European Union: European Council continues to amend the list of recommended non-EU countries with which travel can resume as of Jan. 24 /update 26

European Council continues to amend the list of recommended non-EU countries with which travel can resume as of Jan. 24.

Event

The European Council continues to regularly update the list of countries with which it recommends member states relax COVID-19 related entry restrictions. Argentina, Australia, and Canada were removed from the list as of Jan. 17.

In the latest guidance, the EC recommends member states ease travel restrictions with the following countries: Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Peru, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, UAE, Uruguay, and China (provided it implements a reciprocal travel arrangement). The council advises EU member states to restrict nonessential travel from all other countries outside the bloc as part of measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

All EU Schengen Area member states, non-Schengen EU members (i.e., Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania), and the four non-EU Schengen-associated states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) are participating in the travel restrictions.

The EC's recommendation is nonbinding; individual member states retain the authority to unilaterally deny travel from countries on the approved list or to permit travel with countries not on the approved list. The EC also previously recommended that member states begin lifting restrictions for vaccinated travelers from countries outside the bloc; several member states are implementing this measure.

Participating countries have also implemented the EC's EU Digital COVID Certificate. The certificate is a digital or physical QR code that acts as proof of whether a traveler has been vaccinated against, recovered from, or recently tested negative for COVID-19. Member states should, in principle, allow individuals possessing the certificate to enter the country without restriction. Effective Feb. 1, vaccination certificates will be valid for a maximum of nine months, after which evidence of a booster vaccination will be required to extend the validity. The application of this measure varies by member states; several may opt for reduced validity periods for vaccine certificates without a booster.

Additionally, the EC has advised member states to implement additional COVID-19 measures, including mandatory testing before departure, stricter measures to address virus variants of concern, and a common European passenger locator form. Persons exempted from the recommendations include family members of EU nationals, diplomats, foreigners with legal residency permits, cross-border and healthcare workers, and truck drivers transporting freight. UK citizens are subject to the recommended travel restrictions.

Advice

Prospective travelers from countries on the approved list should check for possible additional restrictions imposed by the destination country prior to booking travel. Persons from countries not on the approved list should consider postponing nonessential travel to the countries participating in the controls. Follow all official immigration and health-screening instructions.