Ski holidays 2021-2022: Everything you need to know

Andorra

Borders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes

Ski Season Already started? No

Entry Rules: Anyone aged over 6 years old will also need to be able to show either proof of Covid vaccination, a negative PCR test result within 72 hours before arrival, or proof of recovery from Covid. Travel in is via France or Spain so you need to adhere to entry rules in whichever country you arrive through as well as Andorra’s.

Pandemic Operations in Andorran Ski Resorts: Face masks are mandatory for everyone aged 8 or older in enclosed public spaces such as bars, restaurants and shops. Everyone aged eight or older is required to wear a mask. Limit of eight in groups in bars and restaurants and social distancing measures remain in place.

Austria

Borders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes (but you will need to quarantine)

Ski Season Already started? Yes

Entry Rules: You’ll need proof of full vaccination to enter without quarantine. You can enter with a negative Covid test or evidence of recovery for a recent infection but will need to quarantine for 10 days with the option to reduce to 5 days with a PCR test on day five.

Pandemic Operations in Austrian Ski Resorts: You’ll need proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test or of recovery for a recent infection to use the ski lifts and apres-ski venues. Restrictions will increase if the number of people in hospital rises above certain pre-set levels.

Bulgaria

Borders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated?  Yes from, EU/Schengen and other areas but more complicated.

Ski Season Already started? No

Entry Rules: Simplest if fully vaccinated arriving from EU/Schengen with EU digital COVID certificate proving this, more complex but possible from all but reds list countries otherwise.

Pandemic Operations in Bulgarian Ski Resorts: The Bulgarian government has said skiers will not have to have the digital vaccine certificate to be able to ski at this stage, and that the same protocols as last season including mask wearing by resort employees and visitors and other normal covid spread prevention measures will be in place.

Canada

Borders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? No

Ski Season Already started? No – but Lake Louise opening Friday Nov 5

Entry Rules: If you’re fully vaccinated (at least 14 days before travel) travellers you can once again travel to Canada, on a few conditions. You must also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 negative test less than 72 hours old and you may be asked to take another test on arrival (this ios done at random to arrivals). of departure) or proof of a positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days. You also need to  upload proof of vaccination, quarantine and travel information up to Canada’s ArriveCAN portal at least 72 hours before you travel.

Pandemic Operations in Canadian Ski Resorts: From the start of November a number of Canadian ski resorts began announcing skiers would need to be fully vaccinated to use lifts to meet provincial/national public health guidelines to operate at capacity. Otherwise operations vary by province and by resort to some extent and can change frequently. Capacity restrictions and indoor mask wearing can be a factor.  Some resorts have required all staff be vaccinated.  Some report issues hiring enough staff due to work visa issues.

Finland

Borders Open: Yes – from low risk EU/Shengen area countries.

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes from EU/Shengen area and other apptroved low-risk countries but more complicated.  Not usually just for leisure from the UK, however UK citizens can enter if fully vaccinated.

Ski Season Already started? Yes

Entry Rules: Double jabbed people from low risk EU/Schengen area countries can enter without a test.  Entry possible for those with single jabs and other circumstances but testing required.

Pandemic Operations in Finnish Ski Resorts: Social distancing and indoor mask wearing remain the norm.

France

Borders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes – if the country you’re arriving from is on the list of accepted countries and you take tests and get a negative result.

Ski Season Already started? Yes

Entry Rules: The country you are arriving from must be one France allows entry from and you normally need to be fully vaccinated. All arrivals need to fill out a pre-travel form.

Pandemic Operations in French Ski Resorts: Currently visitors won’t need a Covid pass to access ski lifts, although this could be subject to change if the Covid situation changes in the country. However, you will still need to show the ‘pass sanitaire’ (https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus/pass-sanitaire) for the likes of certain public transport, events and cultural spaces with over 50 people, and other facilities such as bars.  Face masks are required in all enclosed public spaces in France.

Italy

Borders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes (but quarantine required if not fully vaccinated)

Ski Season Already started? Yes

Entry Rules: The country you are arriving from must be one Italy allows entry from and you normally need to be fully vaccinated and show a negative test taken within 48 hours before entering Italy. Unvaccinated arrivals allowed but must also show proof of the negative test and will need to self-isolate for five days. All arrivals need to fill out a pre-travel form.

Pandemic Operations in Italian Ski Resorts: A ‘green pass’ is required for everyone aged 12 and over to access public spaces including bars, restaurants, exhibitions, spas, gyms and indoor pools. Covid passes are required for anyone aged 12 or over. Face masks must be worn required in enclosed spaces including public transport, as well as outdoor spaces where social distancing is not possible.

For rules on ski destinations, the best thing would be to consult the relevant regional tourist board website as the Regions in Italy have a certain amount of independence to decide their own rules. Eg for Trentino region: https://www.visittrentino.info/en/articles/practical-info/coronavirus-info

Japan

Borders Open: No

Entry Without being Fully Vaccinated? No entry whether vaccinated or not.

Ski Season Already started? No

Entry rules: Borders closed.

Pandemic Operations in Japanese Ski Resorts:  These differ between resorts and regions but mask wearing and distancing is generally the norm.

Notes: COVID-19 cases have fallen dramatically since the peak of its third wave in August. At the beginning of October, the country dropped its coronavirus state of emergency for the first time in six months.

Norway

Borders Open: Yes

Entry Without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes from some countries.

Ski Season Already started? Yes

Entry Rules: Entry allowed from a number of countries (EU/UK and others) if fully vaccinated or with evidence of recovery from a COVID infection in the previous six months. Unvaccinated travellers can also enter from these countries without needing to take a test if the country has a low infection rate. At time of writing the UK had a high infection rate and testing and quarantine was required along with the need to fill out a location form.  Countries status changes according to infection rates.

Pandemic Operations in Norwegian Ski Resorts: Most rules have been relaxed in Norway but individual ski resorts may still require COVID measures be adhered to.

Scotland

orders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes

Ski Season Already started? No

Entry Rules: No travel restrictions from within the UK.

Pandemic Operations in Scottish Ski Resorts: In Scotland masks must still be worn in indoor public places such as cafes, bars and gondolas cabins.  

Spain

Borders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes from some countries including UK but you must show a negative recent test result.

Ski Season Already started? No

Entry Rules: In order to enter Spain you must present a digital vaccination certificate, showing that you have received the full vaccination programme or a Diagnostic Certificate, showing you have tested negative for COVID.

Pandemic Operations in Spanish Ski Resorts: Masks and 1.5m social distancing remain mandatory indoors in Spain.

Sweden

Borders Open: Yes – to EU and Schengen countries and selected other nations.

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated?   Yes from some approved nations.

Ski Season Already started? No

Entry Rules: Sweden has complex entry rules if you do not live in the EU/Schengen area and are not fully vaccinated, but it is increasingly possible to travel there for leisure if you meet the requirements for arrivals from the destination you’re coming from.  

Pandemic Operations in Swedish Ski Resorts:

Latest Info:  https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/disasters-and-incidents/2020/official-information-on-the-new-coronavirus/travel-restrictions

Switzerland

Borders Open: Yes

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? Yes from selected countries.

Ski Season Already started? Yes

Entry Rules: Entry without restriction for people who can show they are fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated arrivals need to present a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours) or a negative rapid antigen test (not older than 48 hours). A second test is required four to seven days after entry. You can check your position here:  https://travelcheck.admin.ch/home

Pandemic Operations in Swiss Ski Resorts: To enter indoor hospitality venues you need to be able to show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid, or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours/antigen test within 48 hours. Face masks are compulsory on public transport and indoors in public areas.

USA

Borders Open: From November 8^th to citizens of 33 countries including UK and EU.

Entry without being Fully Vaccinated? No

Ski Season Already Started? Yes

Entry Rules: Travellers above the age of 18 must prove they received WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines. Those below 18 must show negative test results from three days before travel.

Pandemic Operations in US Ski Resorts: These vary from state to state, country to county, company to company and resort to resort. However mostly restrictions are limited.  Many do require face coverings indoor and a few require evidence of vaccination in limited circumstances (indoor cafeteria dining) but not to ride lifts.