European Union: European Council maintains COVID-19-related recommendations for non-EU travel as of Feb. 8 /update 10

Event

The European Council is maintaining its advice for European Union (EU) member states to restrict nonessential travel from outside the bloc as part of measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. However, the European Council also maintains a list of countries with which it recommends member states relax entry restrictions due to positive data regarding the COVID-19 situation in those countries. As of Feb. 8, the following countries are on this list:

• Australia

• New Zealand

• Rwanda

• Singapore

• South Korea

• Thailand

• China (provided they implement a reciprocal travel arrangement)

Countries participating in the measure comprise the so-called "EU+ Area," which includes all EU Schengen Area member states; non-Schengen EU members Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania; and the four non-EU Schengen-associated states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The European Council's recommendation is advisory only; 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.

Additionally, the European Council (EC) issued advice for member states on Jan. 25 to introduce additional COVID-19 measures, including mandatory testing before departure, stricter measures to address virus variants of concern, and a common European passenger locator form. In late December 2020, the EC issued advice for member states to discourage all nonessential travel with the UK following the outbreak of a new variant of COVID-19 in that country. As a result, many countries have implemented tougher restrictions on travel with the UK, including flight bans or testing and quarantine requirements for individuals arriving from that country.

Moreover, following the end of the Brexit transition period, citizens of the UK are no longer being treated as EU citizens and are therefore subject to measures restricting travel to the EU from outside the bloc as per European Council recommendations. 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.

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 postpone travel to the countries participating in the closure. Follow all official immigration and health screening instructions.

Resources

European Union

Schengen Area countries