100 countries that don’t require Covid vaccinations for travel

The travel landscape couldn’t look more different in 2023 compared to three years ago when borders were beginning to shut. Many countries have since relaxed their Covid-related travel restrictions, dropping the requirements for pre-departure testing and quarantine on arrival. But not everywhere has returned to normal — some countries still continue to ban travellers who aren’t fully vaccinated, including the USA. Fortunately there are lots of alternative destinations that welcome visitors regardless. Here are the countries that don’t require Covid vaccinations for travel.

Main photo: Oia village in Santorini (Getty Images)

Where can I travel without a vaccine?

If you are not fully vaccinated, you still have plenty of options when it comes to holiday destinations. However, you may in some cases need to take a Covid test before travel and/or on arrival. A period of quarantine — either in an accommodation of your choice or at a government facility — may also be mandatory. Some destinations will allow you to get around these extra requirements by showing proof of recent recovery from Covid, or a medical exemption from getting vaccinated.

It’s always worth checking before you travel as restrictions between different countries can vary significantly.

Be sure to check requirements at your destination before you take to the air (Getty Images)

Which countries allow unvaccinated travellers?

The countries and territories below are open to unvaccinated travellers from the UK for tourism purposes, without the need to quarantine. You don’t need to be a resident or citizen, or have recently recovered from Covid. You may however need to show negative results from a recent Covid test.

These restrictions can change at any time so do double check before you travel and ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance.

• Albania
• Algeria
• Andorra
• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Aruba
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas

The harbour in Belize City (Alamy)

• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Belize
• Benin
• Bermuda
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Bonaire/St Eustatius/Saba
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Cayman Islands
• Chad
• Chile
• Colombia
• Comoros
• Congo
• Costa Rica
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Curaçao
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Eritrea
• Estonia
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• Falkland Islands
• Finland
• France
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Greenland
• Grenada
• Guadeloupe
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Ivory Coast
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan

Kazakh women in national costumes cook in the open air (Alamy)

• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Lesotho
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Martinique
• Mauritius
• Mayotte
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Nigeria
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Réunion
• Romania
• Russia (FCDO warning)
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• San Marino
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore (restrictions apply)
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Somalia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• St Helena and Ascension (but not Tristan da Cunha)
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Maarten
• St Martin and St Barthélemy
• St Pierre and Miquelon
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sudan
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Uganda
• Ukraine (FCDO warning)
• United Arab Emirates (including Abu Dhabi and Dubai)
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Wallis and Futuna
• Western Sahara
• Yemen (FCDO warning)
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Local children in Livingstone, Zambia (Alamy)

What does fully vaccinated mean?

Fully vaccinated could mean the initial course of two jabs, or three jabs including a booster. There are a number of countries that put an expiry on the initial course of jabs, so if you were vaccinated more than 270 days (nine months) ago, you will need a booster. Check the entry requirements of your destination country for more information.