Europe: Countries in Europe maintaining international travel restrictions with UK as of Dec. 23 due to new COVID-19 strain /update 3

Event

As of Dec. 22, authorities in further European countries have instituted bans of varying durations on passenger transport with the UK in response to a new strain of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) discovered primarily in the southeast of England, including London. Specific measures that have been implemented include the following:

• Austria: All passenger flights connecting with the UK are suspended until Jan. 1, 2021

• Belgium: Belgium will resume travel with the UK from Dec. 23. Entry permitted for Belgian nationals, persons whose main residence is in Belgium, travelers in transit whose final destination is outside the EU, as well as persons who have necessary unpostponable journeys. These travelers will need to provide a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) taken within 48 hours before boarding.

• Bulgaria: All direct passenger flights with the UK are suspended through Jan. 31, 2021. Entry from the UK is restricted to Bulgarian nationals and residents.

• Croatia: All non-Croatian passengers from UK are barred until Jan. 1.

• Czech Republic: Authorities have lifted flight suspension from Dec. 23. Entry from UK restricted to Czech citizens or those with residence in the Czech Republic with a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours upon arrival.

• Denmark: All passenger flights from UK are suspended until Dec. 25. Starting Dec. 25, authorities will allow entry for all Danish citizens or permanent residents arriving from the UK without restriction.

• Estonia: All passenger flights connecting with the UK are suspended until Jan. 1, 2021.

• Finland: All passenger flights connecting with the UK are suspended until Jan. 4, 2021.

• France: France will allow passenger traffic from the UK to resume for French citizens, permanent residents, and those engaging in essential travel; travelers must present a negative COVID-19 test no older than 72 hours before departure.

• Germany: All flights with the UK are suspended through 2300 Dec. 31.

• Hungary: All flights with the UK have been indefinitely suspended.

• Ireland: Flights and passenger ferry services with mainland UK are suspended until at least 0000 Dec. 22; the land border with the UK, as well as freight ferry services for essential supply lines, is unaffected.

• Italy: All passenger flights with the UK are suspended through at least Jan. 6, 2021; travelers who have stayed in or transited the UK within the past 14 days prohibited from entering Italy, even if asymptomatic.

• Malta: Non-Maltese Nationals or permanent residents who plan to travel for essential reasons from UK must obtain permission to enter Malta.

• Netherlands: All air and sea arrivals from the UK, including Dutch and EU nationals, must present a negative PCR COVID-19 test prior to travel to the Netherlands; the test must be no older than 72 hours before departure.

• Norway: All direct flights with the UK suspended through at least Dec. 26. Other restrictions for arrivals from the UK apply.

• Latvia: All passenger flights connecting with the UK are suspended until Jan. 1, 2021.

• Lithuania: All passenger flights connecting with the UK are suspended until Jan. 1, 2021.

• Poland: All passenger flights connecting with the UK are suspended until at least Jan. 6, 2021.

• Portugal: Entry from the UK is restricted to Portuguese nationals and their family members only until further notice; all arrivals must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within the previous 72 hours.

• Romania: All passenger flights connecting with the UK are suspended until Jan. 4, 2021.

• Spain: Entry from the UK is restricted to Spanish nationals and residents only until further notice.

• Sweden: Entry from the UK is restricted to Swedish nationals and residents as well as persons who need to travel for essential reasons until further notice.

• Switzerland: Entry from the UK is restricted to Swiss nationals and residents only until further notice.

Additional countries, including those outside Europe, could impose similar bans on travel to/from the UK, as well as other countries where the mutation has appeared. Some cases of the mutated virus have also been detected in Australia, Denmark, and the Netherlands; a similar, albeit not identical variant has materialized in South Africa.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements, particularly to the UK or other countries where the new virus strain has been detected. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.