The summer holidays are approaching, and with them the time to think about your travel destination.
But is it always possible?
For more than two years of this Covid-19 pandemic, many countries have imposed more or less strict restrictions at their borders.
Some even, for more or less time, prohibited any entry on their soil.
The measures have been greatly reduced over the past few weeks, with the decline of the epidemic.
New Zealand, for example, has authorized since this Sunday, May 1, the arrival of tourists to the destination of around sixty countries, including France, if they are vaccinated.
In France, 90% of the inhabitants have received a complete vaccination schedule.
For them, the rest of the world is mainly divided into two blocks: that of the countries where it is possible to go without any constraint, and that of the States which always impose a negative test.
We take stock, keeping in mind that the rules can still evolve in the coming weeks.
Compulsory test to travel to the United States, Morocco, India…
In the first group which does not impose any restrictions on vaccinated tourists wishing to go there, in addition to New Zealand, there are in particular all the countries of the European Union, Canada, Mexico, Algeria or Tunisia.
On site, certain measures are sometimes still in force.
In Greece, for example, wearing a mask is compulsory in all closed public places (shops, museums, etc.).
In France, since March 14, this is only the case in transport and health establishments.
The United States, Morocco, India, or even half of the African countries, are in the group of countries which always impose a negative test on vaccinated travelers.
The period of validity as well as the type of test differ according to the country.
The antigen or PCR sample must have been taken the same day or during the day preceding the trip in the case of the United States, or within 48 hours prior to boarding (and only PCR) if traveling to Morocco , for example.
Be careful though: the definition of "vaccinated" may vary depending on the country.
For example, some of them - like the United States - do not recognize the "one infection plus one injection" vaccination scheme, valid in France.
It is therefore recommended to consult the official websites of the country in question before leaving.
Quarantine in Malaysia and Laos
A handful of Asian countries still require vaccinated travellers, in addition to a negative test before departure, to respect a period of isolation upon arrival.
In Malaysia, for example, you have to quarantine for 24 hours in a hotel designated by the authorities.
A Frenchman arriving in Laos will have to be tested on arrival, paying around 50 euros out of his pocket.
“In the event of a negative result, a quarantine of 48 hours in a hotel approved by the authorities supplemented by 7 days at home must also be observed”, specifies the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its site.
Access prohibited in Japan and China
Finally, some states are still off-limits to French tourists.
Japan, for example, “has suspended the issuance of tourist visas until further notice”, indicates its embassy in France on its site.
Only relatives of Japanese citizens, travelers with “compelling exceptional or humanitarian circumstances” or those justifying a professional reason can hope to be authorized to travel to the Japanese country.
Read alsoAfter confined Shanghai, it's Beijing's turn?
In China, the “Zero Covid” strategy at all costs
Less surprisingly, it is impossible to travel to China, the last bastion of the “Zero Covid” strategy.
Turkmenistan, for its part, “has closed its borders, air, land and sea, to the movement of people, in order to fight against the spread of the epidemic”, still according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Much tougher restrictions for the unvaccinated
Entry requirements are stricter for travelers who have not been vaccinated (or who have not yet received their full vaccination schedule).
They are even prohibited from traveling to certain countries, such as the United States.
Within the European Union, on the other hand, an unvaccinated tourist can generally travel by presenting a simple negative test carried out in the 48 hours preceding the trip.