COVID-19 Updates

The French authorities have revealed that they plan on easing some rules. The Prime Minister of France, Jean Castex, said that starting from March 14, the requirement to hold a valid pass when accessing different indoor areas such as restaurants, cafes, bars, museums, cinemas, and other similar places will be dropped.

This means that all travellers, as well as citizens of France, will soon be able to attend different public places without being required to show a vaccination pass.

In addition to the above-mentioned, the French authorities have announced that starting from March 14; the requirement to wear a face mask when attending public places will also be lifted. The requirement will remain effective only for those accessing public transport and health institutions.

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-travel-restrictions-list-of-measures-that-will-be-facilitated-in-following-days/

From Thursday, 17 February, masks and COVID certificates will no longer be required to enter shops, restaurants, cultural venues and other public settings and events. The requirement to wear masks in the workplace and the recommendation to work from home will also end. At its meeting on 16 February, the Federal Council took the decision to lift the majority of measures in place to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Only the requirements to isolate in the event of a positive test and to wear masks on public transport and in healthcare institutions will remain in place until the end of March to protect those at high risk, after which the situation status will return to normal.

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases/media-releases-federal-council.msg-id-87216.html/?dyn_startDate=01.07.2021

Currently you do not have to fill out an entry form for entry to Switzerland.

Currently you do not have to present a negative test result to enter Switzerland.

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/quarantaene-einreisende.html#-1582639405

If you’re fully vaccinated, you no longer need to take a COVID-19 test either before or after you arrive in the UK. You still need to complete a passenger locator form.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you need to take a pre-departure test. After you arrive, you need to take a PCR test on or before day 2, but you only need to quarantine if it’s positive. You still need to complete a passenger locator form.

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Self-quarantine requirement lifted as of 25 February 2022

From 00.01 on 25 February 2022 people travelling to the Netherlands no longer have to self-quarantine on arrival. There are still other rules for travellers. See the checklist to find out what rules apply to you.

https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/checklist-entry

Step 1 — from Sunday 27 February, 11.59 pm

The border opens to New Zealanders and other eligible travellers coming from Australia to travel here and self-isolate on arrival.

Step 2 — from Friday 4 March, 11.59 pm

The border opens to New Zealanders and other eligible travellers coming from anywhere in the world. You do not need to self-isolate when you arrive.

Step 3 — from Tuesday 12 April, 11.59 pm

The border reopens to:

• temporary work and student visa holders currently outside New Zealand as long as they still meet their visa requirements
• temporary work and student visa holders currently inside New Zealand to leave at any time and return from step 3 (where their visa conditions allow).

Up to 5000 international students can apply for a border exception to enter New Zealand. We hope most students can travel here in time to start studying in July. We will provide more details about eligibility and how to apply.

Step 4 — from July 2022

Our borders will open to:

• Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and other foreign nationals travelling from Australia 
• Visitors from visa-waiver countries
• Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders
• Temporary visitor visa holders who are outside New Zealand, as long as they meet their visa requirements.

Step 5 — from October 2022

The border opens for all other New Zealand visa holders, including visitor and student visas, unless the visa is closed or paused.

Applications for all New Zealand visas will reopen, unless the visa is closed or paused.

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19/border-closures-and-exceptions/border-entry-requirements

Canada Easing Border Requirements:

Today, the Government of Canada announced a series of adjustments to the current border measures, representing the beginning of a phased easing of travel restrictions. The ability of the country to transition to a new phase at the border is a result of the actions of tens of millions of Canadians across the country who followed public health measures, including getting themselves and their families vaccinated.

As of February 28, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. EST:

• We will be easing the on-arrival testing for fully-vaccinated travellers. This means that travellers arriving to Canada from any country, who qualify as fully vaccinated, will be randomly selected for arrival testing. Travellers selected will also no longer be required to quarantine while awaiting their test result.
• Children under 12 years old, travelling with fully vaccinated adults, will continue to be exempt from quarantine, without any prescribed conditions limiting their activities. This means, for example, they no longer need to wait 14 days before attending school, camp or daycare.
• Unvaccinated travellers will continue to be required to test on arrival, on Day 8 and quarantine for 14 days. Unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter Canada unless they meet one of the few exemptions.
• Travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements. Taking a rapid antigen test at home is not sufficient to meet the pre-entry requirement – it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.
• The Government of Canada will adjust its Travel Health Notice from a Level 3 to a Level 2. This means that the Government will no longer recommend that Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.
• Travellers should understand the risks that are still associated with international travel given the high incidence of Omicron, and take necessary precautions.
• On February 28, 2022 at 16:00 EST, Transport Canada’s Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricts where international passenger flights can arrive in Canada will expire. This means that international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at all remaining Canadian airports that are designated by the Canada Border Services Agency to receive international passenger flights.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2022/02/government-of-canada-lightens-border-measures-as-part-of-transition-of-the-pandemic-response.html

Starting from March 1, 2022, the European Union Member States are advised to remove the ban on non-essential travel for citizens of third countries who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as for those who have recovered from the virus.

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-lifts-non-essential-travel-ban-for-vaccinated-recovered-travellers-from-third-countries-from-march-1/

Updating the recommendation on the temporary restriction of non-essential travel into the EU, the bloc’s Council has noted that the newly introduced recommendation comes in the light of the evolution of the pandemic, as well as the high share of the world population vaccinated against COVID-19

Australia will reopen to all fully vaccinated visa holders, welcoming the return of tourists, business travellers, and other visitors from 21 February. 

These changes will ensure we protect the health of Australians, while we continue to secure our economic recovery.

Australia’s health system has demonstrated its resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including though the recent Omicron wave. With improving health conditions, including a recent 23 per cent decline in hospitalisations due to COVID, the National Security Committee of Cabinet today agreed Australia is ready to further progress the staged reopening of our international border.

Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia, and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements.

https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/before-i-travel

As evidence of vaccination, all of the vaccines which have been authorised by the EMA or have successfully passed the evaluation process of the WHO are recognised

The second dose of vaccines and any subsequent vaccination will be recognised for up to 270 days after they are received.

Between the first and second vaccination a period of at least 14 days must have passed, and between a second and third vaccination there must be a gap of at least 90 days.

Proof of vaccination as defined in the entry regulation can only be provided by a document written in Latin characters issued in German or English (e.g. a yellow vaccination pass) mentioning vaccination with a vaccine which has been authorised by the EMA or which has completed the WHO's EUL process (Emergency Use Listing Procedure).

Entry from states and regions that are not virus variant areas: proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test result, no quarantine

Austria will recognise only vaccination passes that show that the holder has taken the second vaccine dose within the last 180 days to prove their “2-G” status.

Austria will still permit entry to those who got their last dose within 270 days. However, since they can’t meet the “2-G-rule”, they will be subject to additional restrictions, such as presenting a pre-entry PCR test.

If you were vaccinated overseas and do not have an ICVC, you will need to present a foreign vaccination certificate to airline staff that meets all of the requirements outlined on the Australian Passport Office website.

https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/en/themen/coronavirus_in_oesterreich/pre-travel-clearance.html