Use these three resources to check travel requirements around the world.
Every day more travel restrictions and requirements are being dropped, and people are dusting off their passports in the hope of traveling overseas this year. How do you find out which destinations are open, and what you need to do to board a flight there?
From questions such as, Do I need a test? and What are accepted proofs of vaccination? to current mask requirements, there are several free resources that can tell you everything about where you can go and what to expect once you get there. Here are several suggestions for where to go for current travel information so you can plan your next great escape!
1. Sherpa
This is a great source for up-to-date travel requirements, so much so several airlines have built the interface into their own websites to help people plan. To give Sherpa a try, Delta.com is probably the best place to do so. The tool offers a color-coded map of the world showing places that are open, open with restrictions, or closed. You can also enter your passport, journey, and vaccination status to get more specialized details. For example, you can find out if testing is required for fully vaccinated visitors, or if there are steps you need to take before you can board, such as completing health forms.
British Airways has a similar resource, which you can cross-reference if you want added certainty.
2. Timatic
Airlines can be fined if they board a traveler who isn’t eligible for entry at the destination. Many airlines use Timatic from the International Airline Transportation Association to confirm whether passengers meet requirements for travel (visas, tests proof of vaccination, etc.). The resource offers a detailed picture of requirements, plus links to relevant health authorities.
The good news? Passengers are entitled to check the system, too. Note: some countries’ rules (for example, testing) apply even to transit passengers, so it’s good to check all your waypoints as well as and destination.
3. Country Websites
If a country were to introduce mandatory testing, a health declaration form, or a new visa as a requirement to board a flight to there, an airline may inform you, but complying with travel rules, just like before the pandemic, is on you. Most countries now offer health- and travel-related websites that set out rules and information for visitors. These sites are also typically where you can fill out any health or visitor forms needed prior to boarding. Rules are changing, so keep checking the site(s) up to your day of departure.
Twist’s Take: Flying overseas? Use Sherpa, Timatic, and your destination/transit country websites to make sure you’re good to go!
