Double vaccinated? You may be turned away from visiting these countries

Vaccinated travellers planning to travel later this year may get caught out if they haven't received a booster.

Around the world, more countries are recognising the necessity of booster shots after a certain time period and have introduced expiry dates on vaccine passports.

Therefore, travellers using a vaccine passport as a way to enter a country may be turned away if they became fully vaccinated too long ago and have not received a booster shot.

According to UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, the list will only grow and said it was "inevitable" that British citizens and international travellers would need a booster shot to travel.

Below are countries that will enforce a booster mandate for visitors who were fully vaccinated after a certain time.

Vaccine Passports expire after one year

Croatia
Croatia was the first nation in the world that enforced a 'maximum vaccine validity' and requires travellers visiting using a vaccine passport to have been vaccinated within the last 365 days. Those who were early to get fully vaccinated will need to show proof of a booster.

Vaccine Passports expire after nine months

Spain
From February 1, Spain will only accept travellers who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 within the last 270 days, or nine months. Those who recenved a second dose more than nine months ago must get a booster to enter, which must be administered more than 14 days before travelling.

Switzerland
Like Spain, travellers hoping to visit Switzerland must do so within 270 days of receiving their second dose of the vaccine. Nine months after that, they must have a booster jab to visit.

Netherlands
From February 1, the Netherlands has also placed a 270 day expiry date on second vaccinations. Visitors must have received their second dose within the last nine months or have had a booster shot.

Singapore
From February 14, Singapore will only accept travellers aged 18 and above who have had their final Covid-19 vaccine in the last 270 days.

From March 14, this is expected to apply to travellers aged 12 years and older According to Singapore's Ministry of Health, people to get a booster "will continue to be considered as fully vaccinated beyond the 270 days."

Vaccine Passports expire after seven months

Greece
On January 5, Greece's health minister Thanos Plevirs also placed an expiry date of seven months on vaccine passports. Those who had their last dose of the vaccine more than seven months ago must receive a booster shot.

However, at the time of writing, Greece does not have a vaccine mandate to arrivals and visitors can instead show proof of a negative Covid test.

Vaccine Passports expire after six months

Austria
Previously, Austria shared a 270-day expiry for visitor vaccine passports. From February 1, this has been shorted to 180 days, just six months. After this time, a booster jab will be required.

Israel
After setting the record for one of the world's fastest vaccine rollouts, Israel now demands visitors to have been vaccinated in the last 180 days or have had a booster shot to visit.

Vaccine Passports expire after five months

Belgium

Belgium will be even more strict. From March 1, travellers have just 5 months to visit from the time they get their second vaccination.

After this point, the vaccine passport is no longer considered valid until you receive a booster.

Rules around Covid-19 are constantly changing, so always check a destination's official up-to-date entry requirements before making plans.