UPDATED: Taking a winter holiday? You will need to know these travel restrictions

If you are considering a winter holiday this 2021/22 season you will need to know the latest travel restrictions.

With the world still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, and the recent emergence of the Omicron variant, planning your trip to the slopes will need some extra attention.

Countries throughout Europe have different entry requirements aand they could change at any time. To find out the best and most up-to-date information on travel restrictions from the UK visit the government’s website for the latest updates.

Below we have outlined some of the government’s information which lays out the requirements for travel to Austria, France and Switzerland. Because of the fluid nature of the pandemic and new variants these are subject to change. Go to https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements to check for updates or new travel information, including the US and Canada.

AUSTRIA

Austria came out of national lockdown for the fully vaccinated on December 12. When entering Austria you must provide either proof of COVID-19 vaccination, evidence of a current negative COVID-19 test, or proof of recovery from COVID-19.

If you provide proof of vaccination, or a medical certificate of full immunisation, you do not have to self-isolate or register upon entry.

For single-shot vaccines (e.g. Johnson & Johnson), you must show that you received the vaccine more than 21 but no more than 270 days before arrival.

For double-shot vaccines (e.g. AstraZeneca, Moderna), you must show that you received the second injection no more than 270 days before arrival.

If you received a booster more than 120 days after being fully immunised, this must not have been more than 270 days before arrival.

Austria will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record and proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued in the Crown Dependencies. Your final vaccine dose must have been administered no more than 270 days before arrival in Austria. If you are travelling with a printed PDF proof of vaccination status, it must date from after 1 November 2021 to ensure that the certificate can be scanned successfully. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.

FRANCE

Travel between the UK and France

All those wishing to travel from the UK to France, regardless of vaccination status, can only do so for essential reasons, as defined by the French authorities. French nationals, as well as residents in France, are considered to have an essential reason for travel. On 6 January 2022, the French government introduced additional categories to the list of essential reasons for travel, including for some business travel and for UK nationals who are resident in other EU Member states or assimilated countries who intend to transit France to return to their country of residence. If you are considering travel to France you should consult the detail on the full list of essential reasons for travel on the French government website.

Travellers should be aware of the following requirements:

• All travellers aged 12 years and over must present a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within 24 hours pre-departure.
• Before travel, anyone coming from the UK must provide contact details, including the address they will be staying at, to the French authorities via an online form.
• All travellers must present a completed international travel form to prove the reason for essential travel. This can be found on the French government’s website. In exceptional circumstances, the French Consulate in London may be able to assist with travel for a compelling reason not listed as an ‘essential reason for travel’.
• All travellers must provide a completed ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) form self-certifying they are not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. This can be found on the French government’s website.
• Upon arrival in France, all travellers must self-isolate for 48 hours, after which time a negative PCR or antigen test is required to exit self-isolation. Without a negative test result, you will be required to self-isolate for 10 days. Please note that these cannot be self-administered tests. Only those taken by a professional at a testing site or pharmacy are valid for leaving self-isolation.

You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private test from a private coronavirus testing provider. Test results must be certified by a laboratory to be accepted.

Adults travelling from the UK to France by Eurostar who are not fully vaccinated will be asked to take an additional COVID-19 test upon arrival at Gare du Nord (vaccination status will be checked ahead of departure at St Pancras). Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 will be subject to mandatory self-isolation for 10 days.

HGV or van drivers arriving in France from the UK are able to continue doing so without providing a negative COVID-19 test to enter France.

Transiting through France from the UK

On 6 January 2022, the French government updated their list of essential reasons for travel from the UK to include transit through France for UK nationals who are resident in other EU Member States or assimilated countries.

Transit for less than 24 hours in the international zone of an airport is also permitted. To consult the detail on the full list of essential reasons for travel see the French government website.

ITALY

Italy will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record as the equivalent to a green pass. If you are travelling with a printed PDF proof of vaccination status, it must date from November 1, 2021, to ensure that the certificate can be scanned successfully. 

A “Green Pass” (website only in Italian), also known as an EU digital COVID certificate, is needed to travel in Italy and to access hospitality and leisure venues. A Green Pass certifies full vaccination, recovery or negative test result. It is required for activities including indoor seating in bars and restaurants, museums, exhibitions, sporting events, fairs, civil or religious ceremonies and large events.

Until at least 15 January, a Super Green Pass will be required for many of these activities.

A Super Green Pass certifies full vaccination or recovery.

People aged 12 and over, including minors aged 12-17, will not be able to obtain a Super Green Pass on the basis of a negative test. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from presenting a Super Green Pass.

Regulations for the 2021/22 ski season include:

• People aged 12 or over will need a “green pass” to access covered ski lifts in white and yellow zones between 6 December and 15 January
• People aged 12 or over will need a “super green pass” to access covered ski lifts in orange zones between 6 December and 15 January
• A “green pass” is not needed to access uncovered ski lifts in white and yellow zones.
• Masks (surgical or FFP2) must be worn on ski lifts and when in common spaces
• You must maintain social distancing on the slopes and avoid gatherings

If you travel from the UK and can demonstrate that you are fully vaccinated, you can enter Italy without needing to self-isolate if you also:

fill in the passenger locator form (EU PLF) before you enter Italy to get a QR code to show to your travel provider and Border Police. You can ask for paper form if you do not have an electronic device

show evidence of a negative PCR or antigen test, taken within 48 hours before entering Italy

You are eligible to enter Switzerland for any travel purpose if you are fully vaccinated and have a negative PCR test on boarding. All arrivals from the UK must report their arrival to the relevant cantonal office within two days and must complete a further test (antigen or PCR) after 4 to 7 days in Switzerland, and must send the result of the second test to the relevant cantonal office. Find the relevant cantonal office

More detail is available on the Swiss Federal Office of Health’s website.

Travellers who are not fully vaccinated are only eligible to enter Switzerland from the UK if they are:

• Swiss or Liechtenstein nationals;
• EU or EFTA nationals;
• holders of the following documents:
• a residence permit, i.e. a Swiss residence permit (L / B / C / Ci permits);
• a cross-border permit (G permit);
• an FDFA legitimation card;
• a D visa issued by Switzerland;
• confirmation of notification for the cross-border provision of services up to 90 days;
• holders of a ‘laissez passer’ issued by the Swiss Embassy in situations of special necessity

Travellers who are not fully vaccinated and do not meet one of the exemptions outlined above are not eligible to enter Switzerland.

Travellers eligible to enter Switzerland must provide a negative COVID test result before boarding. They will have to take a second test between four and seven days after arrival and send the result to the relevant cantonal health authority.

Unvaccinated children and adolescents arriving from the UK under the age of 18 are allowed to enter Switzerland if they are accompanied by fully vaccinated adults.

All travellers must complete a passenger locator form.

You can see what rules apply to you when entering Switzerland using the online Travelcheck service.