European Union: European Council adds Israel to the list of recommended non-EU countries with which travel can resume May 6 /update 12

European Council adds Israel to the list of recommended non-EU countries with which travel can resume as of May 6.

Event

The European Council (EC) has added Israel to the 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 May 6, the following countries are on this list:

Australia
Israel
New Zealand
Rwanda
Singapore
South Korea
Thailand
China (provided they implement a reciprocal travel arrangement)

The EC advises European Union (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.

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 EC'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 EC issued advice for member states 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. 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 EC 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.