Just two months after adding the U.S. to its Safe Travel List, the European Union did an about face and recommended to its 27 member states that they ban nonessential travel from the United States. To be clear, the recommendation was not a ruling; each EU country would still be responsible for setting its own travel restrictions. So how did they respond? Only about half, so far, have made changes to their entry requirements due to the announcement.
One explanation for the EU’s action is the fact the U.S. didn’t reciprocate when Europe opened its borders in June. The end result, however, is that travel managers, travelers and travel counselors will have to continue to stay on top of the patchwork of various policies, which has been made more complex by the new restrictions.
An overview of the main entry requirements follows, ranked from Least Restrictive to Most Restrictive. Note: This list is subject to change at any time.
- Ireland is open to all U.S. travelers, regardless of vaccination status. Those who can provide proof of vaccination can skip the testing and quarantine rules. Unvaccinated travelers will be required to present negative Covid-19 test results (taken within 72 hours), quarantine for 14 days upon arrival and undergo post-arrival testing. Ireland plans to drop almost all its COVID-19 restrictions in October and there will no longer be requirements for physical distancing or wearing a mask while either indoors or outdoors.
. - Portugal has announced it will not change its entry requirements. Open to U.S. travelers, visitors must present an EU Digital Vaccination Certificate, a negative PCR test within 72 hours of boarding aircraft or a negative rapid antigen test result within 48 hours of boarding. Hotels, guesthouses, and private rentals require the same documentation, although guests can submit to a rapid test on arrival to the hotel or guesthouse. Visitors must also fill out a SEF Registration Form before entry. Travelers who test positive for Covid-19 in Portugal may be required to quarantine for up to 10 days at the traveler’s expense.
. - Iceland opened its doors to Americans in April. Travelers who have been vaccinated or who can show proof of prior infection are able to enter the country without testing or quarantining. There are no curfews, but masks are required on public transportation, with fines enacted for noncompliance.
. - Greece welcomes U.S. travelers, who must complete the passenger locator form and present the QR code in order to board Greece-bound flights. They must also show either proof of full vaccination, or a negative PCR test result for Covid-19 performed within 72 hours of arrival, or a negative antigen test result performed within 48 hours of arrival. Masks are no longer required in uncrowded outdoor areas but are still required in all indoor areas.
. - Croatia was one of the first European countries to throw open its doors to American travelers. Visitors need proof of vaccination; a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours or an antigen test no older than 48 hours; or of proof of recovery from a Covid infection. Guests are required to book and pay in full for accommodations in advance of arrival and have documents to prove it. Masks are required indoors and on public transportation, and nightclubs are closed.
. - Slovenia allows Americans traveling from the U.S. to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated or have proof of having recovered from Covid-19. Those with prior Covid infection can present a certificate of a positive result of a PCR test older than 10 days but not older than six months. A pre-arrival form is available to smooth the entry process.
. - The Czech Republic opened to U.S. residents June 21. U.S. residents traveling to the Czech Republic need a negative PCR test 72 hours or fewer or a negative antigen test 48 hours or fewer before the start of their first flight. They also need to fill in and present a passenger locator form. In order to check into a hotel, go to a restaurant or shop or sightsee indoors, all visitors need to present a negative test result, proof of vaccination or medical proof of recovery from Covid-19 in the last 180 days. Travelers should also pack KN95 or FFP2 masks (called “respirators”), which may be required for some activities.
. - Cyprus is open to visitors from the United States and Canada without any quarantine requirements. Restrictions include including proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding and another test on arrival at their own expense. U.S. citizen travelers from the United States can upload proof of vaccinations to the Cyprus Flight Pass within 48 hours before the start travel, which they will need to board their flight. Children under the age of 12 do not need to be tested.
. - Switzerland is open to North American guests who are either fully vaccinated, have recovered from Covid-19 within six months or can present a negative Covid-19 PCR test. No quarantine is needed for arrivals who meet these qualifications. Children and young adults under 16, when accompanied by an adult who meets entry regulations, are exempt from these requirements. Those between the ages of 16 and 18 need a negative test to board a plane and to enter Switzerland. All travelers must complete the online form of the Federal Office of Public Health.
. - Albania requires either proof of full vaccination no later than two weeks from the date of entry into Albania; or documentation from a licensed healthcare provider of having recovered from Covid-19 in the six months preceding travel; or a negative PCR test within 72 hours or a rapid antigen test within 48 hours of arrival. A daily curfew is in place from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice. This includes bars, restaurants, fast food and other similar activities, except for delivery services. Disregarding the restriction may result in a fine up to 700,000 lek (about $7,000).
. - France is keeping the United States on its “green list.” That means fully vaccinated U.S. travelers may enter the country without testing, while unvaccinated adult travelers must self-isolate for seven days upon arrival and take a Covid-19 PCR test at the end of the self-isolation period. Individuals who have previously contracted Covid-19 may present a certificate of recovery dated between 11 days and six months prior to arrival. While in France, travelers must download and activate the TousAntiCovid mobile application, which requires proof of Covid health status, to dine at restaurants, bars and cafes and to enter top tourist attractions and other indoor venues.
. - Austria opened to American travelers June 24. Only fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed to enter Austria without quarantine. Vaccines are valid for one year after the traveler has been fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated travelers will still be able to enter Austria but must show a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival and also undergo a 10-day quarantine. Masks must be worn inside hotels, museums, restaurants and public transportation; These rules are changing rapidly, but you may need to provide proof of vaccination and/or a negative test or certificate of recovery from Covid-19 to dine at restaurants or enter venues.
. - The United Kingdom will admit vaccinated American travelers to England and Scotland without quarantining. They will need to take a predeparture test and a PCR test on or before day two of arrival, however, and individuals who test positive will be required to quarantine. Unvaccinated visitors are required to quarantine for 10 days, as well as take a predeparture test and tests on or before day two, and on or after day eight of arriving. Vaccinated travelers from the U.S. need to show proof of vaccination through their physical vaccine card, as well as proof of U.S. residency. All visitors must complete the passenger locator form, which can be filled out online within 48 hours of arrival.
. - Italy came out as the first European Union country to significantly tighten its protocols around U.S. inbound travel, following the EU’s decision to remove the U.S. from its safe travel list. Under Italy’s new policy, all travelers coming from the U.S. are now required to present proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours of arrival, regardless of vaccination status. American travelers are also required to show either a certificate of vaccination (with the final vaccine dose having been received 14 days prior to travel) or a medical certificate confirming recovery from Covid, dated no more than six months before departure. Travelers unable to provide proof of vaccination or a medical certificate are required to quarantine upon arrival for five days. At the end of that five-day period, they must also take a PCR or rapid antigen test.
. - Hungary is for the most part closed to U.S. citizens via air travel. However, travelers may enter Hungary by road, rail and waterway from Croatia, Austria, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine without any epidemiological restrictions, regardless of nationality and coronavirus immunity. As of Sept. 1, the government instituted a Covid-19 entry control scheme, which bans the entry of most foreigners. Exceptions include diplomatic or official travel, freight travel, or anyone who can demonstrate they have recovered from a Covid infection in the last six months. Those who do manage to enter the country must quarantine for 10 days.
. - Malta may be a small country, but it has a lot of conditions for travelers from the U.S. for entry. Most U.S. states are on their Red List, which is better than the Dark Red list. While proof of vaccination is only encouraged, not required (see the country’s website for accepted vaccine passports) unvaccinated travelers may take a mandatory PCR test and submit to a mandatory quarantine of 14 days in a hotel the government chooses. Travelers will be charged a £100 per day fee for the hotel stay.
Countries Requiring Vaccination
- Spain allows entry to U.S. citizens with proof of vaccination. Travelers must also present a QR code generated through the Spain Travel Health portal. A negative Covid-19 test is not required for entry. Unvaccinated travelers may not enter the country.
. - Germany considers the U.S. a high-risk country for Covid-19. Visitors older than age 12 must be fully vaccinated. If not, they must have an essential reason for visiting. Travelers who are fully vaccinated must fill out a digital registration upon entry and carry the confirmation with them. The confirmation will be checked by the airline and possibly the Federal Police.
. - Belgium will only allow travelers if they can present proof of full vaccination. U.S. travelers who cannot present a valid vaccination certificate cannot travel to Belgium for non-essential reasons unless they hold an EU citizenship or residency. A Covid-19 test is mandatory upon arrival from the U.S. and the traveler should remain in quarantine until the negative result comes in. All passengers, regardless of means of transportation, must complete the passenger locator form no earlier than 48 hours before arriving in Belgium.
Restricted
- Sweden has taken the U.S. off its list of “safe countries.” This means American tourists are not permitted to enter Sweden for non-essential reasons, regardless of vaccination status. The U.S. had previously been exempted from Sweden’s entry ban for non-E.U. residents. Entry to Sweden from other Nordic countries, however, is possible for U.S. citizens. Visit the Swedish Border police website for details.
. - Norway does not allow U.S. travelers to enter the country, with the exception of those visiting close family members. Travelers must show a negative result from a Covid-19 test taken 24 hours prior to departure and must also take a test upon entry.
. - Demark currently bans all unvaccinated Americans from entering the country. Previously, all U.S. travelers could enter with only a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery. The entry requirements for vaccinated tourists remains the same.
. - The Netherlands has imposed some of the toughest new restrictions on American travelers. As of September 4, the Netherlands considers the U.S. to be a very high-risk area. Only fully vaccinated Americans may enter the country AND they must comply with a mandatory 10-day quarantine requirement. In addition, travelers also must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test, or a negative antigen test performed within 24 hours prior to departure for the Netherlands. As a result, Dutch airline KLM says that it won’t be flying to Las Vegas or Miami this winter because of the new rules.The EU reviews its travel restriction recommendations every two weeks. Countries that have fewer than 75 new Covid cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14-day period, among other criteria, become eligible to join the safe list.On Aug. 27, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that the U.S. had recorded approximately 600 new Covid cases per 100,000 people for the two weeks ending Aug. 22.
