An updated list of COVID entry rules for every European country
The list of the EU/EEA countries that have lifted all of their COOVID-related entry rules and now permit restriction-free entry to all travellers regardless of their country of origin is as follows:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
All of the countries listed above no longer require travellers to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival
While the above-mentioned countries have lifted all of their COVID-19 entry rules for all travellers, the remaining EU/EEA countries continue to keep restrictions in place.
Although they have relaxed some of their measures, the nine countries listed below still require travellers to follow Coronavirus entry rules:
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain.
Below you may find the current COVID entry rules that each of these nine countries apply:
ESTONIA continues to keep in place COVID-19 entry rules for travellers from specific countries. The Estonian authorities explain that all travellers from third countries need to present a vaccination or recovery certificate or a negative test result in order to be permitted entry.
Estonia accepts vaccination certificates provided that the document proves that the holder has completed primary vaccination in the last 270 days or has received a booster shot. As for the recovery and COVID-19 test, Estonia applies the same rules as the other EU countries.
While third-country travellers are still subject to entry rules when reaching Estonia, the latter’s authorities explain that travellers from the EU/EEA as well as those from the United Kingdom do not need to follow any entry rules.
Nationals of EU/EEA and the UK do not need to hold a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival, meaning that they are permitted restriction-free entry.
FINLAND continues to apply entry rules to all travellers, even to those from the EU/Schengen Area.
Finland currently requires all travellers from the EU/Schengen Area to present a valid vaccination or recovery certificate upon their arrival. EU/Schengen Area travellers who are unable to present one of these two passes can enter Finland by presenting a negative COVID-19 test result too.
On the other hand, stringent rules apply to travellers from third countries. Non-EU travellers are permitted entry to Finland only if they are able to provide a vaccination or recovery certificate.
Finland applies the same rules on the validity period as the majority of other countries. A vaccination certificate is accepted in Finland as long as it proves that the holder has completed primary vaccination in the last nine months or has received a booster shot.
On the other hand, a recovery certificate is only recognised if it proves that the holder recovered from the virus in the last six months.
FRANCE also requires all travellers to meet COVID-19 entry rules. France currently permits entry to all travellers who meet the entry rules. However, the French authorities apply different rules depending on the country a person is travelling from.
Currently, France categorises countries into two different categories – green and orange category:
France’s green list includes all the EU/EEA countries as well as tens of third countries. Travellers reaching France from a green-listed country are permitted entry provided that they present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate. In contrast, slightly stricter rules apply to those entering France from an orange-listed country. Fully vaccinated and recovered travellers from orange-listed countries are permitted restriction-free entry, whereas those who have not been vaccinated or recovered need to present a negative COVID-19 test result as well as a compelling reason to justify the need to enter France.
GERMANY still continues to require all travellers to meet entry rules. All persons over the age of 12 are required to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their entry.
Those who are unable to present one of the above-mentioned passes need to follow additional rules.
Germany was expected o facilitate its entry rules for incoming travellers by the end of April. However, the authorities decided to extend them for an undetermined period.
MALTA has just recently facilitated its entry rules. However, the country still requires all travellers to hold valid COVID-19 proof upon their arrival.
All travellers, regardless of their country of origin, are required to present a COVID Certificate – a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate – when travelling to Malta.
Those who present one of the above-mentioned passes are exempt from the requirement to follow additional rules.
Currently, children over the age of six are also required to present COVID proof when entering Malta. Nonetheless, the authorities have announced that starting from June 6, children under the age of 12 will no longer be required to present proof, meaning that they will be permitted restriction-free entry.
THE NETHERLANDS continues to keep in place entry rules for all travellers from third countries. Non-EU travellers need to present a vaccination or recovery certificate in order to be permitted entry to the Netherlands. Those who are unable to present one of the passes are currently banned.
Conversely, the Netherlands has already lifted all of its entry rules for travellers from the EU/EEA. Travellers from the EU/EEA can enter the Netherlands restriction-free regardless of their vaccination status. This means that they do not need to present a recovery or vaccination certificate or a negative COVID-19 test taken recently.
PORTUGAL updated its entry rules earlier in April. However, the country still requires all travellers to follow COVID entry rules.
All travellers must present a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate.
Nonetheless, travellers should make sure to check what kind of rules apply to them depending on their country of origin as Portugal does not recognises COVID passes of all countries.
Currently, Portugal recognises all COVID certificates issued in EU countries. In addition, passes issued in tens of other third countries are also recognised.
Similar to mainland Portugal, the Azores also require travellers to present COVID proof on their arrival. In contrast, Madeira has already lifted all of its rules. All travellers are permitted restriction-free entry to Madeira.
SLOVAKIA continues to keep in place COVID-19 entry rules. Currently, all travellers are required to provide a vaccination or recovery certificate. Special categories of travellers can also enter by only presenting a negative test. The Slovak authorities noted that travellers who do not hold the required COVID documentation could also enter the country. However, they are required to follow additional measures.