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The European Union spent decades getting rid of its borders. Coronavirus brought them back.
When the pandemic first washed across the bloc in early 2020, panicky countries restored border controls; people and trucks transporting everything from car parts to cabbages spent days in huge lines waiting to cross frontiers. Most air travel ended. Over the last year, as COVID-19 vaccines have become available, those barriers have been lowered — but they haven’t entirely gone away.
Instead of a seamless travel zone from Finland to Portugal, the EU is very much a cacophony of independent nations. Travel rules that apply in Estonia aren’t the same in Cyprus. A traveler strolling through Warsaw’s Chopin Airport may face a very different reception in Dublin.
A rising fourth wave of infections, made worse by panic over the appearance of the Omicron coronavirus variant, has countries across the bloc bringing in new emergency measures. Austria’s bars and restaurants are shuttered. In Belgium, you have to show a COVID pass to get a table in a restaurant. In Poland, no one bothers to check at all.
Finding information on the fast-changing situation isn’t easy. That’s why POLITICO’s reporters have gone through all 27 EU countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and the U.K. to give travelers an idea of what the entry rules are, what paperwork is needed, and what you can do once you’ve cleared border formalities.
🇦🇹 Austria
What are the rules for entry? To enter Austria one must carry proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative PCR test. The test may either be a molecular biological test which must have been taken within 72 hours or an antigen test, which must have been taken within 24 hours.
Travelers who cannot provide either document — vaccination, recovery certificate or a negative test — must fill out the pre-travel clearance and go into a 10-day quarantine, which can be terminated after day five by a negative PCR test result.
What paperwork is required? A pre-travel clearance form must be filled out if you are not vaccinated, nor recovered or tested negative.
Can I visit from outside the EU? Yes. The same rules as those listed above apply to non-EU citizens.
What can I do when I get there? From February 19, unvaccinated people will be able to attend most activities again with a negative test. From March 5, the hospitality sector will no longer have to shut its doors after midnight and events can take place without restrictions. A COVID certificate will also no longer be required as proof of vaccination or recovery.
🇧🇪 Belgium
What are the rules for entry? If you’re fully vaccinated, you can travel freely from countries within the EU. Fully vaccinated means two weeks have passed since your last shot. Belgium accepts all vaccines approved by the EMA, as well as Covishield.
What paperwork is required? If you were abroad for more than 48 hours, you have to fill in the passenger locator form within six months before your arrival in Belgium, even if you are fully vaccinated.
Can I visit from outside the EU? It depends on your country's color code and your vaccination status. If you are traveling from a green or orange area, you don’t have to do a test or quarantine. If you’re traveling from a red area inside the EU, you need to get tested upon arrival if you’re not fully vaccinated. If you’re staying in Brussels and are not fully vaccinated, you can only leave quarantine once the result of your second test is known.
If you’re traveling from a red area outside the EU, you can only travel to Belgium if you’re an EU citizen or if you’re fully vaccinated. You need to get tested upon arrival. If you’re not fully vaccinated, you need to get tested on day 1 and 7 upon return and stay in quarantine until the result of the second test is known.
What can I do when I get there? Bars and restaurants no longer have opening-hours limitations. Entertainment venues like nightclubs have also been allowed to reopen. Teleworking is no longer mandatory.
More info: Here.
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
What are the rules for entry? Bulgaria classifies countries based on the spread of COVID-19 and groups them in color areas. Entry requirements depend on the color of the country of departure. Sofia has introduced a new ‘dark red’ zone, subject to stricter entry requirements.
Under the new rules, travelers from dark red countries need to have a negative PCR test taken in the 72 hours prior to arrival and an EU Digital COVID Certificate, or equivalent documents. Some European countries are classified as dark red at the moment. However, travelers who present a covid certificate with a booster dose don’t need to have the PCR test.
Travelers coming from green, orange and red countries can generally enter without further restrictions (such as 10-day quarantine) if they have an EU Digital COVID Certificate, or equivalent documents, showing proof of full vaccination, recovery from COVID in the six months before arrival or a negative COVID test (PCR test results can’t be older than 72 hours; antigen test results no older than 48 hours). Approved vaccines include Sinopharm and Sputnik V.
What paperwork is required? EU Digital COVID Certificate, or equivalent documents; and a negative PCR test.
Can I visit from outside the EU? Travelers coming from green, orange and red countries can generally enter without further restrictions (such as 10-day quarantine) if they have an EU Digital COVID Certificate, or equivalent documents, showing proof of full vaccination, recovery from COVID in the six months before arrival or a negative COVID test (PCR test results can’t be older than 72 hours; antigen test results no older than 48 hours). Travelers from dark red countries need to have a negative PCR test taken in the 72 hours prior to arrival and an EU Digital COVID Certificate, or equivalent documents. However, travelers who present a covid certificate with a booster dose don’t need to have the PCR test.
What can I do when I get there? Like other European countries, Bulgaria has introduced some restrictions. In general, an EU COVID certificate or equivalent document is required in many situations, including visits to museums, cinemas and theaters. It’s the same for restaurants, bars and other catering establishments. The use of the certificate is expected to be phased out by the end of March; it would still be needed to use public transport.
The use of face masks is mandatory in indoor public areas — including public transport, museums and churches — and crowded open spaces, when it’s not possible to keep a distance of 1.5 meters from other people. Exceptions include customers in restaurants.
More info: Here and here.
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