EU restricts USA inbound travel

Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the European Council has updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. The USA was restricted again, after a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Non-essential travel to the EU from countries or entities not listed below is subject to temporary travel restriction.

EU countries can override this temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU, but only for fully vaccinated travellers.

From 30 August 2021, the European Council recommends member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries:

  • Albania
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bosnia and Hercegovina
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • New Zealand
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Moldova
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Ukraine

China is subject to confirmation of reciprocity. Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macao, plus Taiwan.

Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of this recommendation.

The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted cover the epidemiological situation and overall response to COVID-19, as well as the reliability of the available information and data sources.

Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

The Council recommendation is not a legally binding instrument. The authorities of the member states remain responsible for implementing the content of the recommendation. They may lift, only progressively, travel restrictions towards countries listed.

In terms of reciprocity with the USA, medical tourists from the EU, and much of the rest of the world, remain banned from entering the US under the restrictions imposed early in the pandemic.

Promises that the USA would allow entry to vaccinated travellers have been put on hold due to the rise in the pandemic, terrible storms, concentration on Afghanistan, plus increasing problems with anti-vaxerrs ad anti mask wearers.