Travelling To/From the Balkans? The COVID-19 Rules that Apply

Only passengers travelling to the United Kingdom are subjected to quarantine. 

The majority of countries in the region require confirmation of vaccination or negative PCR or antigen test made less than 48 or 72 hours prior to travel in order to avoid 7-14-day quarantine.

Some countries require completion of online health forms or medical checks upon arrival. 

To the Balkans

A tourist tries out a hat in the touristic district of Monastiraki during a heatwave in central Athens, Greece, July 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/KOSTAS TSIRONIS

Albania's borders have been open for travellers without restriction since May 2021.

Bosnia and Herzegovina accepts COVID-19 test results from countries of the EU and the Western Balkans as well as Turkey, Moldova Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Russia, San Marino, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the Vatican.

Citizens of Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia, their spouses and children under the age of 16 do not need to present a negative test result or vaccination certificate provided they entered Bosnia directly.

Croatia accepts tourists from all European countries, while people coming from Western Balkan countries may enter with the proof of either vaccine, recovery or negative test, in addition to the confirmation about the paid accommodation.

In Serbia, there are no special requirements for residents of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Vaccination certificates issued by Czechia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are accepted upon arrival.

On July 1, Bulgaria began accepting the EU Digital COVID Certificate, EUDCC, allowing...