who are 12 years or older must present evidence of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure.
They will then need to isolate themselves for seven days after arrival and then take a new PCR test after this period of self-isolation.
Unvaccinated arrivals will also need to present a completed international travel certificate to confirm their main reason for the trip and a “sworn statement”.
Adults arriving in France on a Eurostar from the United Kingdom who are not fully experienced must take a test on arrival.
Children 12 years of age or older who are not fully vaccinated and who are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult must present a negative test result (PCR or antigen), but do not have to state a significant reason to travel or isolate themselves on arrival.
Germany
Germany lists the United Kingdom as a “high-prevalence area”, so people can only travel for whatever purpose if they are fully vaccinated.
All travelers entering Germany from the UK must complete digital registration before departure, regardless of vaccination status.
Visitors who are not fully intruded can only come in for essential reasons and must be isolated for 10 days, with tests to be released after five days, if they have not recently recovered from the virus.
Unvaccinated children under the age of 12 do not need a negative test if they have at least one parent who is completely jabbed.
Spain
All arrivals from the UK over the age of 12 must be fully vaccinated.
All passengers, including children under the age of 12, who have arrived by air or sea, must complete and sign an online health check form no later than 48 hours before the trip.
Italy
Fully vaccinated arrivals from the UK must also fill out a form to find passengers to obtain a QR code and show a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within 48 hours before entering Italy.
Those who are not fully vaccinated must also fill out the passenger location form and show evidence of a negative test.
But in addition to this, travelers must self-isolate for five days and take another PCR or antigen test at the end of the isolation period and travel to the final destination only by private transport.
They must also notify the prevention department of the local health authority of their arrival in the country and can find the contact details on Covid-19 Numeri verdi regionali website.
Children under the age of 18 do not have to be quarantined if they travel with a fully vaccinated parent and children under the age of six are exempt from testing.
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Poland
Fully vaccinated arrivals are exempt from quarantine.
Those who are not fully forced must isolate themselves for 14 days with tests to release after eight days.
Children under the age of 12 traveling with fully vaccinated adults are exempt from the mandatory quarantine on arrival. If children under the age of 12 travel with adults who are not fully vaccinated, they must be quarantined.
Sweden
Fully vaccinated arrivals from the UK can enter Sweden, but it is recommended to do a PCR test on arrival.
Travelers who are not fully vaccinated must prove that they are exempt from the current travel ban and show a negative test from 48 hours before arrival.
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