EU TRAVEL

Yesterday European Union lawmakers endorsed the new travel certificate that will allow people to move between European countries without having to quarantine or undergo extra coronavirus tests, paving the way for the pass to be ready in time for summer.

The long-awaited certificate is aimed at aligning the European states in their approach to tourism this summer and several EU countries have already begun using the system, including Denmark, Germany, Greece and Poland.

This means that beginning on the 1st July, for 12 months initially, the vaccine certificates will be issued free of charge and certify that a person has either been fully vaccinated against the virus, has recently tested negative or has recovered from the disease.

Spanish Socialist lawmaker Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, who chaperoned the votes through parliament, said
“EU states are encouraged to refrain from imposing further restrictions, unless strictly necessary and proportionate.”

TRAVELLING FROM OUTSIDE THE EU

Although Europe is trying to co-ordinate its approach, at the moment each country has variations of the traffic light system. It is therefore important that you check each country's requirements (see below).

Broadly speaking it is very much simpler to travel from outside of Europe if you are fully vaccinated. However, travel is still possible to some of the EU with a PCR test or proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the last 6 months (this does not include France or Switzerland yet).

The EU also announced on Wednesday that along with the certificate there will be an increase in the threshold number of cases in countries from which all travel is allowed from 25 infections per 100,000 people to 100. This will open up travel for more countries that are currently restricted. And non-EU members will be able to get an EU travel certificate if they qualify.

Use your country’s official travel website to find out what restrictions are in place at home.

We recommend your own government’s travel advisory service information: