Many Americans are eager to start planning travel after receiving their full COVID vaccine and booster shots. And countries are once again open to international visitors—typically, with fewer entry requirements for those who are fully vaccinated. Some destinations, like Greece and Iceland, have welcomed vaccinated travelers for much of the last year, while others, like Australia and Morocco, are just beginning to reopen.
But there’s still a lot to consider before deciding to travel to another part of the world, especially as the Omicron variant continues to spread and new variants like Deltacron continue to emerge. With the health and safety of local communities in mind, for now, avoid traveling to countries with high infection rates, low vaccination rates, and overwhelmed medical infrastructure—all factors that can fluctuate rapidly. The CDC regularly updates its list of travel recommendations by destination, which categorizes countries by their local COVID-19 risk level: low, moderate, high, and very high.
Those considerations in mind, we've rounded up some of the destinations that are currently open and welcoming vaccinated visitors with no quarantine requirement. Travel guidelines continue to change, so travelers should check their destination country’s official government websites—and the CDC website—regularly before and during any trip. You may also want to consider purchasing travel insurance. In addition to rules about COVID-19 vaccination and testing, all of the below countries require travelers to follow local public health guidelines.
Read on for the places to travel after your COVID vaccine.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Newly reopened destinations
Australia
Vaccinated U.S. travelers can once again visit Australia. In addition to showing proof of vaccination, visitors must also have a negative PCR test result from within three days of departure or a rapid antigen test from within 24 hours. Travelers must complete a digital passenger declaration form.
Unvaccinated travelers can only enter the country if they apply for and are granted an exemption.
All travelers must also meet varying requirements set by individual Australian states and territories. New South Wales, the state that includes Sydney, requires vaccinated international travelers to go straight to their lodging, take a rapid self-test, then wait for a negative result before moving around freely, for example. In Victoria, home to Melbourne, vaccinated international travelers must take a rapid or antigen test within 24 hours of arriving, then isolate at their hotel while waiting for a negative result. For the next seven days in Victoria, travelers must also carry proof of that negative test result and proof of vaccination.
Papua New Guinea
Vaccinated U.S. travelers can once again visit the island nation of Papua New Guinea. Travelers must show proof of vaccination, complete an online health declaration form, and present a negative COVID test result from within 72 hours of departure. Travelers must also test upon arrival at their own expense.