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Europe opens borders to countries outside the EU, but both the US and Brazil fail to make the cut





The second chapter in the saga of European tourism during the pandemic is out. The EU published a list of “safe” countries outside of the EU and Schengen** confines. Residents from countries included in the list could be allowed entry as tourists without the usual restrictions against Covid, namely the quarantine. Good news for some, but not for the US and Brazil, which, alongside Russia, have not been included. Not all is bad news though. Croatia went against the flow and started accepting tourists from anywhere, provided they present proof of paid accommodation.


The safe country list includes, among others, Australia, Canadá, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Uruguay and China. The list is to be updated every 14 days. To be included, a country must follow the criteria listed below:

  • number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people equal or below EU average in the last 14 days;

  • stable or downward trend in the number of cases in comparison to the previous 14-day period;

  • adequate overall response to Covid-19, considering testing, surveillance, contact tracing, containment, treatment and reporting as well as the reliability of available information and data sources.


One important thing to keep in mind is that the list is not legally binding, so EU Member States can choose when to open their borders and to whom.


Corona is still ravaging the world and questions about travelling abound. Some of you, like me, want to know when we will be able to see your loved ones in person. Others want to know when their dream trip will be possible. No one can answer these questions and, to be honest, travel should be the least of our worries.


While this storm isn’t over, we at Konsuu will try to keep you updated on information regarding travel to make sure you can focus on the important stuff, while keeping your dreams alive for better times. In the meantime, be safe, stay home.


Below is the updated list of rules* for some of the major tourist destinations in Europe. Please keep in mind that we provide information focused on non-essential travel and consider your country of residence, not that of nationality, to determine your eligibility.



Austria

  1. No travel bans: Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Vatican (Austria hasn’t opened borders to countries outside EU and Schengen** areas).

  2. Travel bans/restrictions:

  3. Non-essential travel by visitors from other countries (not mentioned in number 1 above) is not permitted.

  4. Travelers coming from other countries will need to self-isolate for 14 days. If the traveller receives a negative result from a Covid test taken during self-isolation, the 14-day period can be shortened.


Croatia

  1. No travel bans. Croatia accepts visitors from all countries.

  2. Restrictions:

  3. All visitors must fill an online form.

  4. Tourists must provide proof of paid accommodation booking, except those coming from the EU and Schengen** areas.

  5. Tourists must provide a contact phone number, address and duration of stay.


Finland

  1. No travel bans:

  2. Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania;

  3. From July 13, tourists from countries that had fewer than 8 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 in the last 14 days. For now, the list would include Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.

  4. Travel bans/restrictions:

  5. A 14-day quarantine is required for visitors from countries not mentioned in number 1.

  6. Non-essential travel by visitors from other countries (not mentioned in number 1 above) is not permitted.


France

  1. No travel bans:

  2. Schengen** countries, UK, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican. From June 22, travel to the overseas French territories is allowed, but quarantining is required;

  3. From July 4th, Australia, Canada, Korea Rep., Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New-Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.

  4. Travel bans/restrictions:

  5. Non-essential travel by visitors from other countries (not mentioned in item 1) is not permitted;

  6. 14-day quarantine for visitors from countries not mentioned in item 1 is required. The quarantine also applies to travellers from the overseas territories;

  7. Passengers traveling from mainland to Guadeloupe, Martinique, La Réunion, St Martin and St Barthelemy are allowed to undergo a 7-day quarantine if they test negative for Covid-19 (within 72h prior to the flight and after the 7-day quarantine). In Guyane, the Préfet may continue to limit the movement of people within the department;

  8. Voluntary quarantine for travelers from the UK is recommended.

  9. A completed International Travel Certificate must be presented prior to boarding and to Immigration upon arrival or when transiting France for travelers from countries not mentioned in item number 1. The certificate must be obtained before departure via the French consular offices abroad or online and includes a declaration on honor to state that travelers do not have symptoms of COVID-19. The declaration must be dated with the name and signature of the passenger.

  10. Symptomatic travelers during border health checks should be subject to quarantine, regardless of their nationality.


Germany

  1. No travel restrictions:

  2. EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein Norway and Switzerland;

  3. From July 2nd, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Montenegro, New-Zealand, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. Reciprocity will determine if China, South Korea and Japan will also be included in the list.

  4. Travel bans/restrictions:

  5. Non-essential travel by visitors from other countries (not mentioned in item 1) is not permitted.

  6. A 14-day quarantine for travellers from countries not mentioned in item 1 is required.

  7. Travelers from at-risk countries must inform their arrival to local health authorities.

  8. There is the option of being exempt from the compulsory quarantine with a negative (PCR-) test result when entering Germany from a risk area. The test must have been carried out in the 48 hours before arrival. Only tests from countries approved by the Robert Koch Institut and listed here (in German) will be accepted. The US, Chile and Mexico are included in the list, but Brazil is not.

  9. Germany has a list of at-risk countries for Covid, also maintained by the Robert Koch Institut. For now, it includes, among others, the US, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Sweden. The list is updated frequently and you can view it here (in German).


Greece

  1. No travel bans:

  2. EU and Schengen States, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City, except for Sweden (on July 15, the situation of Sweden will be reviewed);

  3. From July 1st, Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. Depending on reciprocity, China will also be included.

  4. Travel bans/restrictions:

  5. Non-essential travel by visitors from other countries (not mentioned in item 1) is not permitted.

  6. All visitors are obliged to submit the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) which is available online, up to 48 hours before travelling. The visitors will receive a QR code which will be scanned upon arrival.

  7. Depending on their QR code, visitors may be required to random Covid-19 testing. Visitors who take the test are required to self-isolate at the address of their final destination as declared on their passenger locator form (PLF) for 24 hours until they receive the test results. In case they are tested positive to Covid-19, they will have to stay isolated for 14 days in one of the dedicated quarantine hotels across the country, expenses paid by the Greek Government.

  8. Visitors can present negative test results for Covid-19 from a test carried out at least 72 hours before the trip to health inspection authorities in case they are chosen for one of the random tests, but the authority will determine whether or not to accept the test results.

  9. Direct flights from Serbia, Sweden and the UK are not allowed.


Italy

  1. No travel bans:

  2. EU, Schengen**, UK, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican.

  3. From July 1st, Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, Thailand, Tunisia or Uruguay (14-day quarantine required).

  4. Travel bans/restrictions:

  5. Non-essential travel by visitors from other countries (not mentioned in item 1) is not permitted.

  6. All other travelers will be subjected to a 14-day quarantine period (including those mentioned in item 1b).

  7. Visitors not mentioned in item 1a or 1b will have to fill-out a self-certification of the reasons of absolute urgency, work or health for which they must enter Italy.

  8. Visitors not mentioned in item 1a must also present a completed self-declaration form to the transporting carrier and communicate their entry to the Department of Prevention at local health units (ASL) of the entrance district.

  9. registration on arrival is required for all visitors to the following regions:

  10. Sardinia: you need to fill in an online form on the region's website 48 hours before arriving (the form is NOT available in printed form aboard planes or ships).

  11. Sicily: you need to register on the Sicilia si cura web site and/or through the app Sicilia SiCura (Play Store - Apple Store).

  12. Apulia: you need to fill in a self-report that you can download on the region's website.

  13. Calabria: you need to fill an online form on the region's website on Covid emergency.

  14. Mandatory fiduciary isolation is required for those who, although coming from one of the countries listed in item 1, have also been in countries other than those listed in the 14 days prior to their arrival in Italy.


Netherlands

  1. No travel bans:

  2. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK;

  3. From July 1st, Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.

  4. China will also be included in the no-ban list depending on reciprocity.

  5. The list of no-ban countries will be reviewed every 2 weeks.

  6. Restrictions/travel bans:

  7. Non-essential travel by visitors from other countries (not mentioned in item 1) is not permitted.

  8. A 14-day quarantine is required for:

  9. Visitors from countries not mentioned in item 1;

  10. Visitors from high-risk areas, such as Sweden, UK and two areas in Portugal (Portugal Norte and Vale do Tejo, which includes travellers from Lisbon and Porto).

  11. A completed 'Health Declaration Form' must be presented prior to boarding (the form will be provided by airlines). The presence of symptoms of Covid will prevent boarding.


Portugal

  1. No travel bans: Schengen**, UK, Algeria, Canada, China, South Korea, Morocco and Tunisia.

  2. Travel bans/restrictions:

  3. Non-essential travel by visitors from other countries (not mentioned in item 1) is not permitted. This includes travellers from Portuguese-speaking countries and the US.

  4. The following categories of travellers must present proof of a negative PCR test for COVID-19, carried out in the 72 hours before their departure:

  5. passengers arriving from at-risk areas;

  6. passengers from Portuguese-speaking countries;

  7. passengers from the US,

  8. If passengers from the countries listed in 2b are embarked without proof of a negative PCR test, they will be subject to the PCR test upon their arrival in Portugal, at their own expense.

  9. Upon their arrival at Lisbon, Oporto, Faro and Beja airports, all passengers will be required to carry out a temperature scan by infrared, and, whenever they are detected with fever, they will be subject to a second temperature scan. If the situation assessment justifies it, they will be subject to a test for COVID-19 and will be allowed to leave the airport after providing their contact details. They they will have to remain confined at their destination until they receive the negative result of the PCR test.

  10. Travel to Madeira: