A travel agent’s guide to navigating each country’s Covid-19 entry requirements

Make life easy for your travel clients with this pre-travel checklist

The world is opening up – but navigating it just got a whole lot harder. Now more than ever, travel agents are needed to advise on the ever-changing regulations at border control. Below is a simple check list to follow with your clients, along with details of the documentation required for stress-free travel.

Pre-travel Checklist

• All certificates must include the traveller’s full name as it appears on the passport. It’s prudent to check the lab technicians haven’t made any mistakes.

• English is widely accepted, but check which languages are accepted on documentation at your chosen destination before departure.

• All certificates must include all critical information, such as the number of vaccine doses taken, the name of the laboratory or authority supplying certification and the dates received.

• From entry forms to PRC tests, certain documentation and procedures must be completed in advance, as much as up to 72 hours (three days) before travel. Give your travel clients a destination-specific countdown with their checklist.

• Finally, don’t forget to pack your documents. Many health authorities have developed apps to store medical records electronically, however, carrying both printed and electronic documents may give greater peace of mind, so travellers don’t need to worry about losing paperwork or running out of battery on their electronic devices.

Documents Required

Countries are asking for one or more of the following documents for visitors to gain entry to the destination:

1. VACCINATION CERTIFICATE: Generally, requirements state that vaccines are to be administered in full, including the second dose, 14 days before travel.
2. PCR TEST RESULT: Where required, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests are generally to be taken 72 to 48 hours prior to travel – check with the government website and schedule accordingly.
3. RAPID TEST RESULT: Rapid antigen tests are also accepted in some countries in place of PCR tests; the key difference as the name suggests is the speed at which results are delivered – within as little as 15 minutes in some cases – so they can do taken on arrival, but obviously this incurs the risk of testing positive at your destination and having to immediately isolate or quarantine.
4. RECOVERY CERTIFICATE: Where accepted, Certificates of Recovery must be supplied by a public authority or a certified laboratory.
5. PROOF OF COVID: Proof of testing positive with Covid-19 in the past two to nine months in the form of recorded positive PCR or antigen test results from authorized laboratories may also be accepted for entry in some destinations, such as Greece.
6. ENTRY FORM: In addition to the medical documentation above, most countries are asking visitors to complete destination-specific forms in order to help track and trace guests and speed up airport processing times. They’re generally available in advance on government travel portals.