Europe | EU countries are slowly reopening to the outside world

TRAVEL NEWS – May 23, 2021: Countries that are members of the European Union will soon welcome vaccinated travelers from areas outside Europe. But there are still rules and restrictions that travelers from outside the EU must adhere to. In this article an overview of the latest news per European country.

The European Union agreed earlier this week to reopen its borders soon to fully vaccinated travelers from other countries and continents, including Americans.

Visitors from outside the bloc who have received EU-approved vaccines — including those from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — are allowed to enter European Union countries without having to pass a test or quarantine on arrival.

The new measures could come into effect as early as next week, after EU leaders give formal approval and individual countries set up systems to monitor vaccination status. While the EU aims for a coordinated approach to travel this summer, member states will be allowed to set their own requirements for travelers from individual countries based on their own epidemiological criteria.

Croatia

Unlike some other European countries, Croatia does not discriminate between tourists and other travellers, and applies the same conditions for leisure travel, essential family and business. Visitors from the European countries that are on the ECDC's so-called green list (which varies constantly) have unlimited travel. Those coming from European countries that are not on the green list must present one of the following: a negative Covid test, proof of vaccination or a certificate of recovery. Finally, visitors from outside Europe must provide the same proof (either a negative Covid test, a vaccination certificate or a certificate of recovery) and proof of prepaid accommodation or proof that they own properties in Croatia, according to the government's website. Travelers are advised to complete the Enter Croatia form to speed up the process.

Italy

Italy distinguishes between tourists and travelers who travel for other reasons, such as business people or students. Visitors from Europe, Israel and Britain can visit Italy without quarantine for any reason, but must undergo a coronavirus test. Visitors from the United States and other non-European countries considered low-risk (Japan, Canada, Australia and Singapore) can also come regardless of their motivation, but will require both a coronavirus test and a 10-day quarantine. Americans avoid quarantine if they make special "Covid-tested flights" that require pre- and post-flight tests and a EU digital passenger form† These Covid-tested flights are already available from New York and Atlanta to Milan and Rome, and will soon be offered to Venice and Naples.

France

President Emmanuel Macron has announced that from June 9, visitors from outside Europe will be allowed to re-enter France, provided they carry a sanitary (health) pass, details of which have yet to be announced.

Greece

Upon arrival in Greece, travelers must present proof of vaccination, a negative coronavirus test not older than 72 hours or proof of recovery from Covid-19 within the past nine months. Passengers may also be subject to random rapid tests at the airport; anyone who tests positive will be accommodated at a local hotel for at least 10 days at the expense of the Greek government, along with their travel companions. Details about the rules for participation can be found here. Anyone planning to fly within the country must meet the same requirements as those arriving from abroad.

Iceland

Vaccinated visitors with an approved vaccination certificate or proof of previous infection must undergo a PCR test, which will be provided free of charge at the airport, and be quarantined until their test results are negative. Results are reported within 24 hours via a local tracking app.

Tourists who have not been vaccinated must quarantine for five days in a government-provided quarantine hotel (stay is free). Before arrival, they must register and issue a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours. More details about the rules for participation are here to find.

Domestic flights operate without any requirements other than wearing a face mask, and public transport is generally on a regular schedule.

Spain

The government of Spain is opening the country to vaccinated tourists from 34 countries. President Pedro Sánchez has announced that from June 7 vaccinated people will be able to come to Spain regardless of the epidemiological situation in their country.

Any person immunized with one of the vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) can set foot on Spanish soil from June 7, regardless of the epidemiological situation in their country. This could mean the entry into Spain of citizens of countries at extreme risk of covid-19 and we must not forget that to date the vaccine has not been shown to prevent the transmission of the disease. The entire news article is here to read back.

Spain will also welcome tourists from the as of May 24, 2021 United Kingdom to allow without a PCR test or vaccination certificate (click)† The Spanish government also plans to quickly allow other countries with a low infection rate to return to Spain without a PCR test or vaccination certificate. The Netherlands is also in the list of countries that may return soon without vaccination certificate or PCR test will be welcome back in the country.

Turkey

Turkey has remained open to tourists, including Americans, during the pandemic. Most international arrivals must show evidence of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arriving in the country.

Coronavirus testing is not required for passengers arriving from places Turkey deems epidemiologically safe, including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Ukraine and Estonia.

Passengers arriving from Brazil, South Africa and India will be quarantined for 14 days in government-assigned accommodations and will be released if they test negative for the virus after 10 days.