NEWS: Australia to open outbound from November, Croatia & Turkey removes PCR test requirements

Australia to open outbound from November

The chances of being able to visit Australia in early 2022 are looking more likely with the reopening of outbound international travel. This will be starting with fully vaccinated Australian’s being able to leave the country or return from November. People will be eligible to travel when their state’s vaccination rate hit 80% of those over 16, so it won’t be universal. Many Australians have been stranded abroad for the entire pandemic due to the sky-high air fares and caps on numbers returning. 

As yet it is not clear when they will start to receive tourists but it had been suggested that this could be before Christmas depending on vaccination rates. An Australian government spokesperson said it was working “towards welcoming tourists back to our shores”.

On Friday the Australian prime minister, said Australia’s 14-day hotel quarantine would be phased out and replaced by seven days of home quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers. 

Qantas has brought forward the start of its international flights to 14 November, which was originally scheduled for 18 December. 

Turkey removes PCR test

With Turkey now off the red list and not on the FCDO warning list either, it’s now an option for an autumn break.

Today it became a bit easier as it was announced that double vaccinated UK travellers will no longer have to show proof of a negative PCR test upon arrival in Turkey.

Those over the age of 12 must be fully inoculated to avoid having to test but those under 12 are exempt. You also have to complete an online health form a maximum of 72 hours prior to travel. unless you are transiting through Turkey. 

UK visitors will need to either:

• A full course of COVID-19 vaccinations (completed at least 14 days prior to arrival in Turkey)
• recent recovery from COVID-19
• a negative PCR test (within 72 hours of arrival) or a rapid antigen test (within 48 hours of arrival) if unvaccinated.

The official advice is here.

Croatia

Today Croatia also confirmed the same as Turkey with visitors from the UK that are fully vaccinated no longer needing a negative PCR test. 

Instead, you will need to complete a passenger locator form and show proof of an accommodation booking.

There are a couple of restrictions on the timings for a vaccine though with the second dose being administered within a year and at least 14 days prior to arrival.

To be allowed entry into Croatia, all travellers from the UK must present one of the following documents on arrival:

• proof of a vaccination, or;
• a negative COVID-19 antigen not older than 48 hours, or;
• a negative PCR test result not older than 72 hours, or;
• a doctor’s certificate of recovery from COVID-19. (See ‘Demonstrating your COVID-19 status’).

Croatia will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record. 

Children under 12 and accompanied by a parent or guardian are exempt from these requirements if the parent or guardian has one of the documents set out above.