The Netherlands has eased its restrictions on travellers from South Africa who, if fully vaccinated, won’t be required quarantine.
The European Union’s call for the member states to lift travel bans on South Africa and neighbouring countries – by ending the “emergency brake” mechanism – is gathering momentum. The Netherlands is the latest country to permit quarantine-free travel, after imposing a strict ban following the discovery of the Omicron coronavirus variant in late November.
South Africa, previously categorised as a “very high risk country”, was reclassified as a “high risk country” on Saturday. This allows travellers from South Africa to enter the Netherlands and avoid quarantine if they can prove that they’ve been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The Netherlands, like most European nations, identified South Africa as a country with a “variant of concern”, leading to the immediate suspension of direct flights following the Omicron discovery.
Earlier in January, South Africa was reclassified as a “very high risk area without a variant of concern” which allowed travellers to enter the Netherlands but on the condition of self-quarantine for those over the age of 12, whether vaccinated or not.
Now, as simply a “high risk country”, fully vaccinated travellers can enter the Netherlands without needing to quarantine. They’ll still need to produce a negative PCR test, no older than 48 hours before departure, or a negative antigen test, no older than 24 hours before departure.
Travellers above the age of 12 will also need to complete a health declaration form before flying.
Travellers who’ve been vaccinated outside the European Union can prove their vaccination status by showing a valid, paper certificate or a digital vaccination certificate issued by a country taking part in the EU Digital Covid Certificate system. South Africa is not currently listed as country partaking in the EU certificate system.
Travellers to the Netherlands are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, like Pfizer, or 28 days after receiving the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.co.za/travel-from-south-africa-to-netherlands-without-quarantine-2022-1
