COVID-19: EU entry rules, requirements for coronavirus documents 2023
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Departure abroad from the CIS countries
The vaccine mandate is no longer necessary
Vaccination as a phenomenon has taken a back seat. All documents for entry must comply with the requirements of a particular country, that’s the main point. This means that the passengers, vaccinated with vaccines not recognized by the WHO or not vaccinated at all, can expand the geography of travel and flights. The main thing is to understand the main principle of the rule and what exactly is needed for entry.
Countries, accepting Sputnik V
In many countries entry rules have been simplified.
There are countries, that had lifted all COVID entry restrictions. We will write about them below.
But not all countries are so tolerant. There are those requiring proof of vaccination and accepting Russian vaccines. Among them: Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines. By the way, recently Thailand was on this list, and now coronavirus restrictions have been lifted there, and neither insurance nor Thailand Pass is needed anymore. And one more good news from this country: masks are no longer necessary to wear, either indoors or outdoors. Sputnik V and Sputnik Light have been approved in Tanzania and Uganda.
Europe has recently been loosening entry restrictions more and more. For example, to enter France, one doesn’t need to have a negative result of a test or a vaccination certificate. You can see details about what documents are required to enter the EU countries in our table.
Free entry for tourists without any proof of recovery or vaccination or even negative result of a test for coronavirus is offered by 36 European countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, adding Israel. Please note that in order to enter Israel, you need to have medical insurance enough to cover the costs of COVID treatment, at the same time an entry form is no longer required. Germany remains free of entry restrictions for the time being, but the authorities may return them if the situation with the virus worsens.
Finland became free for tourists: travelers are no longer required to have certificates of vaccinations or tests for COVID-19, as well as to be tested for coronavirus at border crossing points, some of them, by the way, will be open 24 hours a day (in Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa and Imatra).
We have also another table where you can find information about what countries are now open for tourists from Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia. Citizens of Belarus no longer need a PCR test to enter Russia. In Tajikistan COVID-19 restrictions have been completely removed. And the Solomon Islands, which borders remained closed for a long time, are now open for traveling, including passengers from the CIS countries. One wouldn’t be tested and quarantined upon entry to Tajikistan.
Flights from the CIS
The conflict in Ukraine has significantly affected air travel in the region. Therefore, we offer options for flights from and within the Commonwealth, assuming that the rise in fuel prices will affect them last.
Demand for flights in countries neighboring Russia has grown rapidly in recent years and will grow in the future. There are several developed hubs, you can fly to Europe or Asia by direct flight from the airports: Almaty (ALA), Baku (GYD), Yerevan (EVN), Kutaisi (KUT), Nur-Sultan (NQZ), Tashkent (TAS), Tbilisi (TBS).
Departures from Armenia to Europe and Asia
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There are not too many routes from Armenia, but it’s possible to fly from Yerevan to the main European cities: Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Warsaw, Vienna, Vilnius, Chisinau, Larnaca, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt. When planning a trip, one should take into account the frequency of flights: every day they are available to Austria, Germany, Poland and France, and to Italy and Cyprus — twice a week. Flights to Greece are available almost every day except Monday.
Asian destinations are the following: United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Turkey (Istanbul, Antalya), Egypt (Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh), Lebanon (Beirut), Syria, Qatar and Iran.
Available airlines, which fly from Armenia, are: Aegean Airlines, Air Arabia, Air Baltic, Air Cairo, Air France, Armenia Airways, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Condor, Eurowings, FlexFly, Fly Arna, Flydubai, FlyOne, Georgian Airways, LOT, Lufthansa, MEA, Pegasus, Qatar Airways, Transavia, Wizz Air and Wizz Air Abu-Dhabi.
Departures from Kazakhstan to Europe and Asia
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and Asia
It is easy to fly from Almaty to somewhere warm: to the Maldives, Phuket, Turkey or simply to Montenegro. All of these countries are open for tourists: there are no entry restrictions in Montenegro and the Maldives, and to visit Thailand one will need to have either a vaccination certificate or a negative test result. There are flights to Chengdu and Seoul. In addition, air carriers offer tickets to New Delhi.
In addition to long-haul flights, one can fly closer: to Turkey, as well as the countries of the Middle East: Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Available airlines, which fly from Kazakhstan, are: Air Arabia, Air Astana, Asiana Airlines, Corendon, Flydubai, Jazeera Airways, Hunnu Air, LOT, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Neos, Pegasus, Qatar Airways, SCAT, Sichuan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air и Wizz Air Abu-Dhabi, Xiamen Airlines.
Flights from Uzbekistan to Europe and Asia
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and Asia
From Tashkent to Europe it’s possible to fly to several cities: London, Paris, Milan, Riga, Rome, Istanbul and Frankfurt. However, due to its geographical position, the city is a good hub for longer distance routes, which are not available at other airports: New York, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Tokyo and Sharm El Sheikh. It will be quite easy to get to the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Available airlines, which fly from Uzbekistan, are: Air Arabia, Air Cairo, Asiana Airlines, Azerbaijan, China Southern, Flydubai, Jazeera Airways, Kam Air, Korean Air, Nile Air, Pakistan, Taban Air, Turkish Airlines и Uzbekistan Airways.
Departures from Azerbaijan to Europe and Asia
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and Asia
Turkey is traditionally one of the most popular destinations in Baku, from the coast of the Caspian Sea one can easily fly to the Mediterranean: Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Gazipasha, Dalaman, Izmir, Istanbul.
It is also possible to fly from Azerbaijan to countries with a cooler climate: United Kingdom, Hungary or Germany.
In addition, the usual destinations in the Middle East are available: Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Among exclusive destinations where one can fly only from Azerbaijan, are: Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Muscat and Karachi.
Available airlines, which fly from Azerbaijan, are: Air Arabia, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Cairo, AZAL, Flydubai, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airway, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Nas Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Pegasus, Qatar Airways, Salam Air, Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air.
Departures from Georgia to Europe and Asia
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and Asia
Almost all European routes from Yerevan, Tbilisi and Kutaisi are the same, although one can only fly to Barcelona from Tbilisi. The newly created low-cost carrier Wizz Air Abu-Dhabi flies exclusively from Kutaisi.
Airlines clearly consider Georgia as a hub for European destinations while Asian ones are poorly represented: not to mention Turkey, there are several flights to Dubai.
Available airlines, which fly from Georgia, are: Aegean Airlines, Air Baltic, Air Cairo, Air France, Arkia, Condor, Eurowings, Georgian Airways, LOT, Nas Air, Pegasus, Spicejet, Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air.
Departure from Russia to neighboring countries
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Neighboring countries
Today Russia is cut off from European airspace. Still the country is not isolated from the Mediterranean resorts; it’s possible to fly to Turkey or Egypt. The best news is the fact that Egypt has finally lifted all entry restrictions, so you won’t need a vaccine or a test. Air communication with these countries did not stop. It is also possible to organize a tour to Europe: one can enter it not only through Istanbul, but also through neighboring countries.
Now the easiest way to fly to Europe is through Armenia. Tickets from the Russian Federation are among the most inexpensive. Flights from many cities of Russia are on sale: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Mineralnye Vody, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Rostov, Samara, Sochi, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk. It’s also possible to fly there from Minsk.
A flight from Russia to Europe through Kazakhstan is also easy to take, but the number of routes is quite poor: there are flights from both capitals, as well as Yekaterinburg and Omsk. The price of a ticket from the European part of Russia is significantly higher compared to Armenia.
It is worth paying attention to Uzbekistan: there are cheap flights from Russia, many transit options, from Rome and Riga to New York and Tokyo. It’s possible to fly to Tashkent from many major Russian cities.
Another option worth considering is Azerbaijan. There are enough direct flights to Baku from Russia, including such cities as Novosibirsk, Ufa and Surgut.
On the contrary Georgia is not the best transit country for Russians to get to Europe: there are flights to Tbilisi only with transfers in Minsk or more exotic places such as Sharjah. Another way is taking a minibus from Armenia, but the road is tiring.
No more restrictions
Currently, 119 countries are completely open to any foreigners: Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Eswatini, France, El Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Namibia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Rwanda, Seychelles, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri-Lanka, South Africa, South Korea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tajikistan, Thailand, The Netherlands, Tunisia, Sudan, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.
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