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Covid Guide: Travelling outside Europe during Covid-19

Travel. It almost seems like an alien word these days, especially with lockdowns coming and going, borders closing and openings, and new cases of the virus fluctuating wildly from day to day. But the stringent measures that are being taken aren’t without cause. They all come with the promise of future relaxations, and potentially even the opportunity to travel abroad once more. And when that day comes, preparation is key. Here, we’ll discuss three countries that are set to be among the first to welcome foreign tourists again.

Egypt
Egypt is one of the countries that has already opened for domestic and foreign tourism. Travelling to Egypt is allowed once more for British tourists. This does, however, come with a number of strict requirements. For one, a negative PCR test result is required to enter Egypt. This test result cannot be older than 72 hours, unless you’re departing from London Heathrow (96 hours). Additionally, not all parts of Egypt are open. The primary regions that are available to foreign tourists are the resorts along the Red Sea, such as Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Not necessarily. If you are planning to stay at a resort in Nuweiba, Taba, Sharm el Sheikh or Dahab, you don’t need a visa to enter Egypt. However, your stay can only last a maximum of 15 days. For longer trips, or trips outside these areas, an Egypt visa is mandatory.

India
Those that closely follow travel-related news likely read that India recently lifted the special travel ban it had implemented against British travellers, following the discovery of the new highly contagious variant of the coronavirus. This might make the average holiday-goer think that they can travel to India once the lockdown is lifted. However, travelling to India is still very limited. India is planning to slowly increase the number of flights departing to and from the UK, but this will likely take months.

Do I need a visa for India?
Yes, an Indian visa is mandatory for all trips to the country. The visa system is currently not operating on full capacity, so there is no guarantee that visa applications for India will go through. The Indian visa is valid for one year, meaning it can be applied for in advance for a trip later this year.


Kenya
Like Egypt, Kenya has lifted its general travel ban for foreign travellers. And, like Egypt, strict requirements apply. You also need a negative PCR test result to enter Kenya, and you cannot show any kind of flu-related symptoms. A special form needs to be filled out on the website of the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority. Kenya has issued a mandatory 14 day quarantine policy for incoming foreign travellers. Certain countries are exempt of this, which currently includes the United Kingdom. These exemptions can change on a daily basis, so make sure to keep an eye on them.

Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Yes. Unlike Egypt, Kenya has not announced any temporary cancellation of its visa requirement. This means that all British travellers headed to Kenya need to apply for an online visa. Kenya is slowly phasing out the paper visas you can get at the embassy and at the airport, so travellers are advised to apply online.

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