What Covid Certificates will be required to ski in the Alps & the spanish Pyrenees?

The 2021/22 ski season is fast approaching and many ski resorts have already started to provide information about the conditions and requirements for skiing in their facilities.

Many of you have contacted us asking about the type of restrictions and conditions to access different ski resorts. Today we bring you this article where we talk about the different requirements for skiing in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

It is becoming increasingly clear that this year we are going to have a ski season despite the increase of covid-19 cases that are appearing in some countries and spreading worldwide, seems like the restrictions are back.

Here you will find updated information regarding the measures that are being implemented in each country. Be aware that hey could suffer changes at any time and without prior notice.

Here's the latest COVID-19 and travel news from Esquiades.com:

CERTIFICATES FOR SKIING IN FRANCE

France has already started to open its ski resorts to the public after 2020/2021 winter closed by Covid-19, the measures that both skiers and resorts must comply with are being detailed.

* France announced on thursday December 16 that it will close its borders to uk tourists, regardless of wheter they are vaccinated or not. As of Saturday December 18, all holiday and business trips from the UK will be prohibited and only those with compelling work, family or medical reasons will be permitted entry to France.

What is required?

- European Covid Certificate, only valid if:

- You have the complete vaccination and more than 7 days have passed since the last dose (28 if it is the Janssen vaccine).

- You have been vaccinated for more than 11 days and less than 6 months.

If you do not have a Covid Certificate, a negative Pcr test or TMA test will be required within the previous 24 hours. In other words, if you are not vaccinated, you will have to take a test every day to be able to visit France.

Where is it requested?

Ski resorts: 

- To use any of the ski lifts (including free ones).
- To access restaurants that are on the slopes (including terraces).
- Ski pass sales points.
- To take skiing lessons.
- To acces all restaurants.
- Catering services.
- Indoor activities: cinemas, bowling alleys, gyms, spas, swimming pools, museums...

Who needs the covid certificate?

- Those aged 12 and over
- Children under 12 years of age won’t be asked for anything (neither certificate nor proof).

Les 2 Alpes, December 14

If the French Alps is on your wishlist for next Winter, we have endless amounts of ski holidays in different types of ski accommodations to suit everyone's budgets. We've even added ski chalets to our ski deals in the French Alps!

Best ski deals in the French Alps

CERTIFICATES FOR SKIING IN THE SWISS ALPS

Entry into Switzerland

·         General

Please note that you must present a completed entry form when entering Switzerland. You can find the entry form here. Persons entering Switzerland from areas bordering on Switzerland are exempt from the entry form requirement (entry into Switzerland by bus or plane does not count towards this requirement): In Germany, this includes the state of Baden-Württemberg, the state of Bavaria. Areas in Italy: Piedmont region, Valle d'Aosta region, Lombardy region, Trentino / South Tyrol region.

All persons aged 16 and over must be able to present additionally a negative PCR test (not older than 72h) or rapid antigen test (not older than 24h) when entering Switzerland. This test must be carried out in the country of departure.

Not vaccinated or not recovered

In Switzerland, all persons aged 16 and over who have not been vaccinated or have not recovered must carry out another PCR test or rapid antigen test between the 4th and 7th day after entry. The test result and the entry form number or a copy of the contact card must be reported to the canton. If the test result is negative, this must be reported to the canton of Graubünden in the form of a Covid test certificate.

The person bears the test costs himself/herself. In addition, the guest must be in isolation at the hotel. Further information can be found here. Exceptions to isolation are not possible under the current legal regulations.

·         Test costs and test centre

The Federal Council Switzerland has decided that as of 18 December 2021 the costs for rapid antigen tests will again be borne by the Confederation. Obtaining a Covid certificate based on a negative rapid antigen test result is thus free of charge. The costs for self-tests and individual PCR tests must continue to be borne by the testers themselves.

Mask obligation

In all closed facilities (gondola lifts, aerial tramways), in all closed rooms of the mountain railroads, as well as in all toilets, it is compulsory to wear a certified mouth-nose protection/medical mask for persons over 12 years of age.

Restaurants

Access to indoor areas of restaurant establishments where consumption takes place on site is available to vaccinated or recovered persons aged 16 years and over. As additional protection, a mask must be worn in these places and eating and drinking is only allowed in a seated position. For outdoor areas, operators are free to decide whether they wish to impose access restrictions or not. 

Our Ski and Snowboard experts are constantly loading the best ski deals for skiing in Switzerland and have prepared super flexible ski holiday packages for different dates throughout the winter season. You need to check them out!

Book your ski holiday in the Swiss Alps

CERTIFICATES FOR SKIING IN ANDORRA

The Government of Andorra authorises ski resorts to ask for the Covid Certificate in order to use their skiing facilities

What is required?

- European Covid Certificate.

Only valid if:

- You have the complete vaccination and more than 14 days have passed since the last dose 

- You have passed the virus + you have a dose of the vaccine and it has been more than 14 days since it was administered.

- You have had the disease within the last 6 months.

If you do not have a covid certificate, a negative Pcr test or TMA test will be required within the previous 72 hours.

Where is it requested?

- Ski Resorts

- To acces all restaurants.
- Catering services.
- Indoor activities: cinemas, bowling alleys, gyms, spas, swimming pools, museums...

Who needs the covid certificate?

- Those aged 16 and over
- Children under 16 years of age won’t be asked for anything (neither certificate nor proof).

Grandvalira on the 25th of December 2021

The Andorran ski resorts have already begun to prepare the new ski season under this premise. Vallnord Pal-Arinsal and Grandvalira will be starting their season on December 3.

Ski deals in Andorra

CERTIFICATES FOR SKIING IN SPAIN

In Spain, the Autonomous Communities are responsible for everything that has to do with health matters. They were the ones who allowed the resorts to open or not, and who set the restrictions to limit the influx of skiers. In Catalunya, the Generalitat denied the access to skiers from other regions and provinces. Worse was the case in Aragon, where the DGA restricted movement between provinces and the access of visitors from other parts of Spain, forcing the ski resorts to close, with the exception of Astún, who managed to get a few customers from Huesca.

This coming winter will be the same. Here they have tried to make people show a COVID passport to enter or access certain public areas, however the Courts of Justice usually declines the measure. We will have to wait a little more to see if Spain will ask for any kind of anti-COVID certificate.

Ski deals in Spain

Sierra Nevada full of snow just a few days ago. 24/12/21

CERTIFICATES FOR SKIING IN AUSTRIA

New rules for everyone arriving from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. These countries will be classified as a virus variant region from 25 December in Austria. This means:

People who are fully vaccinated (double jabbed) AND have received the 3rd booster jab can enter Austria with a negative PCR test (valid 48 hours). Children under the age of 12 are exempt (see below)!

Everyone else entering Austria needs to show

- Proof of full vaccination (2 jabs) OR proof of past infection (the medical document needs to show the date of recovery – (for guests from the UK: an NHS email/text of a positive test is not sufficient) 
- AND a negative PCR test (valid for 72 hours) OR proof of a booster jab (booster is valid from the first day) 
- See further details below (What proof is accepted?) 

Rules for children and teenagers

- Children under the age of 12 do not need proof of vaccination/recovery or a PCR test if accompanied by fully vaccinated or recovered adults. 
- Teenagers (12 or over and born on or after 1 September 2006) can use the first PCR test of their Holiday Ninja Pass to enter Austria. 
- For teenagers born before 1 September 2006, the "2-G+" rule (proof of full vaccination/recovery AND PCR test OR booster) applies. 
- Please be aware that children and teenagers over the age of 12 arriving from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark or Norway (virus variant countries) different rules apply from 25th December. They need to be fully vaccinated (2 jabs) AND have received the 3rd booster jab. They also need a negative PCR test (valid 48 hours) to enter Austria.

What proof is accepted? 

To proof your “2-G” status you can use the NHS Covid app or the EU Covid Pass. Printed versions and medical certificates of vaccination or recovery are also accepted.

In Austria, you can ski with peace of mind, as long as you carry a vaccination certificate against the coronavirus. You can also prove that you are immunized, however if the situation starts getting tough during the ski season, you should be aware that they may tighten up and only let in those who have the full vaccination guideline, what they call the 2-G, and can prove it with the COVID certificate.

FFP2 mask will be mandatory for enclosed areas such as restaurants and cabins.

Austria's Alps are blessed with a long and lavish snow season and the country is widely recognized as one of the world's best snow-sure skiing destinations. Check out our ski holidays in Innsbruck, they include the Ski plus City Pass that will give you access to a total of 13 skiing resorts as well as other super fun activities and visits!

Best ski offers in Austria

CERTIFICATES FOR SKIING IN ITALY

 
First country to make it official: Green Pass compulsory for skiing

Italy does have a certain limitation on the capacity of its ski lifts . Cabins will only accept a maximum of 80% of its total capacity. This measure does not seem to affect chairlifts.

Italy has got a little tough with those who haven't yet been vaccinated. So to prevent them from getting infected, from October 15 you cannot go to work without being vaccinated. This also applies to employees in ski resorts.

The Green Pass (COVID certificate) will also be required to access the ski resorts. This is something that has been requested by the same companies and organizations related to the snow ski area, such as the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI), the National Association of Cable Car Operators (Anef), the Association of Italian Ski Instructors (Amsi ) and the National College of Ski Instructors (Colnaz).

Ski Holidays 2021/2022

If you need advice, our team of ski experts are more than happy to assist you.

You can call our customer service line +44 (0)2 036 959 406 which is available from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 9.30 pm. You can also reach us via the following link and we can send you a quote via e-mail. 

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