10 Countries That Require a COVID-19 Booster for Entry

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What it means to be “fully vaccinated” is not the same everywhere you go. Although some countries are starting to ease restrictions on testing before arrival, many still require foreign visitors to be vaccinated in order to enter or to avoid mandatory quarantine upon entry.

Recently, some countries have begun requiring booster shots if a certain amount of time has passed since your original one- or two-dose vaccine series was completed. Here are 10 countries that now require Americans to have a COVID-19 booster shot for travel (or to skip testing/quarantine requirements).

Austria

Booster requirements: If it has been 270 days since your final dose of COVID-19 vaccination, you’ll need a booster shot to be considered fully vaccinated in Austria. If you have a booster shot taken at least 120 days after your last dose of your vaccination series, you will not need to show a negative PCR test for entry. Booster shots extend your full vaccination status for another 270 days from the date of the shot.

Is a negative test required? Testing is not required if you have the booster shot. If you are not boosted, but have completed a two-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna) or received one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you’ll also need to have a negative PCR test that was taken in the past 72 hours.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? If you have recently recovered from COVID-19 within the past 90 days, you can enter using a medical certificate showing the date of recovery as a substitute for the PCR test.

For the latest official information on entry requirements and COVID restrictions, please visit Austria.info

Croatia

Booster requirements: Croatia requires a booster shot if it has been 270 days since your final dose of initial vaccination to be considered fully vaccinated.

Is a negative test required? Fully vaccinated travelers do not require testing for entry. If it’s been less than 270 days since your final dose of initial vaccination or if you have the booster shot, no test will be required. Otherwise, you’ll need to provide a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours or a rapid antigen test no older than 24 hours.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? If you have recently recovered from a COVID infection, a positive test that was taken in the previous 180 days, which is older than 11 days from the date of arrival, or a medical certificate of recovery can be used for entry.

Find out more about Croatia’s entry requirements for travelers.

France

Booster requirements: For entry into France, all travelers over the age of 18 must receive a booster no more than nine months after your final dose of initial vaccination to be considered fully vaccinated. If it’s been more than nine months, you’ll need to let one week pass from the day you receive your booster to enter France. You’ll also need the booster to obtain a vaccine pass, which is required to enter many public locations in France.

Is a negative test required? No testing is required for vaccinated and boosted travelers.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? A certificate of recent recovery between 11 days and six months old can be used to enter France.

Find out more about COVID-19 restrictions and entry requirements in France.

Greece

Booster requirements: Greece considers a vaccine certificate valid for nine months after the completion of the initial vaccination series. After nine months, a booster shot is required to be considered fully vaccinated indefinitely. Proof of full vaccination is required to enter without testing and to visit many public locations while in Greece.

Is a negative test required? No testing is required if you have a valid vaccine certificate. If your vaccination is no longer valid, you must provide a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours old or a rapid antigen test no more than 24 hours old.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? Proof of recovery issued at least 14 days after the day of the first positive COVID-19 test is accepted for entry for up to 180 days.

For the most up-to-date information, check the protocols for arrivals in Greece.

Iceland

Booster requirements: Travelers must show proof of full vaccination to enter Iceland. A full vaccination certificate is valid for 270 days (9 months) from the final dose of initial vaccination. A booster dose is required if more than nine months have passed since vaccination was completed.

Is a negative test required? All travelers are also required to present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours before departure on the first leg of your journey to Iceland.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? If you’ve recently been diagnosed with COVID-19, you can present a positive PCR test that is older than seven days but no more than 180 days old.

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Find out more information on Iceland’s entry requirements.

Israel

Booster requirements: A booster is required to be considered fully vaccinated in Israel if more than 180 days have passed since the final dose of initial vaccination. If you’ve just recently received your booster shot and it’s been more than 180 days since your previous shot, you’ll need to wait 14 days before you’re able to enter Israel.

Is a negative test required? A negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before your flight to Israel or a rapid antigen test taken 24 hours before your flight is required for entry. Tests must be administered by a professional sampler (home tests are not allowed). It’s also required to take a PCR test at the airport upon arrival in Israel.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? If you’ve recently recovered from COVID-19, you can present a positive test result that was taken less than three months prior if at least eight days have passed since the date of the test.

Find out more information on Israel’s entry requirements.

Netherlands

Booster requirements: Like other European nations, the validity of your initial vaccine series ends 270 days after your final shot. A booster is required at least seven days before traveling to the Netherlands if it has been more than nine months since you completed your second dose (or first dose for single dose vaccines). A booster shot means you are exempt from quarantine, however, as of February 25, all vaccinated travelers arriving in the Netherlands will no longer be required to self-quarantine. 

Is a negative test required? A negative COVID-19 test is always needed for travelers arriving from outside the EU/Schengen area. This can be a PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before departure or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 24 hours before departure.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? You can travel to the Netherlands with proof of recovery when traveling from within the EU/Schengen area. You’ll need to have an EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC)-based proof of recovery. Proof of recovery from a country outside the DCC system is not valid for travel to the Netherlands (this includes the U.S. and the U.K.).

For more information, please visit the Netherland’s proof of vaccination page. You can also input the details of your trip to check exactly what you need to enter the Netherlands.

Singapore

Booster requirements: In order to enter Singapore without quarantine, you’ll need to apply for a pass to use the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL). It doesn’t seem like a booster is necessarily required to enter the country, however, if it’s been 270 days since the last dose of your primary vaccination series, you’ll need a booster in order to be considered fully vaccinated, which is required to participate in activities. This applies to anyone over 18 years old and will also apply to children aged 12-17 starting March 14^th.

Is a negative test required? You will need to take a pre-departure PCR or professionally administered rapid antigen test taken within two days before departure. Starting February 21^st, you’ll also need to take a supervised self-administered rapid antigen test at a Quick Test Center or Combined Test Center within 24 hours of arrival in Singapore. This one test upon arrival is a replacement for daily testing, which is required for arrivals before February 21^st. 

Can you enter with proof of recovery? Fully vaccinated travelers who have recently recovered from a breakthrough case of COVID-19 do not need a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated and can present medical proof of infection in lieu of pre-departure test as long as the positive test result is between 7 – 90 days before departure to Singapore.

Find out more information on Singapore’s entry requirements.

Spain

Booster requirements: If more than 270 days (9 months) have passed since receiving the final dose of your primary COVID-19 vaccine series, you must show proof that you have received a booster shot at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain.

Is a negative test required? Vaccinated and boosted travelers do not require any testing to enter Spain. You will only need to fill out a health pass form to receive a QR code to show at check-in and upon arrival in Spain.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? If you have recently recovered from COVID-19, you can present a certificate of recovery that is no more than 180 days after the date of the first positive test and no earlier than the 11^th day following the date of the positive test result.

Find out more on Spain’s entry requirements.

Switzerland

Booster requirements: Only fully vaccinated Americans can enter Switzerland for tourism. Your primary vaccine series is valid for 270 days from the date of the last shot. After that, you’ll need a booster shot to be considered fully vaccinated.

Is a negative test required? No testing is required for vaccinated travelers.

Can you enter with proof of recovery? Switzerland only allows vaccinated Americans to enter the country at this time. Since testing is not required, a proof of recovery for visitors from outside the EU is not necessary and will not replace the requirement for the necessary vaccine and booster shots.
Find out more about Switzerland’s entry requirements. And to verify which rules apply to your specific situation, always start your search with the Swiss Government Travel Check Website.

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