COMPARE: What are the Covid test requirements around Europe for child travellers
Travel is opening up around Europe, but most countries still have testing requirements in place for adults. When it comes to under 18s, however, the rules vary widely on who is exempt and who needs a test.
Travel within the EU and Schengen zone will in theory become easier from July 1st for those who are fully vaccinated with the introduction of the EU-wide Covid-19 certificate.
For those who are not fully vaccinated, or those travelling from outside the Bloc, testing will remain a part of crossing borders for some time to come.
But while the rules on tests for adults are fairly standard, the age at which children require tests varies from newborn babies and two-year-olds to 18.
Here's an overview from countries covered by The Local, as well as from elsewhere in the EU and the UK.
Austria
Austria has strict testing requirements for entry from most countries, but children under the age of 10 are exempt.
Belgium
Belgium has an exemption to its testing requirements for some residents, but otherwise testing is required. The age exemption for children is 6, the same as in neighbouring Germany.
Croatia
Children under 7 who arrive in Croatia will be exempt from testing requirements.
Czech Republic
The rules on testing depend on which country you arrive from but in general children under 5 are exempt.
Denmark
Denmark has recently relaxed its requirement for travellers from certain countries so that they no longer need a 'worthy purpose' to enter the country. However entries from certain countries still need a negative test, and the cut-off age for children is 15.
Finland
Children aged under 12 are exempt in Finland.
France
The exemption age for children arriving into France is 11. Under 11s are exempt from the testing requirements, all other non-vaccinated travellers or arrivals from countries not on the green list, must present a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours, or an antigen test taken within the previous 48 hours.
Germany
In Germany under 6s are exempt from testing requirements, as well as fully-vaccinated adults from certain countries.
Greece
Children under 5 are exempt from testing requirements on arrivals.
Ireland
Children under 5 are not required to show a negative Covid test to enter Ireland, but most other travellers are.
Italy
Pretty much everyone entering Italy needs a negative Covid test with only children aged two or under are exempt.
READ ALSO: Italy will bring back quarantine rule for UK arrivals ‘if necessary’
Netherlands
Children under 13 years age are exempt from testing requirements when arriving in the Netherlands.
Norway
Entry to Norway is still tightly restricted for non-Norwegians with tests required for most people, but children under the age of 12 are exempt from pre-travel tests, although under most circumstances they must be tested at the border.
Poland
The Polish rules have no formal exemption for children, meaning that in theory even newborn babies would have to be tested in order to enter the country.
Portugal
Only children aged two or under are exempt from the testing requirements in Portugal.
Slovenia
Children under 13 travelling with their families are exempt from testing.
Spain
Since June 7th, Spain no longer requires a negative test for all arrivals, including fully-vaccinated travellers from non-EU/EEA countries such as the US. Where tests are required, the cut-off age for children is now 12.
Sweden
Sweden's testing requirement is only for adults, so all under 18s are exempt from having to provide a test.
Switzerland
Switzerland exempts under 12s from the testing requirement.
UK
Most entries to the UK require a test, but children under the age of 11 are exempt.
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Travel within the EU and Schengen zone will in theory become easier from July 1st for those who are fully vaccinated with the introduction of the EU-wide Covid-19 certificate.
For those who are not fully vaccinated, or those travelling from outside the Bloc, testing will remain a part of crossing borders for some time to come.
But while the rules on tests for adults are fairly standard, the age at which children require tests varies from newborn babies and two-year-olds to 18.
Here's an overview from countries covered by The Local, as well as from elsewhere in the EU and the UK.
Austria
Austria has strict testing requirements for entry from most countries, but children under the age of 10 are exempt.
Belgium
Belgium has an exemption to its testing requirements for some residents, but otherwise testing is required. The age exemption for children is 6, the same as in neighbouring Germany.
Croatia
Children under 7 who arrive in Croatia will be exempt from testing requirements.
Czech Republic
The rules on testing depend on which country you arrive from but in general children under 5 are exempt.
Denmark
Denmark has recently relaxed its requirement for travellers from certain countries so that they no longer need a 'worthy purpose' to enter the country. However entries from certain countries still need a negative test, and the cut-off age for children is 15.
Finland
Children aged under 12 are exempt in Finland.
France
The exemption age for children arriving into France is 11. Under 11s are exempt from the testing requirements, all other non-vaccinated travellers or arrivals from countries not on the green list, must present a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours, or an antigen test taken within the previous 48 hours.
Germany
In Germany under 6s are exempt from testing requirements, as well as fully-vaccinated adults from certain countries.
Greece
Children under 5 are exempt from testing requirements on arrivals.
Ireland
Children under 5 are not required to show a negative Covid test to enter Ireland, but most other travellers are.
Italy
Pretty much everyone entering Italy needs a negative Covid test with only children aged two or under are exempt.
READ ALSO: Italy will bring back quarantine rule for UK arrivals ‘if necessary’
Netherlands
Children under 13 years age are exempt from testing requirements when arriving in the Netherlands.
Norway
Entry to Norway is still tightly restricted for non-Norwegians with tests required for most people, but children under the age of 12 are exempt from pre-travel tests, although under most circumstances they must be tested at the border.
Poland
The Polish rules have no formal exemption for children, meaning that in theory even newborn babies would have to be tested in order to enter the country.
Portugal
Only children aged two or under are exempt from the testing requirements in Portugal.
Slovenia
Children under 13 travelling with their families are exempt from testing.
Spain
Since June 7th, Spain no longer requires a negative test for all arrivals, including fully-vaccinated travellers from non-EU/EEA countries such as the US. Where tests are required, the cut-off age for children is now 12.
Sweden
Sweden's testing requirement is only for adults, so all under 18s are exempt from having to provide a test.
Switzerland
Switzerland exempts under 12s from the testing requirement.
UK
Most entries to the UK require a test, but children under the age of 11 are exempt.
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